Career conversations: Fashioning success in the retail clothing sector

The one thing MBA program does for you is, it makes you a good generalist, but to be a specialist in your everyday business decision making, you need something more than that.  

Hi, I'm Mehvish Waliany, and I'm the COO at Alkaram Studio.

I have about two decades of financial sector experience which is mostly around infrastructure and raising project financing for big transactions in Pakistan's infrastructure market. The n this particular opportunity came along from retail fashion apparel sector.  

Alkaram Studio is a fashion retail brand, and we are also a mass brand.  The brand has to play with volumes to increase its top line, but it's very easy to get carried away with that.

My CFA (Program) training has given me the right kind of acumen to make the right connection of top line with a secure bottom line as well, which means that it goes all the way to how you plan your supply chain, the pricing of your products, how well they are priced. That bit of planning, I feel it's a very valuable insight that a CFA (Program) qualification helps me navigate.  

I feel that the program itself gives you the tools to understand everyday decision making and attack it in a much more effective manner. Having the knowledge behind the CFA® exam itself or the curriculum has given me an edge.  

Wherever I need to connect a decision which affects the business, I'm able to very clearly connect it in terms of its financial implications. I was fortunate enough to clear CFA® (exams) at a very initial stage of my career and in straight attempts.

I would give a lot of credit to the employers that I had at each point in time for each particular level. I think I had  three different employers for all three levels, and they were extremely cooperative and supportive in helping me go through my exams and give me the space and time to study.  

My advice would be to definitely set aside some study hours. A lot of what CFA Program entails is very closely related to the concepts that come into play at work.  

I feel that do take it up while you're working. Its applicability and connectivity is more when you are working. Hence the requirement of work experience to earn the designation.