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rise through the ranks to take home one of the most prestigious accolades of The TRADE ’ s Leaders in Trading awards ceremony .
Starting her career on the sell-side as a trader at UBS and Deutsche Bank in structured credit and equities , Lao made the move to the buy-side in 2013 when she joined AXA Investment Managers . Her interest in finance and markets was shaped by what she describes as a “ classic French engineering background ”, studying mathematics and physics before completing several bank internships .
“ My time at AXA was an incredible first step into the buy-side world ,” Lao recalls . “ The structure was huge . There were more than 50 portfolio managers in all regions . I spent just over four years there learning
" If you had told me at the time I received the Rising Stars recognition that I would win the Trader of the Year award three years later , I never would have believed you ."
Stars recognition that I would win the Trader of the Year award three years later , I never would have believed you ,” Lao says . “ I just could not have imagined it , I ’ m totally delighted . It ’ s a great honour to get such recognition from the industry .”
Lao was in many ways the underdog in the Trader of the Year 2020 award category . She competed against heads of trading and traders at some of the world ’ s largest hedge fund , capping off her and gaining experience from recognised traders before I was presented with the opportunity to continue developing those skills in another segment , the hedge fund area .”
Now , Lao is an equity trader for hedge fund Boussard & Gavaudan , a role she has held since the beginning of 2018 . The structure is very different from AXA but being smaller gives its traders the chance to work more closely with other departments , providing a more holistic picture of the investment flow .
As Lao became more engaged and a part of the investment team , she was forced to adapt and learn new workflows in unfamiliar trading strategies with a totally new mindset .
“ I work alongside real veteran and seasoned traders who were willing to explain the new approach ,” Lao says . “ It has been a great career move for me to go into buy-side trading . I don ’ t regret that , and I wouldn ’ t change it if I had the choice again .”
Failure was not an option During a typical day at Boussard & Gavaudan , Lao arrives at the office and checks the overnight news from the US before focussing on Europe to identify potential market moving developments for the trading desk .
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