Career conversations: Hitting the right note in finance

CFA Program changed me a lot. It helped me to gain self-confidence, it also equipped me with a lot of financial tools. It helped me to meet a lot of wonderful people, especially in our local Polish society. My name is Marta Zywiecka, I'm a CFA® charterholder since 2022.

Since many years, I have been working for one of the greatest banking institutions in the world.

I'm a risk manager, and I work in the liquidity and funding department. I remember I was seven years old when I told my mum that I wanted to become a pianist.

I was really fascinated with classical music. Then when I was 11, I started formal music education. When I graduated from music academy, I had the opportunity to move to New York and teach piano as well as play concerts.

We often had joint events with people from financial sector. I met a lot of people who work in the banks and they loved music at the same time, and that was a great networking possibility.

And at that time I thought, well, playing the piano is great, but maybe I should also try something else. And I wanted to join the financial world as well.

As you know, financial education is very expensive in the US, so I thought about like alternative programs like the CFA (Program). It's affordable, it offers you really top quality of knowledge, and at the same time it's world recognized. When you have those three letters next to your name, everyone knows what you know and what kind of person you are.

So I knew that I didn't have much background from financial work, so I really made a plan early. I started in October and my exam was in June and I really committed to that. It was very difficult because it was kind of self-study, so I really had to keep my motivation very high.

But I always thought about the exam date and what will happen when I have the CFA® charter. So I really was motivated and really try to succeed. I studied Level I for CFA (Program) while I was still in New York, so I had to manage my time between teaching, playing the concerts and studying for the CFA (Program) exam.

Level II, I studied while I was on maternity leave, so I used that time for studying. And Level III, I studied when I was working full time with two small kids and still I try to find time for other activities, but that was very, very difficult.

But at the same time I managed to do whatever I planned for. I think many people will think that when they don't have financial education or they haven't started very early, they are not able to work or join the financial world. That's not true because if you look at me, I was very involved in the music career and I started working in the financial institution when I was in my early thirties, so quite late. And I still managed to make a career and I'm still growing and developing my skills.

I think there's no time that's too late for studying for CFA Program. If you are in your early twenties, in your early thirties, forties or even after you are 50. It's always a great program to pursue.

CFA Program offers a wide range of financial topics. You will learn a lot of derivatives instruments, financial reporting, portfolio management and most importantly, about ethical standards.

So when you think if you should sign up for the CFA Program exam or not, maybe you are a bit hesitant because you heard that it's a bit difficult, demanding. It's not for everyone. No, I can tell you it's for everyone. And if you really want to do it, you can make it.