What are your key roles and responsibilities in your current positions? What do you like most about your job and what do you find most challenging?
As an Associate Analyst in Equity Research at UBS, I use bespoke empirical methods as well as standard financial research practices to generate insights about what is going on in the market. This often involves generating investment theses, writing code, compiling traditional and alternative datasets, talking to experts, listening to earnings calls, and generating research reports and products as part of a team. I love that my research results have an immediate impact in the world, but this also means that things move very quickly. Coming from academia, the most challenging aspect as been adapting to the fast pace.
List or describe the top 5+ professional skills that are crucial to your role.
- Research writing
- Cmmunication
- Project management
- Data analysis, statistics, and coding
- Financial modeling
How did your time at Yale shape your career trajectory? For example, what skills and/or experiences did you acquire that have contributed to your career success?
My time at Yale made me realize just how much I love working with data AND with other people who love data and research. The presentation and research communication skills I accumulated from years of lab presentations, poster sessions, conference talks, and invited colloquiums have been instrumental in translating my day to day empirical findings to a finance audience. Additionally, this specific role required programming skills, which I honed over 5 years of analyzing human behavioral and neural data using a suite of coding languages and platforms.
What were the biggest challenges that you faced when transitioning to different workplaces and cultures? What advice and suggestions can you offer to current students to help them prepare for those challenges?
The jump from academia to industry is tricky, and people in industry often want to know why you’re choosing to make that jump. My advice is to have a compelling and logical narrative in your back pocket for when you’re asked to explain your trajectory. Once you’re in a new position, seek out mentors early and ask questions often.
