Career conversations: Develop a positive mindset and your people skills

CFA (Program) is a difficult program but you're going to make it, and when you do, you will look back and say thank you to yourself because it may be the biggest investment in you, in yourself that you can make as a financial professional. My name is Tanja Harrison and I'm a CFA® charterholder since 2013. Today I'm Head of Treasury at Nasdaq Clearing and the member of the Board of CFA® Society of Sweden.

My CFA (Program) journey started in 2006 in Finland. I was working in a Helsinki office of a Swedish credit institution and I had the privilege to have a very good boss. I was very junior by that time, but with a strong motivation to succeed in the financial industry.

My boss saw it and gave me the best advice. Tanja, do the CFA Program. This will help you not only in Finland but also internationally. People who never tried to pass a CFA® Exam do not really understand how much effort, work and dedication that requires.

I failed the first exam of the first level. And then I was expecting my baby. I was seven months pregnant when I sat for the exam. This time I passed. So I continued studying. Many candidates and charterholders consider the Level II to be the most difficult. It was certainly so for me. I failed Level II three times.

CFA® Exam is something that you cannot just take lightly. In order to pass, you have to stay on track with the study and be very disciplined. I could do so mainly because I was interested and I enjoyed the learning process. The curriculum was difficult, but highly relevant and interesting.

When I moved to Stockholm, I joined the local CFA® Society and tried to go to as many of their events as I could. At the beginning, I was ashamed of admitting that I failed the exams, but my fellow CFA® Sweden members were very supportive and friendly. They encouraged me to continue despite failing. And remember CFA (Program) is a very difficult program.

Every time you feel lonely, remember that you have the whole CFA® (charterholder) community with you. We've been through it. We know how it feels and we are here to support you and encourage you.

I started studying for the CFA (Program) because I wanted to become a better analyst. During the journey I realized that there is so much more. I got genuinely interested in financial markets, fund management and trading.

When I finally got my charter in 2013, I approached the Head of Treasury at my former employer and told him I wanted to join the team. Fortunately, he knew about the CFA (Program) and appreciated its value very much. So I got the job. Now, I’ve got a fantastic position with Nasdaq as Head of Treasury for Nasdaq Clearing here in Stockholm.

It is not only the CFA (Program) curriculum that helps me in my journey. It is the whole experience of reading and processing tons of new information quickly and efficiently, making sure I understand complex concepts and relationships.

Self-discipline and work morale: That's what CFA (Program) adventure gave me. It helps me now. The clearing operations are highly regulated, totally new for me, and things happen fast here.

I think I learned from my failures even though I wish I had not failed four times. I think it is focus and dedication, also genuine interest in the profession. Positive mindset and very important, people skills. Now that you've heard my story, listen, if I could, you can too.