Career conversations: The journey of women in finance

My journey in finance has been defined by my perseverance, learning and commitment to ethics.

Achieving the CFA® charter helped me shape my career because it provided me with the right knowledge and the skills required to operate in a very competitive industry.

Hello, I am Shruti Agrawal, a CFA charter holder and an MBA graduate from MDI Gurgaon.

My journey into finance has been both rewarding and challenging at the same time,

and largely it has been shaped by my experiences and lessons that I have learned along the way.

I was introduced to the CFA® program during my internship at JPMorgan.

Back then it was not as popular as it is today. But those who knew about it recognised its significance, especially in the world of investment banking. Largely because the course was very practical, solution oriented and concept oriented. So, it gave us a better footing to start a corporate career.

Growing up, I was always encouraged to pursue higher education and be independent by earning my own money, but I think we did not speak enough about what to do with that money. Discussions around money and investments were rare, especially with women, and I think the trend persists even now may be lesser, but it is still there. And to think about it, if you are not talking about money to your daughter or the women in your life, it is very difficult to imagine yourself talking to a financial advisor who happens to be a lady.

When I entered the wealth management space, I think what really set us apart was a commitment to ethics. We had a very early exposure to ethical principles through the CFA Program and that influenced the culture of transparency and morality that we built into our company. It was always about building that trust with the clients.

Even though as per my profile, I have a lot of credibility and financial knowledge, I think at that time there was still clients who did not believe that women can talk money or that women can advise you on how to manage your finances better.

And I think it's not their fault because we have all grown up in an era where we are conditioned to talk to financial advisors who were or even today are largely men.

So I think I did find it slightly difficult to find my footing in the initial days, but I always focused on knowledge upgradation. So, all the seminars and the training materials and the networking sessions that were being organised by the CFA Institute. It really helped me upgrade myself and build that confidence in what I was doing and find my footing in the industry.

So I would recommend one to make use of all the trainings and seminars that are conducted by the CFA Institute.

As a fellow woman in finance and CFA charter holder, here is some advice for aspiring women. Set high goals and chase for them fearlessly. Networking is key, so do attend events, meet industry pros, and build those connections. Finance updates fast, so look for certifications and training programs and seminars. Advocate for yourself. Negotiate for what you are worth.

Here's to investing in us and accelerating progress for ourselves.