Less Sweat, More Stocks: How Six Elite Athletes Are Thriving at Nomura

Photo left to right: Elizabeth Adam, Skye Davidson, Olympia Aldersey, Ruth Siddorn, and Harry Glenister, in front of the Nomura EMEA HQ in the City of London. 

From rugby pitches, rowing lanes, ice rinks, and velodromes to the fast-paced world of global finance, seven remarkable athletes are proving that the transition from elite sport to investment banking isn’t just possible—it’s powerful.

Through transferable skills, the support of add-victor, and sheer resilience, these talented athletes have taken their competitive edge from podiums to the professional world, thriving in roles across Nomura’s trading, sales, and strategic divisions.

Leading this transition are Elizabeth Adam and Olympia Aldersey, two international champions who both joined Nomura just two months ago and are already making waves. We had the opportunity to speak with both of them and hear their insights, alongside the perspectives from rower Ruth Siddorn, and figure skater, Adelina Galyavieva. 

 

Elizabeth Adam: From England Rugby to Equities Trading

 

"I had to believe in myself. If I didn’t believe I could do it, why would anyone else?" 

A former England international in Rugby 7s, Elizabeth Adam had her athletic career unfortunately cut short in 2023 after a serious concussion. Her ability to come back from such a traumatic setback—eventually stepping into the high-stakes world of equities trading at Nomura—is a remarkable testament to her resilience, courage, and unwavering determination to succeed. A Loughborough graduate with a degree in Maths and Sport Science, she channelled her love of numbers and competition into her new role in Equities Trading at Nomura.

"I had to believe in myself. If I didn’t believe I could do it, why would anyone else?" Elizabeth shares. That self-belief, honed through years of high-level sport, has become the foundation of her new career and a skill that has proved invaluable to both aspects of her life.

Though transitioning from sport to finance can be intimidating—particularly in male-dominated environments—Elizabeth has found purpose in a team that shares her drive to challenge norms and foster inclusion. Although being the only two women interviewed of a group of 10, Elizabeth and Olympia both note that the company’s own self-awareness of the need for better gender equality in their roles made a real difference. For Elizabeth, that transparency and shared goal of better representation was empowering; it transformed what could have been an isolating experience into a collaborative mission. Olympia echoed this sentiment, noting that despite the competitive and often male-dominated nature of the finance industry, Nomura made a concerted effort to engage with them as individuals and value the discipline and mindset they brought from sport. That genuine interest and mutual respect laid a strong foundation for confidence and belonging in an otherwise unfamiliar environment.

Her time as an athlete taught her how to work hard, learn fast, and set goals—skills that have proven invaluable in her finance role. "It’s about switching focus. I haven’t given anything up, just redirected my energy." This also helped to ease the heavy burden which any athlete transitioning out of sport experiences; how to change your focus from dedicating most of your time to your body, to now focusing on your mind. Elizabeth credits add-victor for playing a vital role in her transition. "They were with me for four years, from my days in Loughborough. After my injury, Steve gave me the time I needed to heal while I was not quite ready for a job. When I was finally ready, he was ready with opportunities."

 

Olympia Aldersey: From Olympic Podiums to the Sales Floor

 

With three Olympic Games, a World Championship gold, and a world record under her belt, Olympia Aldersey is no stranger to elite performance. After retiring from rowing and relocating from Australia to London, she’s found a new challenge at Nomura in Equities Sales.

Olympia began laying the foundations of her post-athletic career while still competing. A qualified lawyer, she worked at EY in Sydney during and after the Tokyo Olympics, exploring areas like regulation and compliance—areas that sparked a growing interest in the world of finance. However, balancing elite sport and full-time corporate work wasn’t sustainable. "Rowing is incredibly intense—you train three times a day. I had to make a decision: go all in on another Olympic cycle or pivot my focus to a new professional challenge."

Having previously been limited in her ability to relocate or explore different career paths because of rowing, Olympia sought broader horizons. She considered strategy consulting and overseas opportunities, but breaking into finance felt daunting. "It seemed like a world you had to be part of from the start, with internships and networks already in place—especially as a woman." There was not much representation in these fields when she was younger, and even the stories she had heard of women breaking into male fields seemed harsh and unforgiving. Yet, Olympia approached the transition with her characteristic determination and clarity. She didn’t wait for the perfect moment—she created it. Drawing on the same mindset that saw her through Olympic cycles and high-pressure competition, she decided to carve out her own path into finance, using her legal background, intellectual curiosity, and competitive drive as her foundation. That internal motivation, paired with her ability to learn quickly and commit fully, was what ultimately enabled her to seize the right opportunity when it appeared.

That’s when add-victor’s Milo reached out. He introduced her to a role in London that perfectly matched her interests, and offered an encouraging perspective by highlighting that another elite rower had thrived in the same team. That connection made the opportunity feel tangible and achievable.

Now working in Equities Sales, Olympia is leveraging her sporting skillset in new ways. She tells us that there is a steep learning curve, but athletes are wired to learn fast and adapt. Discipline, ambition, resilience are things that don’t just disappear when you leave sport.

Her experience in male-dominated industries, both in law and now in finance, has taught her the importance of confidence and community. She credits Nomura for recognising the value of her background and making a genuine effort to include and support her. "There are still challenges in representation, but I feel I have a voice here—and that makes all the difference."

 

Building a Network of Trailblazers

 

Elizabeth and Olympia are not alone in this transition. They’re part of a growing cohort of athletes now thriving at Nomura thanks to add-victor’s mission to unlock elite talent.

Skye Davidson, a 14-time Zimbabwe National Cycling Champion and astrophysics graduate from Edinburgh, now works in Nomura’s Business Report Management team.

Adelina Galyavieva, a former Olympic level figure skater and French national champion, has brought her determination and precision to Asian Equity Sales.

Adelina faced the challenge of adapting to a more stable corporate rhythm after an intense sporting career. “It might sound silly, but for me, changing from 8 hours of movement to 8 hours of sitting was quite hard. It was a completely different reality for my body.”

She credits her experience in high-pressure competition with helping her develop resilience, adaptability, and strong presentation skills—qualities that have been invaluable in her role at Nomura. “I won’t lie, it wasn’t easy going from an industry where I competed at the top level to starting everything from ‘zero’ and feeling behind my age-mates. Honestly, it was a massive ego hit.”

Julia Lindsay, a Canadian rower and Oxford PhD in Psychiatry, is soon to join Senior Relationship Management.

Ruth Siddorn, a former GB rower and Oxford Chemistry graduate, has been with Nomura for 18 months in Structured Rates.

Ruth shared that while many seek flexible working, she was drawn to a full-time office role at Nomura after struggling with the isolation of remote work in a previous job. Financial security was also key for her: “Most athletes know that managing finances when an athlete is tough, and so a job that offered good financial security was paramount. Often a taboo subject, transitioning from sport for me also meant prioritising stability after years of living frugally”.

“The biggest hurdle was getting a job in the first place! I faced many rejections, as I know many athletes do”. After 9 interviews, she found her place in structured products, where she thrives in a team that values both her sporting and academic background.

Harry Glanister, a former GB rower and Oxford MBA graduate, now works in Credit Sales EM. 

Together, these athletes are not only proving their place in finance but are actively redefining what high-potential talent looks like.

 

From Podium to Profession

 

For all six women, the move into finance has been less about leaving sport behind and more about transferring a mindset: focus, adaptability, resilience, and ambition.

As women in a space still working toward true gender parity, they are paving the way for others. The support from add-victor has been instrumental—not just in securing roles, but in navigating the transition and recognising their value beyond sport.

"Being an athlete means you know how to learn," Olympia says. "You know how to work with people, how to adapt. It’s tiring in a different way, but it’s momentum in a new direction."

Less sweat, more stocks? Absolutely. For these athletes, performance hasn’t gone anywhere—it’s just found a new stage.

Viola Alishah