On three hours of restless sleep and multiple cups of coffee, I nervously walked onto the trading floor. I was greeted by a sea of dual monitor workstations, mounted television screens blaring CNBC, and energy so intense that it enveloped you immediately. Ironically, despite the nervousness, this view calmed me. This was my first day on Wall Street and I was ready. More than ready.

I had just been accepted to a sales and trading analyst program at a major investment bank and the move to New York City was exhilarating. It was everything that I had worked towards for four years during my undergraduate program. I was a confident 21-year-old but, I have to admit that being in the midst of seasoned experience was unnerving. Over the course of the training week I interacted with many people - senior portfolio managers and research analysts who would calmly grill CEOs on their financial statements as well as traders who could read stock charts and make predictions on the direction of the market. It was all so new and yet so familiar. Years later, I am still learning as the markets never sleep and continue to echo the broader sentiments of a changing world. 

Over the course of my career, I have had the privilege of being trained by folks who were not only subject matter experts but also emphasized softer skills. These lessons continue to keep me honest and grounded. Discipline, a strong work ethic, the mind set to be flexible and the willingness to roll up your sleeves has given me the ability to drink from a fire hose and swim to the finish line. Additionally, a few important pieces of advice have stuck:

·      Get right back up: If there one thing to be said about the markets, it is that it keeps you humble. You can spend countless hours researching a company, tearing the financials apart, and come to an informed, intelligent decision but one unexpected mishap and your thesis falls apart. While it is disheartening when that happens, your faith behind your analysis and due diligence should propel you ahead. So, dust yourself and march on. And of course, continue learning to try to minimize such occurrences.

·      Do it for the right reasons - yes, there is glamor and glitz in the industry, but at the end of the day, you are spending a lot of hours working. Working to get it right! Working to make an impression! Working to win a client! The stress is real and the work never ends, so make sure you enjoy it. 

·      Raise your hand and volunteer to take on opportunities that others may pass on. I was given the opportunity to trade Asian markets because I was okay with working nights. At that juncture in life, I had a husband and two little kids who had not yet started kindergarten. We all adjusted to allow me to take on this opportunity and it ended up being a stepping stone that has enriched my career.

·       Be a lifelong student: being part of a constantly evolving and dynamic industry has encouraged me to read extensively and continue to expand my knowledge base. This is why despite after already having multiple academic degrees, I successfully enrolled and completed an Executive MBA program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Bio: Anusha Ramachandran is a Portfolio Manager and Vice President in the Asset Management industry. In her current role, she works on asset allocation, portfolio management and implementation strategies for clients. Anusha has held various roles covering Equity Research and Trading both in both domestic U.S. as well as international - Asian stock markets. Anusha holds a Master’s degree in Investment Management from Boston University and an Executive MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Anusha is classically trained in Bharatanatyam, an Indian dance form and pursues her passion by participating in various dance events. Anusha is active in the Belmont Indian community where she lives with her husband and two daughters.

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