Motivation/behaviour questions Flashcards
1
Q
Walkthrough resume
A
- Medicine: quickly discovered that I preferred the more analytical parts of Medicine. I enjoyed having the opportunity to test ideas out and take calculated intellectual risks (not rewarding in Medicine) This informed master’s choice and also choose of equity research
- Bioengineering: unrestricted in how you approach questions within the department, taught me the value of resilience/anti-fragility -> having to switch project during lockdown
- Media: chance to work on a relatively new franchise see a number of theses get built out, varied core businesses within coverage
- Utilities: heavy focus on industry models/policy, figuring out implications, lots of reading, lots of new information. Especially interesting during Russia crisis
- Pharma: high intensity, we did lots of deep work, balancing longer term work with unexpected news, very event driven
2
Q
Why this fund
A
- Having researched the company phrase that stuck out - idea velocity
- From inception culture been a large focus - collaboration, humility (self-honesty).
- Opportunities for learning from other investment professionals
3
Q
Why move
A
- Lucky to work at Bernstein surrounded by intelligent driven professionals, and work across different sectors
- During this time always seen the buyside as my ultimate goal. Key factor for me staying was working with previous analyst who ran his team with the intensity, focus, urgency which I really thrived working in
- Key difference is the idea turnover, ownership, intitiative, accountability. Even higher level of skepticism
4
Q
Why hedge fund
A
- More analytical and less client facing
- With hedge funds, timing, market feel, and risk management much more important to integrate at the level of fundamental research
- More accountability for quality of ideas, more actionable
- Billions/passion for investing
5
Q
Motivation
A
- Fast paced contexts, with urgency but task still requires focus (e.g. Zantac)
- Coming up with creative ideas to cut through data (e.g. Novo cost-effectiveness) - feeling that you have an edge on the market in terms of insights
- Learning, being challenged
- Completing difficult task seeing it towards the end (e.g. master’s project)
6
Q
How I became interested in hedge funds
A
- Oxford Alpha Fund analysing companies, we did McDonald’s
- Influenced by media such as Big Short, and Billions
- Seemed a match with what I wanted in my career in terms of intensity and competition, intellectually stimulating
7
Q
Proudest achievements
A
- Master’s project
- ICER note
- UMG initiation
8
Q
Group dynamic behaviour
A
- Quite keen to dissect ideas collaboratively
- Try to leverage skills/expertise of everyone. I tend to be quite flexible in terms of the type of analysis/area I enjoy, advantage in collaborating with others
- Initially was not natural to proactively seek out help from teammembers this has been something i have focused on quite a lot
9
Q
Strengths
A
- Curious/skeptical (healthy)
- Adaptability
- Abstract thinking
10
Q
Weaknesses
A
- Leadership experience (more during pharma)
- Asking people for help not always natural
- Work-life balance
11
Q
Investment books
A
- Irrational exuberance
- Boom and bust (interesting seeing how complex narrative underlies financial markets, with various stakeholders having different interests and goals when participating)
12
Q
One word
A
Skeptical (do not always accept things at face value without sufficient evidence)
13
Q
Long-term career
A
Portfolio manager - at the heart of investment decisions, wide view of market, key node in internal/external debates around company, industry and wider market
14
Q
Quant accomplishments
A
- Cost-effectiveness
- Master’s project
- CD Projekt work for downgrade
15
Q
Track record
A
- Global power model
- Key role in UMG & Adevinta launch. Helping to understand the economics. Finding alternative datasets.Thought leadership on
- Coding
- During internship found alternative data (LYFT)
