Trading Apps
Isabel Harrison
16 September 2025
Isabel Harrison, business analyst at Trading Apps, now part of EquiLend, speaks to Carmella Haswell about the key to success, the nature of work in the vendor space, and climbing the corporate ladder
Image: Isabel Harrison
Can you tell me about your journey into the securities finance industry?
My journey into securities finance began with a summer internship at Trading Apps while studying for my bachelor鈥檚 at University College London. It gave me a great first look into the industry, and I was drawn to the pace and hands-on problem solving.
After completing my master鈥檚, I moved into medtech and pharmaceuticals as an analyst, which aligned well with my academic background.
While valuable, I found the pharmaceutical space somewhat rigid in its approach. I missed the adaptability and focus on efficiency that I had experienced in securities finance 鈥� particularly in the vendor space, where there are many opportunities to rethink and improve processes.
I returned to Trading Apps as a business analyst, ready for a new challenge. I have been fortunate to learn from people around me with deep industry experience, which gave me great insight, but I have also been able to carve my own path and learn a huge amount on the job. What keeps me engaged is the constant drive to deliver real solutions and smarter tools for clients. It is fast-moving, impactful work, and that is exactly the kind of environment I thrive in.
As a young professional, what aspects of your role or the industry do you find most exciting?
The client-facing aspect of my role is the most exciting and fulfilling.
I really enjoy collaborating with a wide range of clients, understanding how they operate, and helping tailor our tools to meet their specific needs.
What makes the work so rewarding is seeing the direct impact of what we deliver. Whether it is improving their locate process or streamlining their workflow through modules such as auto-lend and our pricing engine tool, you can clearly see how these solutions make a real difference in day-to-day trading operations.
This visible impact makes client feedback and, in turn, my role especially meaningful.
A recent career highlight has been working to onboard a client onto one of our front-end products and seeing the improvements in speed and overall workflow. This outcome makes the role really satisfying and the feedback has been rewarding.
Many companies offer various training and development opportunities for their employees. How has your company supported your growth?
Working at a small but growing fintech, my development has been hands-on. Compared to larger institutions, I have learnt by doing. Taking on different responsibilities and adapting quickly has broadened my understanding and kept the work dynamic and engaging. I have been fortunate to work with colleagues who have taken time out of their busy schedules to help fill in knowledge gaps, which has been invaluable.
More formally however, I am also preparing for the CISI Capital Markets Programme. I think any opportunity to deepen your understanding of the sector, no matter how broad, is key to success.
On top of that, I have had the chance to attend several domestic and international industry conferences and networking events, which have been great for connecting with peers and learning from experts across the field.
What misconceptions about working in the financial industry have you encountered, and how do you address these challenges?
A common misconception is that the financial industry is incredibly siloed. In my experience, especially working in the vendor space, it is actually the opposite. The nature of the work is highly collaborative, and I regularly work cross-functionally with product, tech, and trading desks, to deliver solutions.
I have found that collaboration is not just helpful, it is essential. In a vendor environment, success often depends on how well you can bring different perspectives together to solve complex problems.
I actively seek out opportunities to collaborate because it not only strengthens the outcome, but also helps to ensure that the tools we deliver truly meet the needs of clients.
Looking ahead, where do you see yourself in the next five years in terms of your career goals and aspirations?
In the next five years, I hope to take on more leadership responsibility from guiding projects and mentoring others, to shaping how we deliver value to clients.
Paramount to that will be a deepening of my knowledge of capital markets so I can contribute beyond my immediate remit and support broader strategic initiatives.
With Trading Apps now part of EquiLend, I am excited about the opportunity to build relationships across a larger network and gain exposure to new software solutions.
Being part of a bigger platform opens up great opportunities for growth.
I also want to stay ahead of emerging trends, especially around AI and automation. As these technologies evolve, I am keen to play a role in driving their adoption and ensuring we are delivering smarter, future proof tools.
What advice do you have for other young professionals aspiring to pursue a career in
your industry?
My advice would be 鈥� do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. If you are considering moving into finance or doing a lateral shift but you are unsure if you 鈥榝it鈥�, take the plunge and back yourself.
There are so many opportunities for growth, learning, and connection if you are open to them.
Work hard, stay curious, and focus on the parts of the work that you find genuinely rewarding. That is where you will find your momentum. It can be challenging at times, like any career, but if you put the effort in and stay engaged, you reap what you sow.
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