Buy-side Perspectives Issue 14 | Page 19

My managers have made it very apparent to me that family comes first at Schroders. Having this kind of support from your co-workers and management makes being a part of Schroders a really enjoyable experience. and management makes being a part of Schroders a really enjoyable experience. I also think this drives you on to do the best job you can, as not all employers embrace values such as this, and I am genuinely grateful to work here. get off the desk for an hour a day, when we can, and make use of this facility. Can you share some top tips in being a successful career woman? It’s important to be passionate about what you do. I couldn’t imagine staying in a job, or an industry that didn’t Do you have any hobbies/interests interest me, so to be successful in any and do you manage to get time to career you need to enjoy your job. fulfil these? I have always challenged the way things are done, especially if the I took up yoga when I was pregnant process seems inefficient. Never be with Frank, and this has been a passion afraid to question why an operational of mine ever since. It’s probably the procedure is done in such a way – if you have FX has always been an ever-changing other suggestions of market and, especially at Schroders, we how you think it could be are aware that we want to have the best enhanced or improved, trading applications, price discovery then speak up. tools and exposure to the best liquidity. I have always had the It is important to stay abreast of the new pleasure of working offerings that come to market as they with some exceptionally may potentially add value, as well as intelligent and brilliant people, and Schroders minimise cost and risk to execution. is no exception to this. Learn as much as you can from your peers, and make use of all only hour a week I get to myself when I the resources at your fingertips. Take can really unwind and try and clear my courses and make yourself the very mind. We also have a fantastic new gym in our best you can be. My last tip is to never underestimate new offices, so all of the team try and Winter 2018 www.buysideintel.com anyone, or think yourself or your role superior to other people or parts of the business. Every employee has a part to play within the successful organisation of a company. For me, having worked in both the back and front office, I understand the complete front-to-back cycle of a trade. You need the brilliance of a PM to come up with the right trade, the skill of a trader to execute the deal at the best price without causing disruption to the market and the efficiency and care of the middle office to instruct and make the cash payments. All parts of this cycle and the people who undertake each job are important and add value. Praise colleagues and tell people when your peers have done a good job as all too often the recognition of people’s efforts can be missed, and hard work deserves to be rewarded. What do you think the 3 main qualities are for being a successful buy-side trader? • • • Understanding your market. Having good trust-based relationships with your sales / bank contacts. Having a strong and efficient platform for dealing. 19