We are delighted to introduce Tania Domett, Founding Director at Cogo, as our latest member profile. Tania is a researcher and strategist as well as the winner of the 2024 Diversity Champion Award. She has more than 20 years of experience across research, policy, and equity-focused work.
Tania Domett - Member of the FSC Empower Women Working Group
1. Let’s start with you - what drives you, and how has that shaped your career journey?
What drives me is a refusal to accept a system where things are deeply unfair for communities I care about, and a stubborn urge to break that system and rebuild it so everyone gets a seat at the table. Over the past 15 years or so, both on my own and with others, I’ve delivered many projects aimed at system change and I’m always on the lookout for more opportunities to work collectively. That’s the only way we will achieve progress.
Part of this involves keeping on pointing out that social progress will not happen on its own. I read an excellent article yesterday by a young lawyer writing about representation of female lawyers in litigation in New Zealand and describing progress as ‘glacial’, and I felt a bit sick as 20 years ago I was writing articles using the same exact terminology. We are in fact going backwards as evidenced by last year’s Equal Pay Amendment Act which in fact sent us right back to the 1970s.
2. In your current role, what challenges or opportunities are front of mind right now?
As an outsider to the financial services industry who’s regularly brought in to deliver consulting projects, I see a big gap between a “we’ve always done it this way” approach versus what people actually need and want right now.
I think there’s a massive opportunity for my research agency to help organisations get real about their people, culture and capability and tap into understanding that better. So that’s workforce, but I also see an opportunity for financial services to understand their customers better – particularly the rising numbers of women who are benefiting from the so-called great generational wealth transfer. I don’t think many in the sector have a clue as to what this new generation of wealthy women customers need and expect from their advisors right now and I would love to help them with insights.
3. What are you most excited about in 2026 - personally, professionally, or for the financial services industry?
Honestly? I am jazzed about women inheriting generational wealth, and with it real power and influence, and what the broader systemic impacts of that are going to be.
4. What advice would you share with women navigating their own growth in financial services and growing their own financial wellbeing?
- Learn the language and then use your own. Understand the concepts, but don’t feel pressured to speak fluent jargon. Plain language is a power move.
- Ask the “dumb” questions. If you don’t understand, chances are half the room doesn’t either. Ask the questions and people will be grateful you did.
- You belong in the room. If you’ve made it into the room, you’re meant to be there. If you’re not in the room, get in there! You’re supposed to be in there. Sit at the table and use your big voice.
- Your money is not a side quest. Don’t wait until “things settle down” to get on top of your financial wellbeing. That mythical time doesn’t arrive. Start now, even if it’s tiny steps.
5. How do you stay balanced or refuel outside work?
My friendships, some I’ve had for decades and some are brand new and I’m always recruiting. And I’ve also learned (possibly a bit late in the game) that rest is not a reward for finishing everything. Rest is part of being able to do the work you want to do without completely frying your brain. I’m getting better at that.
Bonus: What does empowerment mean to you?
People talk a lot about empowerment, but I’m not a fan of the word as it suggests power is something being handed over or bestowed by others. What I really want to see is women who are POWERFUL in their own right and who are using that power for system change.