Buy-side Perspectives Issue 13 | Page 29

mentors. I am fortunate enough to count many of these as friends, which makes my job feel less like work. The support and guidance that I get from my peers is priceless. As much of a fan of technological advance I am, I still believe that this is a people led business. What are your top 3 tips to a successful buy-side career in trading? 1. Maintain your honesty and integrity. Our industry was built on the old adage ’My word is my bond’. Admit your mistakes, don’t hide them. Hidden mistakes are more likely to be repeated. Instead learn from them. Always do the right thing. 2. Keep abreast of new technology, venues and market participants. There is always something new to learn. Embrace technology at work like you would with a new phone, it is there to help you rather than displace you. Neil Bond at the 5 th Annual K&KGC ATF Global Summit love running, skiing, scuba diving and motor biking trips. Marathons and skydiving are ex hobbies now. When I am not seeking adrenalin thrills I get a lot of satisfaction from gardening, which is a bit more therapeutic and would have been career choice number 2! Neil enjoying life away from the trading desk 3. Network. There are always people who know more than you. Find them and learn from them. Alpha Trader Forum is a great place for this. Do you have any personal interests outside of work to help counteract the potential stress associated with being Head Trader? Outside of work I am a keen lover of live music and always have a stack of tickets on the sideboard to look forward to. On some Sunday afternoons you may even find me rehearsing with my band from my teens, but I’d bring your earplugs, we are not as good as we used to be! I also Summer 2018 www.buysideintel.com 29