[ T H E B I G I N T E R V I E W | S T E P H E N P O N Z I O ]
with BTIG ’ s Stephen Ponzio
CLAUDIA PREECE sits down with head of electronic trading at BTIG , Stephen Ponzio , to discuss what ’ s front of mind when it comes to investing in e-trading talent , which characteristics are most prized on the desk , the importance of human-to-human interaction , and the firm ’ s future technological plans .
When it comes to investing in electronic trading talent , what are the key things you look out for ? As BTIG electronic trading thinks about the future , we are prioritising developing junior talent with a diverse skill set and background including critical thinking , resourcefulness , and a strong work ethic . A good indicator for critical thinking is a robust education in science and mathematics . The latter teaches discipline , reasoning , and completeness . Moreover , a foundational grasp of statistics is also important as many of our methodologies rely on it to uncover truths through sampling and identify biases .
Resourcefulness is often highly correlated with programming skills .
People who love programming are usually very curious and have developed good engineering skills – they learn how to make things work . Solid programmers understand core principles like organisation , abstraction , and modularity which are also important attributes for traders . The best traders approach their work systematically – they focus on the process without getting distracted by idiosyncrasies in the results .
BTIG is a firm that prizes innovation . We look for talent that can ace new technologies and tackle problems with agility , precision , foresight , and creativity .
When it comes to sourcing better liquidity , how important is human-to-human interaction today ? The sweet spot of high-touch trading is finding a natural cross , pairing up a client who wants to sell a large block of stock with another client who wants to buy it . That ’ s a win all around – both clients avoid the friction of trading in the market and save the associated costs . Trust , discretion and personal relationships are indispensable
" We are prioritising developing junior talent with a diverse skill set and background including critical thinking , resourcefulness , and a strong work ethic ."
Issue 81 // thetradenews . com // 59