Research

Research that turns evidence into action.

IiFE research is evidence-led and implementation-focused. It helps organisations move from insight to action by connecting inclusion, cognitive diversity, talent and leadership to better decision-making, stronger performance and long-term business success.

Explore the Research → Become a Member →

The IiFE Research Journey Evidence → Action

Three distinct studies on inclusion, cognitive diversity and social mobility in European asset management.

From evidence to implementation

Evidence is only valuable when it changes what organisations do.

IiFE research identifies industry challenges, builds evidence and translates insight into implementation-focused frameworks, communities and programmes that help members implement change.

Industry challenges

Understanding the barriers holding back progress.

→

Evidence

Using research, data and industry insight to clarify what works.

→

Applied frameworks

Turning findings into tools, guidance and programmes.

→

Implementation

Helping members improve decisions, talent and performance.

Our Research Programmes

Three distinct studies. One direction. Evidence shaping action.

Since 2024, IiFE has developed three distinct research studies examining inclusion, cognitive diversity and social mobility in European asset management. Together, they establish the industry landscape, explore how diverse thinking influences decisions and provide practical guidance for widening access to talent.

2024 European Asset Management Landscape

A benchmark of inclusion maturity, regulation and the gap between strategic intent and implementation.

2025 Cognitive Diversity

How diverse thinking can influence decisions, investment performance and team effectiveness.

2026 Social Mobility: An Untapped Opportunity

Practical guidance for widening access to talent, strengthening progression and supporting action.

2024

Benchmark research

Embracing Inclusion in European Asset Management

Inclusion in Finance Europe in partnership with PwC Switzerland

European asset management firms recognised that inclusion was good for business. Most had made strategic commitments. Few had translated those commitments into how decisions were made, how talent was developed or how performance was delivered.

This research established a comprehensive benchmark of inclusion maturity across 10 European countries, mapping the regulatory landscape and identifying the critical gap between strategic intent and operational reality across Gender Equality, Social Mobility and Inclusive Culture.

Source: PwC / Inclusion in Finance Europe, 2024

What this enabled

The benchmark clarified where firms needed to move from awareness to implementation and helped shape IiFE's communities and implementation work.

Download the Report → Download Executive Summary →

Key findings

4 in 5 organisations recognise the business benefits of inclusion.
14% of leaders are held accountable for inclusion objectives, with rewards tied to achieving them.
3.3 out of 5 was the industry's average inclusion maturity score. Strategy is strong. Implementation is lagging.
1 in 5 organisations collect social mobility data.
4% have measurable social mobility goals, compared with 66% for gender.

2025

What the research shows

Skills diversity delivers the strongest results. Professional and educational background diversity shows the most consistent positive correlation with investment team performance.
Cognitive diversity is most valuable in idea generation. It helps teams identify opportunities, challenge assumptions and avoid groupthink.
Psychological safety is not optional. People only contribute different perspectives when they feel safe doing so.
Meeting design matters. How meetings are structured influences whether different perspectives emerge or disappear.
Leadership is the differentiator. Leaders determine whether cognitive diversity translates into better decisions.
Inclusion enables performance. Different perspectives create value when people are able to contribute them.

Evidence research

The Power of Diverse Thinking. How the Best Teams Make Decisions

Professor Alex Edmans, London Business School

An Inclusion in Finance research initiative, commissioned by Inclusion in Finance UK, in collaboration with Inclusion in Finance Europe and Inclusion in Finance North America, and led by Professor Alex Edmans of London Business School.

The 2024 benchmark identified the implementation gap. The next question was fundamental: does cognitive diversity influence decision-making and investment performance?

Professor Alex Edmans set out to answer that question rigorously, combining academic evidence with first-hand insights from investment professionals across the industry. The brief was explicit: examine what the evidence shows, not what anyone hoped to see.

The central argument

Cognitive diversity, properly implemented, can have a significantly positive effect on investment performance.

The key words are properly implemented.

Simply adding diversity does not work. The “add diversity and stir” approach assumes benefits arise automatically. They do not. Firms that succeed in harnessing cognitive diversity can create competitive advantage precisely because it is difficult to get right.

Source: Professor Alex Edmans, London Business School, 2025

What this enabled

The research established an evidence base for practical leadership, decision-making and organisational implementation across member firms.

Download the Full Report → Explore Cognitive Diversity →

Research impact

Research informing industry practice.

IiFE research is designed to support implementation. Its findings inform leadership practice, organisational capability and industry collaboration, helping member organisations translate evidence into meaningful change.

Application

Gender Equality

Applying research to strengthen progression, leadership and investment pathways.

Application

Social Mobility

Applying evidence to widen access, strengthen opportunity and improve talent outcomes.

Application

Inclusive Culture

Supporting organisations to create environments where challenge, contribution and performance thrive.

Applied framework

Cognitive Diversity

Evidence-informed frameworks supporting stronger decision-making and leadership.

Research impact

Evidence designed to support action.

3 major research studies

10 European countries benchmarked in 2024

30 leading asset managers informing 2026 research

4 routes to implementation across communities and solutions

The pattern across three years

The findings tell a consistent story.

The 2024 benchmark showed that firms recognise the value of inclusion but struggle to translate commitment into action.

The 2025 research demonstrated that cognitive diversity can improve investment performance when supported by inclusive leadership, psychological safety and effective decision-making processes.

The 2026 research highlighted practical steps organisations can take to broaden access to talent, strengthen opportunity and move from intention to implementation.

The business case is understood. The implementation gap remains.

4 in 5firms recognise the business benefits of inclusion.

14%hold leaders accountable for delivering it.

4%have measurable social mobility goals.

Implementation is where the opportunity remains.

That gap is precisely what IiFE exists to close.

What comes next

Research is only the beginning.

Evidence alone does not change organisations. IiFE works with members to translate research into applied frameworks, leadership capability, communities and programmes that help organisations embed inclusion and cognitive diversity into how decisions are made, talent is developed and performance is delivered.

Future research will continue to build the evidence base and actionable guidance that helps member organisations move from intention to implementation.

Join IiFE to Access the Full Research Programme →

Different Thinking. Better Outcomes.

Apply evidence to achieve better outcomes.

Join IiFE to access research, applied frameworks, member communities and programmes that help organisations embed inclusion and cognitive diversity into decision-making, leadership and talent processes.

Become a Member → Explore Communities →

Research that turns evidence into action.

Evidence is only valuable when it changes what organisations do.

Industry challenges

Evidence

Applied frameworks

Implementation

Three distinct studies. One direction. Evidence shaping action.

Embracing Inclusion in European Asset Management

What this enabled

Key findings

What the research shows

The Power of Diverse Thinking. How the Best Teams Make Decisions

The central argument

What this enabled

Research informing industry practice.

Gender Equality

Social Mobility

Inclusive Culture

Cognitive Diversity

Evidence designed to support action.

The findings tell a consistent story.

The business case is understood. The implementation gap remains.

Implementation is where the opportunity remains.

Research is only the beginning.

Apply evidence to achieve better outcomes.

Link List

Select from the following list of options.

Research that turns evidence into action.

Evidence is only valuable when it changes what organisations do.

Industry challenges

Evidence

Applied frameworks

Implementation

Three distinct studies. One direction. Evidence shaping action.

Embracing Inclusion in European Asset Management

What this enabled

Key findings

What the research shows

The Power of Diverse Thinking. How the Best Teams Make Decisions

The central argument

What this enabled

Social Mobility in Asset Management: An Untapped Opportunity

What this enables

Key findings

Research informing industry practice.

Gender Equality

Social Mobility

Inclusive Culture

Cognitive Diversity

Evidence designed to support action.

The findings tell a consistent story.

The business case is understood. The implementation gap remains.

Implementation is where the opportunity remains.

Research is only the beginning.

Apply evidence to achieve better outcomes.

Link List

Select from the following list of options.