What makes a senior banking executive step up as a champion for women at work?
In this episode, I speak with Bruce Perry—MD Head of Operations for Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa at Barclays, and co-chair of the bank’s Women’s Network in the region. We dive into Bruce’s unexpected journey from elite university rowing to supporting gender equity in the boardroom. He shares how sport shaped his views, what he's learned from working closely with women leaders, and why male allies need to show up—authentically and intentionally.
A candid, thoughtful conversation with someone who's rewriting the rules from the inside out.
IN THIS EPISODE
(00:00) The tricky tightrope male leaders walk today
(02:06) How Bruce became the guy leading a women’s network
(03:44) What rowing taught Bruce about gender and real equity
(06:52) Job ads, confidence gaps—and what women still won’t apply for
(09:00) What space suits and air conditioning reveal about hidden bias
(10:21) Allyship or overstepping? Where men still get stuck
(13:00) The quiet reason women fear promotions
(17:10) The one thing women don’t do enough at work
(19:30) Asia vs. the West—who’s doing inclusion better?
(23:20) One personal rule Bruce completely rewrote
Bruce Perry
Bruce Perry is the MD and Head of Operations, APAC at Barclays. With global experience across Singapore, New York, Zurich and Paris, he’s known for leading large, cross-functional teams and delivering complex financial strategies. He has held senior COO roles and worked across investment banking, wealth, and corporate operations. A CIMA-qualified leader, Bruce also serves on boards of Cambridge University sports bodies, bringing business rigour to not-for-profit spaces.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-perry-a0b7116/
Meet the Hosts,
Ritu Gupta Mehrish:
Ritu Gupta Mehrish is a speaker, executive coach and author, with 20 years of corporate experience working in companies such as P&G, GE Capital and GE spin-off Genpact. In her last role, Ritu ran a multimillion-dollar business vertical with 1000 people across eight countries and five continents. Throughout her extensive career, Ritu has had the opportunity to work, coach and converse with leaders across the globe from diverse industries. Her business and leadership experience has enabled her to bring in a pragmatic approach to leadership development. Her client list of Google, PayPal, Swiss Re, JP Morgan, Applied Materials, Intel, Knight Frank, Johnson & Johnson, AIA, Medtronic, Wharton Executive Education highlights the level of expertise she brings to the leadership topic.
https://www.letsrewritetherules.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritugmehrish/
https://www.ritumehrish.com/
Rajita Saxena
Rajita Saxena is a leader and people manager with over 20 years of business experience in sales, sales support, strategic operations, and learning & development. She builds strong, high-performing teams and believes in being a Level 5 leader to unleash the potential and performance of teams. She thrives in an environment that provides an opportunity to problem solve or create impact, whether it is a situation that is full of change and ambiguity or one that requires creating a strategy.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajita-saxena/
Kalyani Vaidya
I’m a fractional marketing manager with a diverse background and a passion for brand activations, podcasting, and business development. As both a sportsman and podcaster, I enjoy offering fresh perspectives and adding value to start-ups. I have a special interest in the domain of parenting, education, and wellness.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalyani-vaidya/