A little about myself
I graduated from SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business in 2017 with a major in finance. Reflecting on my undergraduate days, it has really been a fulfilling four years. I spent a bulk of my time training with the Track & Field Team, staying overnight at Li Ka Shing Library working on stock pitches or case competitions, and even staying at Sarimbun Camp for more than half my summer as organizing committee for the Freshmen Team Building Camp. Presently at Wellington Management, I analyze companies and make buy-sell investment recommendations to my portfolio managers.
What got me interested in Finance
Unlike many others, I did not set out to chase a career in finance right from freshman year. To be honest, I had little clue what finance was all about. The first time I got exposed to the subject was in Y2S1 when I took Finance 101 under Professor Tan Eng Joo. I was fascinated at how passionate he was, and how he would put in so much effort to explain foreign concepts to us in such great detail. This inspired me to read up more on the subject. As I began to read more on the different aspects of finance, I was drawn to it even more. I realized that finance extends beyond just statistics and numbers, but also into human behaviors, market cycles, politics, just to name a few.
Internship path to my first and second career
While exploring a potential career in the finance industry, I decided that doing an internship would help me make a more informed decision. Back then, I remember speaking with Hafiz and he encouraged me to apply for a commercial banking role at a Dutch bank. That was how it all started. Subsequently, I moved into transaction banking, had a stint within a family office, and tried investment banking. In my final summer internship, I was at a buy-side firm covering public equities investment.
After these internship stints, I realized how much I actually enjoyed investing and set a goal to eventually become a portfolio manager. Therefore, starting out in equity research made the most sense to me as a junior. Upon graduation, I joined an investment bank as an equity research associate (sell-side) for a year. Thereafter, I moved to my current role in equity research at Wellington Management, a global investment management firm.
It has been such a long journey! Yet on hindsight, I am glad to have gone through all these various stints as it helped me to learn more about what I like and dislike; expand my network and build relationships; and get a bigger picture of how the finance industry works as well as how different functions come together.
As a junior starting out, I think it is crucial to keep an open mind, be adaptable, have a positive attitude, and always be ready to learn no matter where you are placed.
Why I love being in the finance industry
Investing is a combination of art and science:
Investing entails the art of understanding changes in consumer preferences and the evolution of industry dynamics and management motivations. This also includes the science of translating such insights into numbers and expected returns. There is no standard formula to investing, and this is precisely why everyday so exciting!
You are always learning:
Being a generalist, I can be learning about anything from semi-conductors to innovative drugs, and maybe uranium next. I also receive the opportunity to engage in conversations with different stakeholders – consumers, management team, industry experts and policy makers. Recently, to possess a better perspective on the auto industry, I went on a trip to China to visit various auto manufacturing facilities, spoke to the auto-dealers and even went on a couple of test drives. This role grants you excellent exposure even at a junior level, which I believe is extremely valuable.
It is intellectually rewarding:
The work we do is never mundane, and it satisfies my intellectual curiosity on a daily basis. After generating an investment thesis for a company, I always make it a point to play devil’s advocate with myself. For example, I am calling a buy on a stock for various reasons such as strong growth profile of the company. If it is such a good buy, why would someone on the other end sell it to me? What am I missing? Where could I be wrong? These are some of the questions that are always at the back of my mind. I am also privileged to be surrounded by many like-minded colleagues at work who always challenge my thought process with a different perspective. Thanks to the collaborative culture in the firm, we are always constantly debating and bouncing ideas off each other.
On mentoring and being mentored
Mentorship has been a significant part of my growth over the last few years and I am thankful to everyone who has helped me in one way or another. I believe that mentorship should not be only limited to our career; it should also extend into our personal lives. One of my closest mentors is someone whom I really look up to and aspire to be. He has not only taught me many important lessons in investing, but beyond that, to stay grounded, humble and be empathetic.
I am a firm believer in giving back instead of simply being a beneficiary of the system. It is really satisfying to mentor juniors and guide them in thinking about their career, as well as personal development. In my opinion, a great mentee-mentor relationship requires significant effort by both parties. I believe mentees should never play the passive role. The onus is on you to set goals on what you want to get out of the partnership and how your mentor can effectively help you – always do your homework! On the other hand, mentors should never spoon-feed or provide their mentees with answers, but rather challenge their thought process and ask the right questions to get them on the right path.
Significant barriers or challenges faced as a woman entering or working in the finance industry
The finance industry has traditionally been perceived as the boys’ club and as a result, many females shy away from joining. Many women in the industry tend to self-censor or feel the constant pressure to somehow find a way to “fit” into the male-dominated environment.
Despite that, I am proud to be a female in this business. I believe that there is no need to try hard to ‘’fit’’ into the boys’ club or constantly seek validation from someone. Instead, that energy can be channeled into delivering our best. Always stay true to yourself – do not try to be who you are not. Additionally, constantly challenge yourself to be bold and be your own voice.
It is imperative to build a female network – a support group that you can always count on to share your thoughts consisting of people who build you up. As a junior, I think it is also helpful to have a female mentor who can navigate you through the ups and downs, be it career or otherwise.
As females I believe we are equally built for this business, and there is no need to feel inferior to our male counterparts!
Golden tips
Getting into the industry is not an easy ride. It requires plenty of hard work and perseverance so one must be prepared to put in the hours. However, this is not to say that you should become a robot working non-stop 24/7. As this is also a relationship business, it is crucial to have strong interpersonal skills too.
Ultimately, I believe that there isn’t any hard and fast rule for success, or specific things you can do to make yourself more “suitable” for a career in finance. However, I thought it would be helpful to share the main principles I live by, and shape me to become who I am today:
- Make it your job to improve yourself
- Ask for feedback constantly
- Dare to take risks
- Have the courage to admit your mistakes
- Take pride in your work and love what you do
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