Thinking back, what led you to join BOW?
I joined BOW because a few friends in my freshmen dorm were part of it and told me about all the events. I really had no idea what I wanted to do career-wise at that point and thought it would be beneficial to hear from other women who had paved the way before me.
What is your coolest accomplishment from Duke?
I won the BlackRock asset allocation competition as a sophomore and a junior. My partners and I spent many hours at the Bloomberg terminal together doing research, and it ended up paying off. I guess we made a good team, because I also ended up marrying one of my teammates!
What led you to pursue a career at your current firm?
I currently work for HF Capital, which is a single-family office based in Tennessee. We manage the assets of several generations of a family that recently sold their business to Berkshire Hathaway. We are building out an endowment-style portfolio from scratch. I had previously worked at DUMAC, which manages the Duke Endowment, so it was a natural next step for me and an exciting opportunity to build something from the ground up. Previously, I started my career in S&T at JPMorgan.
What is the most difficult obstacle you have faced in your career?
During my first job at JP Morgan, I worked on an FX derivative sales team (part of S&T), which I enjoyed quite a bit. About a year in, though, all the other analysts and associates on my team left. I had to step up to the plate and take on a lot more responsibility, which was a great learning experience but also a heavy workload for one person to bear. Thankfully, my team was very appreciative and provided great support, but being in the thick of it was really tough at times.
Did BOW experience help you in your career?
Yes! Hearing from all the women about best practices in the professional world was invaluable to me and allowed me to hit the ground running when I entered the working world more so than I would have been able to without BOW. I’m so grateful for all the speakers, events, and classmates who helped organize everything.
What is something interesting you’ve learned along the way?
I’ve learned to be honest with myself about what I want in life, both professionally and outside of work, and to seek the right balance over time. Also, integrity is everything. Be honest about your mistakes right away - and learn from them - and you’ll be a much more trustworthy and valuable colleague.
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