Emerging Leaders: Q&A with UBS' Karina Medina
In the third Q&A of our Emerging Leaders' series we speak with UBS Asset Management portfolio manager, Karina Medina, who takes us through her progression into finance - a career that continues to 'deliver surprises' - and what her current role entails. She also shares the "underrated quality" she believes makes for an effective leader, some great advice, and a little something that most people wouldn't know about her.
In the third Q&A of our Emerging Leaders' series we speak with UBS Asset Management portfolio manager, Karina Medina, who takes us through her progression into finance - a career that continues to 'deliver surprises' - and what her current role entails. She also shares the "underrated quality" she believes makes for an effective leader, some great advice, and a little something that most people wouldn't know about her.
What initially attracted you to a career in finance?
During my university years I always enjoyed most my finance and mathematic subjects, so during my last year I applied for graduate entry roles that would appeal to those interests. I was fortunate to be accepted into a program that would start my career on the trading floor of a major Australian bank. It gave me the opportunity to develop very hands on experience in a dynamic and challenging environment and I haven't looked back since!
Can you tell us what your role entails?
I currently am a fixed income portfolio manager with UBS Asset Management Australia. My main responsibilities are monitoring risks in our clients' portfolios and generating trade ideas. This involves monitoring the market and discussing trade ideas within our formal meetings and ad-hoc discussions on desk. My role is a mixture of risk management, trading, research and client support. Our greatest objective is to generate returns and risk profiles that meet our clients' requirements whilst also being pro-active about potential future risks.
What's the greatest lesson that you've taken away from your time with this organisation so far?
UBS is very much a global organisation and being able to leverage the knowledge and resources available to us is a really powerful driver in my day-to-day role. Learning how to do this hasn't been easy, or quick, but the payoff is well worth it, both for our team and our clients.
"Karina is dogmatic when it comes to problem solving. She will always follow a problem through until a conclusion is found." - Tim Vanklaveren, Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager, UBS Asset Management.
Where do you see yourself in the next ten years?
I'd love to be still managing risk and being part of the decision making process. Finance is ever changing so I expect my career to continue delivering surprises!
Do you have an industry mentor or someone who has influenced your career in some way?
I'm so lucky to have had a few people in my life that I've been able to depend on for advice. I think it reflects the fact that finance and markets attract a diverse bunch of really smart and genuinely nice people. I have a lot of respect for my former colleagues that I've reached out to and continue to look for opportunities to shape my own career.
In your opinion, what are the main qualities that make for an effective leader?
I feel that authenticity is a very underrated quality. It's a difficult quality to control and to develop. Often it comes naturally to great leaders and I think it's a key to motivating a team in delivering results together.
"Karina shows tenacity and ability to identify issues and see them through to conclusion." - Anne Anderson, Head of Asia Pacific Fixed Income, UBS Asset Management.
What's the best piece of advice that you have received?
"If you don't know, then ask." I'm still learning, as I continue in my career, and asking questions means I also get to learn from my colleagues, who have years of experience and are highly knowledgeable about the industry.
What was your very first job?
Door-knocking sales. It helped me to realise that I'm not very good at sales and motivated me to find a new job, which is how I ended up being in a call centre for a finance company!
What's something that most people don't know about you?
I've camped and trekked Macchu Picchu twice, and I'd do it a third time!
"She is always curious and interested to learn new things." - Bryce Doherty, Head of UBS Asset Management in Australia & New Zealand.
If you weren't working in finance, what would you be doing?
During university, I considered working for a fashion or luxury conglomerate but I probably would have ended up in their finance department anyway!
