Moving on up

Moving from a global organisation to Cardano, then about 70-strong, was a huge shift. I now had the opportunity to make a real impact and become master of my own destiny. Rather than hopping from role to role as you might elsewhere, the company offered a more considered career path, where you’re responsible for your own development

My first role was in pension scheme advisory, and since then has evolved to include wider strategic advice, new business and sales. As Client Director for Cardano Investment, I work with UK pension scheme trustees, whose experience and background varies enormously. They range from professional trustees and financial experts right through to those who do completely different day jobs.

Multi-faceted days

I really enjoy the logical element of the work, which plays to the mathematical side of my brain. But a key element of my role focuses on the human element. My job is to navigate a full range of different objectives and opinions and present my advice in a clear and convincing way. The objective is to become a trusted adviser.

A key element of my role focuses on the human element. My job is to navigate a full range of different objectives and opinions

You never know what each day will bring. There’s always a client problem somewhere to fix, and new trustees to meet. You’re also dealing with an ecosystem that’s constantly shifting. That could be due to market conditions, or client specific events such as a change of client ownership that changes key stakeholders. Although it can add to the challenge, it’s the nature of the industry. It’s our job to think what we can do to get to the right outcome.

Tightly-knit team

Within our team we put high expectations on ourselves and each other. But everyone’s always pulling in the same direction.  I can provide the positive energy when people aren’t feeling so chipper, and then at times I gain this push from the team – there’s great give and take!

You have also much more visibility in a smaller business. Our London office layout means you can see what everyone around you is doing. You’re always within 1-2 arms’ lengths of the people you need to talk to. I know almost everyone in the business and I really like that, even as it’s grown from more of a family feel into an entrepreneurial, empowering organisation.

Thinking ahead

I was delighted to receive an industry related Rising Star award, particularly as someone who’s always had imposter syndrome! It’s highly rewarding to get that kind of external recognition.

It’s hard to gauge what my role will look like five years from now – I expect that a significant part of my role will remain the same, perhaps with a greater focus on new clients, and leveraging my experience in an even more efficient way. I’m also keen to do more formal mentoring across the organisation – this is a part of my role I enjoy now and is, I hope, helpful to others!

My advice is always ‘take advantage of the opportunities and great colleagues around you, be inquisitive and challenge yourself.  It’s essential to work with people who do things better than you do – that’s easy for me here with such great colleagues around me, and I’m in no doubt that they’ve all helped me get to this point of my career’.”

Take advantage of the opportunities and great colleagues around you, be inquisitive and challenge yourself.”