Why success for one portfolio manager means being a mentor to others
Moving to London from the Bahamas as a young mom, Aneka Beneby, CFA, once had doubts that she could succeed as a portfolio manager. Now at Julius Baer International, she says the experience made her stronger and more resilient. Aneka relishes her role as a mentor, and she now wishes she could counsel her ambitious younger self to learn to savor the journey, lean on her support system, and trust that even an uncertain future will unfold just fine.
Success is very unique and it's personal. It’s doing the things that you need to prioritize
while also leaning into things that you really, really enjoy.
The moment I realized that my career was more than just achieving traditional milestones actually happened when I was promoted, and I expected to feel this sense of jubilation. But instead, I arrived there and I thought, is this it?
I wanted to lean into things that I found more fulfilling: mentoring other people, sponsoring other people. Being someone who's reliable, who's compassionate, who's empathetic.
One of the toughest challenges and opportunities that I've experienced in my career was coming from the Bahamas to London, six years ago. It was a struggle raising a young child
while trying to be the best portfolio manager I could be. I had these doubts and self-limiting beliefs. I thought to myself, am I good enough?
So that experience has been very, very rewarding because it's shown me that I have a strength and resilience that I never knew I had.
In my earlier career, I have been described as being too ambitious, and I would tell that young girl to continue to work hard, but to also stop and enjoy the journey. Careers are a marathon. They're not a sprint. You don't know what the future holds, but it's going to turn out just fine. Don't forget those people around you who love and support you. Use them as your community when things get tough.
A letter to my younger self
What advice do you wish you had heard before starting your career in finance? In this series of personal stories, CFA® charterholders from different backgrounds discuss the insights they have gained during their career journey and the pivotal moments that shaped their professional paths. What would you write in a letter to your younger self?
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