Career conversations: Blending human psychology and asset management

I've always been very interested in how human psychology affects markets and how it's affected the world in general. So I carried forward that interest to university where I went to study in Montreal, Canada. I was an economics major. I came back to Karachi in 2007 having completed my degree.  

At that time, asset management in Pakistan was still a very nascent industry and it was an up and coming industry. So it was exciting to join something that was growing very fast, where I could apply my own skillset and knowledge base directly to my job. My name is Mustafa O. Pasha. I'm the Chief Investment Officer at Lakson Investments.  

Lakson Investments is an asset management company based out of Karachi Pakistan.  We're currently managing about USD500 million in assets under management.  

I started off as an analyst covering the economy and banking sectors. I did both buy side and sell side research. And then I was able to move on into fund management and then subsequently into my current role as a Chief Investment Officer.

I first heard about the CFA® Program back in 2008. I decided to undertake this rigorous academic journey while working full-time because the CFA [Program] was and is considered the gold standard in the investment management industry.

The other thing was that it was a very exclusive designation in Pakistan as there were less than a hundred CFA® [Charterholders] at the time. It also allowed me to polish my technical skills, and it really helped to accelerate my career growth from an Analyst to a Portfolio Manager and then to a Chief Investment Officer.

As a Chief Investment Officer, my primary role is to lead a team of portfolio managers, research analysts, and traders. And I think the technical grounding that the CFA® charter gives me has allowed me to effectively play the role as a sounding board and filter for the investment ideas and strategies that my team brings to me.

You're expected to represent your company and lead clients on a regular basis to explain your portfolio investment strategy and the macro outlook.  

I think the CFA® designation gives confidence to both sides of the table, to myself and my technical skills, and to the client that they're dealing with a competent professional.

Last year the government called an RFP for one of the largest federal employee government funds.  And we, along with several of our fellow asset managers, pitched for this RFP.  

And one of the critical criteria for qualifying was the number of CFA® [Charterholders] that you had on your investments and research team. Luckily we were able to score maximum points in this category, and I think this helped to win this mandate.

I was very lucky that my employer is willing to provide time off and a scholarship or reimbursement for the cost of the CFA Program. I would strongly recommend that you explore this opportunity with your own employer and stress the positive impact the CFA [Program] can have on your career growth and the company as well.