Magazine

Buttoning down the Champ - Vanessa Vallely

Vanessa Vallely is an accomplished woman who liberally uses humour in her career and everyday life. Currently head of business management for Finance, Strategy & Legal at Aviva Investors, Vanessa is also the founder of We Are the City, a free website providing city and female-centric information to the 70,000 women who work in the City and Canary Wharf.

She recently won the Women in Banking and Finance Champion for Women Award which recognises the person who through personal commitment, application and dedication promotes and inspires women in the workplace to reach their full potential. Always keen to share her experiences Vanessa is an active mentor to seven mentees and a keen participant in a number of charitable causes.

One of Vanessa's most impressive accolades, however, is that she is the Pearly Queen of Hoxton, upholding a proud family tradition and really flaunting those buttons to good effect!

Funny Women asked Vanessa how her sense of humour has helped build her career:

"Without humour life in the corporate box would be a very dull existence indeed. For me, the ability to be humorous is a must-have tool in your armoury. However, over the years I have realised that it is not something that everyone has. I am afraid to say that my witty comments have occasionally been met with vacant gazes from my fellow execs - you just can't give someone a sense of humour if they don't it have it - it's like trying to teach someone to dance who has no rhythm.

"I am proud to say that I often try and see the funny side of situations. On occasion this has gotten me through some of my most challenging positions and projects, and I am often heard saying that you need to see the funny side. I also use humour to defuse situations. It can signify that the worst is over, and moreover, show people that I am in fact human after all - when you laugh with someone the relationship between you often grows and deepens.

"Within the office environment, humour and laughter is one of the more acceptable emotions, I have never had an issue with my teams cracking the odd joke as I believe it fosters great team spirit - There has to be limits at work, though, or else the perception is that no one is working!

"Personally, I will always pride myself in having the ability to laugh, especially at myself. Life is far too short to remove the one thing that probably gets us all through the day."

You can find out more about Vanessa on her website.