Overcoming oneself should be a top priority for women to consistently develop their expertise in this male-centric investment banking (IB) industry, Ashley Hong, founder and CEO of APC Private Equity, said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. “Being a woman is not a handicap, nor is it a weapon,” Hong said. “I have seen so many women - including myself - struggling to defeat men and macho culture in the conservative IB sector, but this kind of competitive mindset may rob you of energy and passion in the end.”