Q What do you love about your job?
My job allows me to bring different elements of my personality together. There is never a dull day. Things are always moving and changing, which never allows one to get bored. The best part of my job is the ability for me to tap into my specialist knowledge but also use my people skills daily. In my role, I am allowed to get as technical as I want to be or step back and be more high level.
My role requires that I interact with internal and external stakeholders, which can be challenging but is also exciting.
Q What is the most important career decision you have made?
The most important career decision was to make the shift from being a specialist to becoming a generalist. I enjoyed being a portfolio manager but there was a part of me that always wondered if there was a role that could truly capture the essence of who I am as a person and the things that motivate me. I believe my current role gives me that. Completely changing careers in my late 30s has also taught me some key life lessons about change, tenacity and fearlessness. I chose to relentlessly pursue the things that would not only fulfil me but also allow me to have an impact on those around me.
Q Which one piece of information do people not know about you?
I have an inexplicable fear of creepy crawlies, specifically geckos. On a more serious note, most people do not know that what motivates me most is cultivating a better environment for future generations. I’m obsessed with doing my part to inspire young individuals to find their purpose and become who they are meant to be. More specifically, I enjoy mentoring young people wanting to join or new joiners in our industry. There is so much talent out there and the more people we can support in the early stages of their journey, the better the pipeline will be for senior leadership in years to come.
Q What would you tell your teenage self?
You can buy many things, but not good health. Being an overachiever can be used positively to reach great heights, but nothing is worth the cost of one’s health. Take time out to recharge and replenish.
Q What would you tell your teenage self?
Soak it all up. Listen intently and pay attention. Build solid relationships with everyone, even when it seems pointless. The industry is small; relationships built in your formative years will serve you well later in life.
Q What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
A former boss told me to trust in the process. That same year, a friend told me that what is yours will not miss you. If I combine the two, it is the best piece of advice that I now cling to when times are tough. You are exactly where you are meant to be at any given point in time and what is meant to be will not only manifest itself beautifully, but it will surpass your expectations.
Q What do you like to do in your leisure time?
Play golf with my husband. It allows me to unwind and has become our love language as a couple. We bond and get to know each other better with each game we play. We now plan our travel around our golf, which takes us to some really great places.
Q Who inspires you?
There are plenty of public figures I draw inspiration from, but the following come to mind as I read their biographies and drew so many invaluable insights: Michelle Gadsen-Williams (Managing Director of BlackRock); Indra Nooyi (Former CEO of PepsiCo); Satya Nadella (CEO of Microsoft); Michelle Obama (Former first lady of America). The golden thread I picked up from all those books was that humility and hard work go a long way. Most importantly, the big breaks in life are linked to a greater power and are not of our own making. On a more personal note, my mother ranks high. She is a rock that not only sharpens but also remains steadfast in all seasons. I’ve learnt a lot of lessons about being a good human and a prayer warrior from her. She is one of the greats in my book.
Q Something specific to me
When I started in the industry in 2007, CFA was the pinnacle of success and what everyone aimed to attain. I suspect it probably still is, 16 years later. What I discovered for myself is that there are multiple ways to reach a goal. Be curious and discover your own path.
