THE REAL FINANCE MENTOR PODCAST

Ian is one of an extremely rare breed. He’s a brilliant academic with tons of real life experience applying what he learnt and taught. He also has a great sense of humor and I’ve been wanting to talk to him for years.

We chat about leadership in the military, what corporates can learn from the armed forces, a leader’s most important trait, his simple hack to find your values, the importance of decision structures,  how to change your identity, how not to end up as a jerk leader etc. I also get over an unreasonable fear of the Scottish accent. 

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It’s useful to get different perspectives on career and leadership and a Human Resources view from someone in the C suite is both fascinating and valuable.

I’ve known Muhammad for a decade and have always been impressed by his calm, analytical and strategic take of life in general and career in particular. It’s an informed and candid view sculpted by 30 + years of experience in industry and consulting in the Middle East. We talk of mid-life career crisis, how to switch from industry to consulting, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), why many managers don’t make it to leadership, when you should (and shouldn’t) do an executive MBA, strategic HR, the future of HR etc.

Listen, learn, grow.

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Outdoor adventure is not just about the arduous preparation, the sheer physicality of the event and the post event celebration and pics. There is far more to it and a surprising amount of it happens in your mind and changes your thinking for the better.

As a veteran endurance athlete, Binod sets out his top dozen lessons from 14 years of hiking, cycling and mountaineering across four continents including the highest peaks in Africa and Europe and the highest trekking peak in South Asia.

From teamwork to luck to dealing with failure to pushing yourself to having fun, Binod sets out with characteristic candor and clarity some timeless lessons that are valid whether in adventure or corporate life once you cross over to the other side.

Listen, learn, grow.

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I’ve known Hazel vaguely for a decade but only got to know her really well recently. That’s when I discovered over a two hour chat her experiences, successes, skills and overall mindset and I decided that I wanted her to be my next guest.

A UK trained lawyer who rose to become partner at a top law firm in the UAE, she is a successful litigator and negotiator. Recently Hazel quit to focus on consulting, entrepreneurship and mentoring young women.

We talk at length and in depth about, among other things, her early influences, why managers get stuck (and how to get unstuck), issues facing women at work, how women self-sabotage (and how to deal with it), the imposter syndrome, how an unforgettable failure turned her into a good public speaker, how to get better at negotiation, tips on building self-awareness etc. The session also includes references to the many coaches, books and podcasts that helped her.

Listen, learn, grow.

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It’s rare to find professionals who are successful, authentic and articulate, that too in banking.

I sat down with Deepak for this interview because I’ve known him for close to a decade and we have had many deep, long, intellectual discussions about the human condition, specifically careers and leadership. He possesses not just a remarkable amount of self-awareness and big picture perspective but also a willingness to articulate these quite boldly and compellingly. He’s also a practitioner in asset management.

We dig into mentoring, his career evolution, why leadership escapes many, avoiding the mid-life crisis, the future of asset management, who will survive the disruption, his next book, five career tips for senior professionals and more.

We talk about the power of relationships and networking, the harsh realities of investment banking (and how it changed her), how to stand out when you don’t have the right creds, asking for that promotion, how to recover from getting fired (twice!), the role of qualifications vs attitude and experience, the many ways by which women self-sabotage, crafting your future no matter what and much more.

Listen, learn, grow.

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A young man from very small-town India graduates from one of India’s top colleges. Then, unlike his peers, he does a 180 degree turn and walks away from a potentially lucrative corporate career, choosing his first love- the big mountains. He first cuts his teeth in guiding as an employee and then as an entrepreneur, co-founding a mountain guiding firm and taking clients to the peaks of challenging 7,000m peaks and thereby establishing a top brand in that space.

We talk of why corporate was never a choice, what he learnt as an employee that helped in entrepreneurship, what it takes to climb mountains, how to build mental fitness, confronting the real risk of death at high altitude, how he’s managed to recruit and retain some great guides, the pros and cons of his job and how he’s managed to avoid the mid-life crisis & stay excited despite 25 years at the same activity.

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A young woman packs her bags, moves to a different country, continent and culture 9,000km from home, starts off as a back-office junior and makes it to CIO. I was instantly attracted to her story.

We talk about the power of relationships and networking, the harsh realities of investment banking (and how it changed her), how to stand out when you don’t have the right creds, asking for that promotion, how to recover from getting fired (twice!), the role of qualifications vs attitude and experience, the many ways by which women self-sabotage, crafting your future no matter what and much more.

Listen, learn, grow.

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My guest isn’t the typical finance professional who I usually have on this show. But you will relate to his fascinating journey and may even be inspired by it to transform your life and career.

From childhood abuse to alcoholism, drug addiction, depression and suicidal thoughts, Harbinder has been to hell and back to tell the tale. Listen as he talks eloquently and frankly about generational trauma, his scarring childhood, the unforgettable watershed moment, his grueling recovery journey, key mental health myths, the big role of sponsors and counselors, how to stay mentally healthy etc.

I have a strong bias towards covering subjects that few dare or care to cover. Mental health issues are soaring globally and hence this is undoubtedly a hot topic for our times. Stories like this deliver the essential awareness, acceptance and practical solutions to make life better.

Listen, learn, grow.

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Senior professionals bring a wealth of experience and insight and that’s what Pascale does in this interview.

Every RFM episode dives deep and No 33 isn’t an exception. We talk about the effect of her upbringing, her role models, the impact of working overseas, why she chose product sales over CFA and portfolio management, how to juggle work and raising two kids, gender discrimination at work, the imposter syndrome (and how to tackle it), her best and worst hires (and why) and career tips for those in early career stage. Pascale and I both are focused on health and fitness and she shares details, challenges and tips relating to her recent wellness journey.

She comes across as patient, non-judgmental and super calm-all traits Yours Truly wishes he could emulate! -and it was so easy to deal with her.

Listen, learn, grow.

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How do you go from an under achieving and confused accountant stagnating in a small company in Sharjah to a Portfolio Manager and CFA charter holder with one of the largest independent wealth management firms in the US with an AUM of $ 35 billion? How on earth do you get hired in your chosen sector when you have zero industry experience and are totally new to a vastly different country? What’s the secret sauce of the metamorphosis from painfully shy introvert to confident public speaker? Etc. etc.

This is truly a story of transformation. I’ve known Saiyida for many years now so it’s an inspiring saga that has also impressed and delighted me. Crucially, it shows the potential for dramatic change in all of us.

Listen to Ms. Gardezi speak eloquently, openly, in detail and with passion. Quite a few insights in this episode so I hope you have pen and paper ready!

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A collection of invaluable career tips.

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Everyone loves a success story from unlikely beginnings and this is one such.

The podcast captures the remarkable saga of a young woman from naïve, timid young girl growing up in a highly conservative family in small town India all the way to CFA Institute’s pioneering program for young women before joining one of the largest asset managers on the planet. It’s about multiple constraints, limiting self-doubt, growing self-awareness, invaluable mentorship, supportive company culture and blooming confidence all leading to personal transformation.

This is essential listening for the many out there with potential who are in similar circumstances and who want to break free.

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Hi guys this is Binod Shankar, the real finance mentor, here with one of my solo episodes. This episode is about the realities of career, stuff that no one talks about. Many youngsters have workplace illusions. Wrong expectations create major disappointments.

Your career is arguably one of the three most important activities in your life. Yet I know from my long experience that there are a lot of truths that aren’t out there when it comes to careers, a lot that people don’t talk or write about, stuff that is essential knowledge.

If you grasp and apply these truths your life becomes much easier. You can better leverage your education and skills and strengths. Not only do you get your expectations right and avoid disappointment, you are also forewarned (and hence forearmed!) about any shit that comes your way.

I’ve always been keen on truth-telling and myth-busting and hence this episode.

The truth may not liberate you but it will certainly make you smarter.

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It is a huge pleasure and privilege to interview Paul, former President & CEO of CFA Institute, and someone I’ve known for several years.

A global traveler, Paul comes with enormous experience, and he was extraordinarily generous with his time and advice. I took advantage of that to cover many hot topics (career planning, the criticality of patience and networking, grabbing opportunities, leading from the front, change management, the validity and future of sustainable finance, the future of asset management, scope for CFA charterholders, gender diversity in investing etc.). His trademark self-deprecating manner conceals a highly successful career and Paul was refreshingly down to earth and insightful.

I hope you enjoy listening to this scholar and gentleman as much as I did interviewing him.

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Ayesha Tariq has always been exceptional.

From being one of the very few admitted into Standard Chartered’s graduate program to getting promoted AND relocated to a plum destination to never having had to apply for a job to leaving a big bank for entrepreneurship to raising a child as a single parent, she has had an interesting journey where she always stood out and hasn’t flinched from taking bold steps. Ayesha is also remarkably pragmatic, authentic and self-aware.

I talk to her about the challenges facing women in finance, the upsides of networking, navigating the CFA program, leadership lessons, dysfunctional work-places and career tips.

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I deliberately select a variety of guests from different levels (junior, middle, senior), genders and nationalities all with the same focus of insight and inspiration for a finance career. So the moment I saw Ani Filipova's profile I wanted her to be a guest on RFM and you will want to listen to her for many good reasons.

Quite frankly, a woman from Eastern Europe rising through the ranks of a giant multinational bank to be the Chief Operating Officer without any of the usual qualifications ( MBA, CFA etc) while working around the world with diverse cultures AND raising a family at the same time and then quitting all that at the top of her career to pursue her passions was too good a story to resist.

And oh yes she's quite a nice person to interview- calm, open, flexible and diligent- and with many shared passions who knows one day we may do another project together! I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did making it happen.

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How do you stand out? I mean the number of CAs, CFA charter holders, MBAs, etc. are rapidly increasing every day plus the jobs are not increasing commensurately. So, qualifications alone may not do the trick.

• With tough competition at work it’s often difficult to be visible.

• This is also true for the job market- unless your resume is exceptional (and having the below will help) it won’t be picked for an interview.

• Hence this episode is not just for people already in a job who want to get promoted or get a plum role or location in the same company. It’s also for anyone employed but who wants to remain employable even outside his current company.

I spent 17 years in corporate life going all the way from Audit Senior to Executive Director- Finance and I learned a lot about staying visible.

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Ketaki is quite the outlier- an economist by training who you really want to keep talking to! Plus, she’s a corporate warrior turned successful entrepreneur. Ms. Sharma is not just an interesting person but has informed views on a range of topics relevant to young professionals and one question led to another. All of which explains why this podcast interview happened.

So, the interview covers a raft of insights on economics, using big data, the importance of coding, how to stand out, women and resilience, the entrepreneurship mindset (and why you don’t have to quit being an employee), work/life balance and mental wellness, the importance of reading etc, all important topics that I strongly believe in.

Practical, positive and persuasive.

Enjoy!

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Bachir Siam comes with an impressive resume.

He is highly qualified (CPA, CISA, CTP) and has spent the past many years climbing the corporate ladder in finance at Andersen, Motorola, PepsiCo and now Mindshare. We reconnected after 19 years (!). Click to know what we have in store for you…

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What really matters is what we think of ourselves.

It’s always delightful and encouraging to meet bright, engaging and mature youngsters. Listen as I talk to two female finance grads about college, mentors, mental health, further education, women in finance, career plans and the amazing experience of becoming champions of the grueling CFA research challenge.

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