Her Story
About Samantha
I work in investment analysis and finance, and I've been in the industry for a little over 5 years now. I switched from global investment operations into analysis about 3 years ago. I started at T. Rowe Price in Baltimore through an internship, and the team was really impressed, so I was transferred into my first role. I did some mentorship for the next interns that were coming in, and then I naturally knew that I wanted to grow my career outside of operations, which led me to valuations and performance for our portfolios. That's what made me take a role with my current company, which is in Connecticut. Working closely with our investment operations group and our front office portfolio management team, I make sure that we are pricing our securities accurately and reporting our performance on our portfolios. On a daily basis, we have AUM reporting, pricing our securities, and reporting the performance on our portfolios. I love leading others and inspiring others, so being able to mentor those who are coming in is one of the things that I really do like. I help shadow the junior analysts when they come in, because I know that made such an impression on me when I was starting out. I love asset management and probably would dip my toes in wealth management as well. One of my goals is to help women in financial literacy. I want to make sure that I help the richest people to get as much money as possible, so I can help those who have nothing to get as much money as possible. I've always thought of using the knowledge that I have in the industry to start my own nonprofit that just helps people that wouldn't have gotten this knowledge elsewhere, not only giving them the education, but practically helping them build those portfolios and stand alongside with them.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Samantha
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My first boss was very hard on me in terms of just mistakes, and coming out of college, you just want to make sure that you have everything right. He would always tell me, never send something without rechecking your work. I know that could apply just to work in general, but for me, it's always taking a double take on everything that I do. Not just acting out of impulse, but always making sure that you do take a second look and make sure you have a second thought on stuff before you go into it, because one decision could change your life. I take that as work advice, but life advice, that always check a second time before you go for it.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I will tell her to not be scared to change. It moves fast, it's pretty cutthroat in my opinion, it's a cutthroat world where everyone's trying to make sure that their achievements are shown, so don't be scared of change, and always be ready to embrace that for what's ahead.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the challenges that I still face is just finding female mentors in the space, because it's so male-dominated. Also having to be a little more assertive than just your regular personality, maybe, because you have to blend in and make sure that your voice is heard. That comes with being a lot more assertive than you would have naturally been, so that's definitely something that it's a daily struggle, just being in the industry. The greatest opportunity has been to develop myself. One of the things with at least the firms that I've worked with, they've been very supportive of not only career, but just educational and personal development. Being able to sit for one of the CFA exams, I got my Certificate in investment performance measurement, the CIPM, and having that support from my firms to be able to pay for that, and even currently I'm doing my Master's in finance and investment management, and my firm is also contributing to that. Having that support is very important, because I know that there are a lot of people who do not, and have to pay for some of these things out of pocket.
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