Navigating Towards Financial Strength: The Journey of Sophie Dupré-Echeverria

Risk management is a critical aspect of organizational operations, especially in today’s uncertain environment. Addressing known and unforeseen risks is essential for organizations to continue thriving and progressing. A systematic approach to identifying, assessing, and managing risks is crucial in navigating unpredictability successfully.

In this context, individuals like Sophie Dupré-Echeverria play a crucial role in the field of risk management and compliance. Sophie is currently the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at GIB Asset Management, overseeing both SMF 4 (Risk) and SMF 16 (Compliance) responsibilities. With a wealth of experience in various aspects of risk management, particularly in banking and asset management, Sophie brings a comprehensive set of skills to the financial landscape.

Sophie’s journey in risk management started after graduating in Economics and finance in Lyon, where she obtained a master’s in Organization and control of Financial Market Activities. She kicked off her career in market risk at SocGen and gradually expanded her expertise across different areas of risk management. Today, she holds a prominent position at GIB Asset Management, where she leads a team in overseeing banking and asset management operations.

Throughout her career, Sophie has been inspired by the discipline and structure of risk management, as well as the opportunity to interact with various functions within an organization’s value chain. Her active involvement in industry networks and trade associations has further shaped her approach to risk management, allowing her to share best practices and stay connected with fellow professionals.

Reflecting on key milestones, Sophie highlights her promotion to Head of Investment Risk Framework at Schroders as a defining moment. This global role provided her with the opportunity to develop a strategic vision for overseeing investment risk in a dynamic environment.

In navigating challenges within risk management, Sophie emphasizes the importance of continued learning and adaptation to a rapidly changing landscape. She found exploring topics such as Conduct & Culture and Climate Risk & Sustainability particularly interesting and essential for staying ahead in the field.

Sophie’s approach to risk management includes employing innovative strategies, such as integrating new techniques like behavior science and facilitating brainstorming sessions with her team and business partners. Collaboration within her team and across departments is also crucial for fostering a comprehensive and effective risk management framework.

As a leader, Sophie values authenticity and psychological safety within her team, encouraging innovation and experimentation to adapt to emerging threats and uncertainties. She weighs critical decisions carefully, considering factors like opportunity cost and transparency in the decision-making process.

Incorporating emerging technologies like Python and machine learning has enhanced the efficiency of risk mitigation strategies within Sophie’s organization. Looking ahead, she anticipates further impacts from the adoption of large language models on risk assessments and analyses.

Outside her organization, Sophie actively contributes to the advancement of risk management practices within the industry through speaker engagements at conferences and webinars, as well as hosting networking sessions for senior female leaders in risk.

Overall, Sophie Dupré-Echeverria’s journey and insights into risk management highlight the importance of a systematic and collaborative approach to successfully navigating uncertainties and thriving in today’s business landscape.