Insights
Meet the judges: Myriam Vander Elst
Don’t be ashamed of wealth - it’s what you do with it that counts
What are the positives to launching an initiative like Stonehage Fleming XV (SFXV)?
Anything that boosts the profile of strong, proactive women right now is a good thing. I’m a man-loving feminist but the older I get the more feminist I get. From a young age, it was ingrained in me that the role of women is to support men. Today, things are different. This is our century. The qualities and skills women have today can herald a new era in which capitalism can reinvent itself. Our role in that evolution is vital.
What is the value of building a community like SFXV?
Economic empowerment is 100% about network. The value of such communities is in education; learning new things, whatever your age or walk of life. They provide a group of people you can relate to and connect with which results in real emotional and mental support and that sense of belonging is so empowering.
What are you hoping to get out of being a judge?
It is my first time on a panel like this. As a judge, I think that will make me pragmatic and free of codified filters. I am looking forward to celebrating candidates for the way they have attained their success and how they have shared it around. That’s a huge part of what I do at Epic Foundation: finding people with resources and power who are prepared to share it with people who don’t.
What will you be looking for in an ideal candidate?
With privilege comes entitlement and the only way to avoid entitlement is humility. So, I will be looking for humility and try to identify in candidates a good balance between their emotional and professional achievements. People shouldn’t be ashamed of wealth – it gives you power. It is what you do with it that counts.
Why is it important for people to consider their impact outside their financial success?
Success is, of course, very important and our achievements are a measure of how hard we tried. However, as Warren Buffet holds, if you are lucky enough to be one of the top 1%, it is your duty to take care of the other 99%. It could all end tomorrow. Let’s give purpose and meaning to what we are doing. When we are gone, all that is left is how much we gave and how much we loved.