Brussels Bubble Tea S3E3: The Importance of Getting Support from Mentors and Peers (IWD Special)
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March 14, 2025
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The International Women’s Day (“IWD”) theme for 2025 is about accelerating action to promote gender equality. Often career paths are not linear and guidance and support from mentors is crucial to opening doors. In this episode of Brussels Bubble Tea (Season 3 Episode 3), host Ani Gundes speaks with Matilda Wallmon about her journey through consultancy, financial services and leadership roles at FTI Consulting and beyond and what she’s learned from her own experience about how support from mentors can accelerate women’s careers.
Can you tell us your story and how your career journey began?
Matilda: When I first arrived in Brussels, I was working at a small Swedish consulting firm. After a few mergers, I found myself in a different consulting environment, but I was still very much a generalist. It was early in my career, and that’s when I realised that for me, the right long-term path would be to specialise in a particular field.
That opportunity came when FTI opened a door for me to join a pure financial services team. It was the first time I worked almost exclusively on financial services-related issues and clients, and it changed the course of my career.
When did you join FTI Consulting, and what was the office like at that time?
Matilda: I joined in 2014. The office was much smaller then, and I still remember that in our morning staff meetings, we could all sit around one table. Every single person would share their weekly update. I was nervous the first time, but coming from an even smaller consulting firm, FTI already felt big to me.
Today, of course, things are very different. We’ve grown so much since then.
How did FTI Consulting contribute to your growth and specialisation?
Matilda: FTI played a huge role in shaping my career. Working in a specialised financial services team allowed me to develop expertise, work with major clients and learn from a strong, supportive team. As I mentioned before, the people who supported me both internally and externally really influenced where I am today.
You eventually left FTI Consulting in 2021. What led to that transition?
Matilda: Yes, in 2021 I was offered a role in-house at a financial infrastructure company. I became their Head of EU Public Affairs and also served as Chief of Staff to the CEO. Both roles were incredibly meaningful and taught me a great deal about leadership, strategy and navigating organisations from the inside.
Those experiences, combined with my time at FTI, helped shape my perspective and broaden my skill set.
You mentioned the importance of supporters and mentors. How has that influenced your career?
Matilda: For me, having supporters — people who genuinely believe in you — has made the biggest difference. It doesn’t matter if they’re male or female; what matters is that they open doors, give guidance and lift you up.
And looking at this year’s International Women’s Day theme on acceleration, I think this is where we all need to focus: accelerating progress, accelerating women’s careers and lifting people around us. That’s how, eventually, we’ll get closer to real equality.
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Published
March 14, 2025
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