BSc Philosophy & Economics, 2011
Analyst, FX German and Southern European, Morgan Stanley
Career so far
Deutsche Bank (2007)
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (2008)
The Economist Intelligence Unit (2008)
Human Dynamics (2009)
Morgan Stanley internship (2010)
Morgan Stanley full-time (2012)
How did you choose your career?
I approached senior students at LSE who had work experience, matched job descriptions with my interests and skills and talked to professionals at careers fairs. I considered other careers but was most attracted to finance, as it’s an incredibly dynamic industry.
Why did you choose your current employer?
Morgan Stanley is an industry leader with a reputation as a client-focused organisation and I was impressed by the people I met. I wanted to work with a diverse team who were passionate and committed to the progress of the wider business and I required my employer to invest time and effort in my training and development. The firm has one of the top analyst programmes and the development of juniors is taken seriously.
What did LSE teach you?
LSE is an excellent academic institution, so the analytic thinking skills and the rigour you develop will prepare you for demanding tasks. You’ll have access to conferences and career events – the network that you build now will be an asset later.
Did LSE give you different skills?
Students are driven to apply what they learn to the real world and are entrepreneurial – consider the number of societies you see at the Freshers’ Fair. Few top 10 universities boast a more multinational student body – setting you up for a global career.
What’s your current role and what are you expected to achieve?
I work in the FX Sales team on Morgan Stanley’s trading floor. We work with our traders, helping clients execute large foreign exchange transactions using FX spot and derivatives products. We advise on hedging strategies together with our economic research, strategy and structuring teams. You need to work hard, learn fast and take on about as much responsibility as you can handle and build relationships with clients. It’s intense and frenetic so you must be able to thrive in that atmosphere.
Your most significant achievement?
After only three months, my manager entrusted me with daily client responsibility and managing a large client handover.
Your most challenging task?
I found learning actual trade execution daunting, as you must understand the jargon and communicate concisely to traders to ensure correct pricing. It can be nerve-wracking and there are inevitably mistakes made, which feels terrible. But you learn a lot and soon find yourself picking up two phones at the same time.
The best and worst aspects of the job?
I like the dynamic and buzzy environment; you must be completely focused throughout the day as FX markets are in the middle of everything and most economic or political events will affect what your clients are doing. It is also meritocratic – you are judged by your business performance – but development and leadership matter too. However, your day at the office can start between 6.15 and 7.15 am. You do get used to it by Wednesday each week and we rarely work weekends, which is some consolation.
How have you contributed to the success of the organisation?
I’ve helped streamline some execution processes whose implementation has helped to reduce operational risk. I have also tried to know as much as possible about my colleagues’ clients so that when they were travelling, I could step in and help out.
How do you see your career progressing?
I want to develop expert knowledge of our products, a good internal network and a sound judgement of the markets. I have been given plenty of responsibility early on, but want to build relationships in such a way that I am entrusted with full coverage of some smaller accounts in the next year.
What makes you good at your job?
I am very curious, which is helpful when on a steep learning curve. I’m also energetic and thrive on a busy schedule. Being outgoing has helped me to build relationships.
What are the top skills that graduates should develop at LSE?
An eagerness to learn and a desire to contribute are important, as is tenacity. Be confident in your ability but don’t pretend to know stuff you don’t – you’ll get found out. The network you bring from the LSE will be useful too.
Any advice for LSE students wanting a career in your organisation or line of work?
Choose programmes that let you rotate through various desks. An internship is a great opportunity to look around. You could be surprised by a role that you did not see yourself doing, and if not then you have learnt a great deal for whatever you settle on.