Tell us a bit about yourself, background and what you do currently
Born and bred in London, I have substantial experience in finance and the law, having held different roles over the past 20 years which include stockbroker, legal adviser, project manager, television broadcaster, front office sales and sales trader, having also managed teams and clients, at some of the world’s top financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank. I have also worked for law firms where I have acted as a consultant legal advisor specializing in civil and commercial litigation. My broad experience has enabled me to develop a multi-faceted approach by combining both commercial and legal know how.
Recent commentary have included that I am “an international keynote public speaker and moderator at various industry events, conferences, seminars, Sky TV and Bloomberg, where her radiant smile and articulate mind are recognized as a staple on the various “inspiring women”, “finance” and “legal” circuits.”” Audiences have mentioned that “Miranda’s talks are highly inspirational” while clients have described me as being “highly intelligent, knowlegeable and very personable” and also as “the triple threat of brains, beauty and brawn”.
Today, I am a Director at Daiwa Capital, which is a City based Investment Bank, where my overall job is to manage my company’s legal risk across Europe for their derivatives and securities financing business. I am also the Founder and CEO of Pluto Law Limited which is a legal consultancy company.
In addition, I am a board director, barrister, freelance writer, public speaker, mentor, brand ambassador and television broadcaster/presenter. My passion also involves diversity and philanthropy issues.
What are your extra-curricular activities outside of your day to day roles?
I serve on several boards and committees within the City of London, such as the City Women Network Professional Development Committee, Women in Banking and Finance Governance Committee and the Association of Women Barristers. Historically, I was elected to serve as Chairman of the UJIMA Networking Group at JPMorgan Chase Bank where I founded a mentoring and professional development programme to help with the promotion of diversity at the US Investment Bank. I also served as a Derivatives Specialist for the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) helping to construct examination questions for 3 years.
My philanthropy work has included being a “2012 UK Global Poverty Ambassador” in association with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which involved working towards the vision of a world without extreme poverty by 2030. I have also performed pro bono work providing free legal advice, in partnership with Citigroup and Clifford Chance, to various clients of law centres within central London, as well as being a board director for a few charities and not-for-profit organisations. I provide career talks to schools at various levels especially those about to enter the world of work. I am on the Advisory Board and a motivational public speaker for Inspirational YOU. In addition, I have an active interest in the Board for the Black Cultural Archives (BCA) which is the only UK Black History museum.
One of my biggest challenges has to be the completion of all my studies while working full time within investment banking.
Earlier this year, I became a Brand Ambassador for The Fold London which is a new British clothing label, aimed at the professional working woman. I am one of the few European contributing writers for “The Glass Hammer (“Smart women in numbers”)”, a website aimed at women within business, finance and the law across the US and Europe. My first article with them is based upon “The Art of Internal Networking” which was published in June 2014.
One of my biggest challenges has to be the completion of all my studies while working full time within investment banking.
What have been and/ or are your public speaking and television engagements for 2014?
I have recently appeared on live SKY TV discussing politics on Election Night 2014. I am currently in the process of finalising a few other TV projects. In June 2014, at the Women in Business Law Conference 2014, hosted by International Financial Law Review, featuring some of Europe’s foremost legal thinkers, where I have discussed the power of business development and networking as a career advancement tool. In addition, I spoke at the “Women Who Inspire” event hosted by Inspirational YOU in May 2014, where I shared my personal career story and provided success and motivational tips in order to get ahead with a career in Law, Business, TV and Finance.
Last month, I went back to my old school for the first time in order to provide career talks to the 14-16 year olds and those about to commence university. It is very important to give back to your community and to never forget where you come from wherever that may be!
The days of deciding at the age of 18-21 years old what you will spend the rest of your life doing are gone. You can have many careers within your lifetime if you dare to dream big and get outside of your comfort zone in order to make it happen!
On September 24-25, I will also be speaking at the first Europe Ethics Summit 2014, hosted by the Ethisphere Institute and Thomson Reuters, featuring some of Europe’s best leaders, where I will be talking about “Ethical communication during an era of heightened transparency”. I have just accepted to be the keynote speaker at my old Business School’s celebratory 30 year anniversary black tie dinner while also accepting an award for being one of their 30 most successful MBA graduates in the history of their MBA programme due to take place in September 2014.
As networking and diversity issues are one of my interests, I am organising a joint ladies networking event aimed at the senior women within the City of London, in association with The City Women Network (CWN) and The Fold London, for October 2014 where I will be one of the keynote speakers addressing the topics of diversity, networking and mentoring in the opening speech.
What has been your biggest challenge?
One of my biggest challenges has to be the completion of all my studies while working full time within investment banking. The qualifications gained included Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree at Business School, my Bar Finals at Law School and a Journalism Diploma at the London School of Journalism. I have recently completed my studies in Political Philosophy at the University of Cambridge and am presently learning Japanese. In addition, I have been Called to the Bar at the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, England. Hence, I have always liked a challenge.
If you weren’t doing what you do, what would you be doing?
I am a big fan of having a portfolio career hence I am doing everything that I have always wanted to do which is a major achievement for me. It is a hybrid of the corporate and creative worlds. The days of deciding at the age of 18-21 years old what you will spend the rest of your life doing are gone. You can have many careers within your lifetime if you dare to dream big and get outside of your comfort zone in order to make it happen!
Who has been your biggest inspiration?
My mother has been my biggest inspiration and mentor to date. She epitomises great elegance, intelligence, with strong family and personal values. She is the person behind my successes thus far alongside my father of course! Both of my parents are my best friends who have instilled the ethics of hard work and self-confidence. They are my go-to personal advisers in terms of any life changing decisions.
What does the future hold for you?
Continue to learn and grow as an individual while making a real difference to the world! You can follow me on Twitter @brawnm for further information and updates.