The chief executive of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) has proposed that President Trump’s controversial approach to woke culture might prompt more firms to consider listing on the London exchange.

In March, President Trump enacted an executive order prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in both public and private sectors, with the White House denouncing these practices as “forced illegal and immoral discrimination.”

Dame Julia Hoggett, the LSE’s CEO, commented that the lack of a DEI-friendly atmosphere in the United States might influence corporate decisions on where to list their shares.

“We adhere to the laws and regulations of every country we operate in, but we establish our own culture. It wouldn’t surprise me if many companies feel similarly and will seek out different jurisdictions that align with their desired corporate culture,” she stated.

Hoggett shared these insights with The Times after receiving the Bold Woman Award, presented by Veuve Clicquot, honoring women in business for over 45 years.

At 51, Hoggett was recognized for her significant contributions and leadership in financial services, particularly her role as the CEO of the London Stock Exchange, Europe’s largest exchange, and her leadership of the UK’s Capital Markets Industry Taskforce.

Under her guidance, the taskforce has pushed for significant changes, including advocating for alterations in stock market regulations to attract more entrepreneurs and urging for higher executive pay in the UK market.

Hoggett has credited her success to numerous role models, mentors, and sponsors, with her first mentor being her mother, Lady Hale, the former president of the Supreme Court from 2017 to 2020. “Watching her navigate her career provided immense value to my own journey,” she remarked.

Lady Hale garnered attention in 2019 for her ruling against Boris Johnson’s attempt to prorogue Parliament, and Hoggett acknowledged that her mother’s experience offered her tools for managing a career in a high-profile position. “Having a relatively low social media presence is one of those strategies,” Hoggett noted.

She emphasized the importance of maintaining a distinction between professional and personal identities. “I take my role seriously, but I don’t take myself too seriously. It’s vital to separate the position from the person,” she added.

During the awards ceremony at the Royal Opera House in London, Insiya Jafferjee received the Bold Future Award. At 33, Jafferjee has a background in product design from Stanford University and previously worked as an engineer at Apple before co-founding Shellworks in 2019.

The startup aims to replace plastic packaging with an innovative material known as Vivomer, produced through a microbial fermentation process that naturally degrades after use. Shellworks has already garnered clients such as Wild Cosmetics and reported revenues of £1 million in 2024, targeting £4.5 million in sales this year.

Jafferjee expressed her experiences as a woman in technology and manufacturing, where she has often been in the minority, making her more determined to counteract “subconscious biases”.

She transitioned from consumer electronics to materials due to a desire to create a more significant impact. “While I have great respect for Apple, I wanted to contribute meaningfully beyond just selling consumer products,” she remarked.

To date, Shellworks has claimed to have eliminated 40 tonnes of plastic and over 1.2 million pieces of packaging that would otherwise be reliant on petroleum-based plastics.