NDA has partnered with the Women in Trading group for an interview series finding out more about the group’s members and its mission. Next up is Sarah Pedretti, Agency Trading Director, The Financial Times.
What makes you proudest about Women in Trading and why?
Definitely the incredible network of women we have brought together. We are seeing so many different career paths and journeys in one room, and seeing this all come together in an industry that didn’t traditionally include many women, is truly inspiring.
How did you first move into a trading career?
I joined the Financial Times in 2017, and was quickly identified as a ‘kindred spirit’ by the Global Investment Director.I moved into his team and began attending meetings with Agency Trading Directors to understand the processes and negotiations involved in building partnership deals.
Since then I have become responsible for all the UK deals, with a view to building panEuropean and different regional deals.
What is the biggest opportunity for women in trading today?
I think it’s an exciting time to enter the world of trading as we move away from more traditional buying methods, and start to include aspects to deals that may not have been considered in previous years.
Women in Trading is opening up paths of discussion leading to greater collaboration and interaction between different departments and companies, allowing lots of inspirational ideas to become fully formed and activated.
What is the most exciting aspect of the sector?
Personally for me, I love working with all the different specialist teams across many different sectors. Understanding all the nuances that may be beneficial for one client, but not necessarily another, is a steep learning curve. And the people as well, you will never meet a greater group of people!
What are the biggest challenges to be overcome in trading?
The media landscape has changed significantly in the last few years, and we need to remain agile in order to keep up with new trading models and ways of transacting value.
There are some exciting new approaches coming to market, so traders need to keep abreast of these and remain open to new ways of working, which they may not have encountered before.
What support structures and organisations are most important and effective to you as a woman in trading?
Being completely honest -the WIT network! I have learnt so much in a short space of time from my fellow committee members and the 2025 cohort of Women traders that we have recently inducted. Whilst my support at work has been invaluable, it has been incredibly rewarding to bounce ideas off some fellow ladies!
Do you think trading roles are still seen as traditionally ‘male roles’? What needs to be done to combat this?
Essentially yes – there are still the traditional golf days that tend to be male only and certainly within my workplace, I am the only female in a trading function.
However, that is not to say that things aren’t moving in the right direction – we are constantly on the lookout for the next star to come and work on our trading team, and I feel having a network of ladies within the industry will only help to increase the spread of females in this part of the industry.
How can companies better help their female workforce in trading roles?
Understand that they may have responsibilities within their personal lives that mean they can’t be on hand 24/7 – this should be true for both genders. Have an open mind with who is best to recruit for vacant positions – it may not be the first person you think of.
What characteristics make a good trader?
Someone who is an active listener. Understanding what is most important to the other party and craft a response around this.
Be prepared to pick up the phone and head off tricky conversations on a call. However, do not be afraid to walk away from a deal if it does not benefit you!
Who is your mentor, hero, or inspiration in the trading sector?
As mentioned before, the ladies in the WIT network are constantly amazing and inspiring me.
I’ve been very lucky in my current role to have two managers who have both been doing this role for many a year and are more than happy to pass on their knowledge and experience, whilst actively encouraging me to build my own skills in the trading space.
