Natalie Kenway has been a journalist covering the investment industry for almost two decades.

Most recently, in March 2024, she set up Kenway Content & Consulting to work with investment firms and the media on their copy, content, marketing, events and multi-media needs. 

Prior to that, Natalie spent four years at ESG Clarity (now PA Future). She spearheaded a complete reinvigoration of the brand, launching a digital magazine, a revamp of the website, many new initiatives including videos and podcast, databases and an educational hub. Natalie was awarded Editor of the Year at the Aviva Investors Sustainability Media Awards 2021 and Aegon’s Institutional Journalist of the Year in 2020 and 2021. 

She started her career at Incisive Media’s Investment Week, joining in 2005 as a junior reporter before working through the ranks to acting editor in 2019. During her stint at IW, she began championing diversity within the investment industry and continues to specialise in ESG and diversity today. 

She has also spent time at Fund Strategy and Research in Finance. 

Q1. Why is corporate culture becoming more important as a strategic focus?

I’ll be frank, when I joined the investment industry it felt like there was a sense of only looking out for the senior team at the companies I wrote about. To put it another way - the bosses in big corporate jobs seemed to only be in it for themselves and their shareholders. As long as they were happy and pushing along, the company will do well, and so will the shareholders. Job done.

It didn’t feel like there was much regard for support teams or divisions that aren’t directly responsible for producing profit, and their overall impact on the economy and society. The latter certainly fell by the wayside.

Fortunately that has changed over the years in the vast majority of companies and I do think there has been a realisation that the happier all teams are, and employees feeling like they are ‘heard’, productivity increases throughout the business.

I think Covid played a part in spotlighting how all stakeholders need to be considered - I could go off on many tangents here about flexible working and feeling that your work is valued especially when times are difficult, but what was clear was the companies that considered how their employees were coping during lockdown were noticed, and, I believe, have had lasting reputational benefits.

Q2. In your view, why is it important to set a higher standard of stewardship and behaviour within the investment industry?

Investment teams are increasingly embedding ESG values across their investment processes as they understand the companies that do not consider this will be left behind - they carry too much risk and will not be resilient. Teams are working closely with heads of ESG or stewardship teams on investment decisions as they want to push for better standards in portfolios.

Therefore, why shouldn’t companies also be looking inwardly and asking if those values are embedded into their own businesses practices. Especially if they understand how it can boost returns. This is one of the reasons why I set up the Campaign for Better Governance at ESG Clarity/MA Financial Media.

Currently, and rightly so, the scrutiny on investment managers is high. Too many have been called out for greenwashing - or diversity washing, pink washing, impact washing, you get the gist - and now clients want to see concrete evidence of engagement and progress on that engagement.

It’s not enough to set long-term targets and tick boxes any more, investors want to see these translate into every-day action.

Q3. Why did you decide to sit on the ACT Global Leadership Council and what does it mean to you?

I am extremely honoured to be asked to sit on the ACT Global Leadership Council. I first met Bev in a cafe on Haymarket some 10 years ago and heard her talk about her mission for City Hive. I completely resonated with her passion to make a difference for, at the time, women and other diverse groups within the investment industry.

I had been used to dismissing press releases on the topic of the difference between women and male investors - during my early years in the job I was simply told this is not something our readers would not be interested in. (I can’t remember who you were sending those releases but I applaud you!)

Again, I am pleased to say, the wheel began to turn and parts of the industry moved to understand the benefits of more diverse teams and take this issue more seriously.

With Bev’s support and intel, I am proud to be a part of the editorial voice that brought diversity issues, and latterly corporate culture, to the fore of the investment industry.

It is something I will always continue to champion. Yes it’s good for financial returns to have diversity of thought and individuals that feel they belong. But more importantly to me, it is what is right.

Being in a position to help empower so many individuals is a huge and incredible privilege.