Student: Ahnie Bui
Degree: B.Commerce at Macquarie University
Mentor: Jennifer Odjugo, Equity Analyst, Schroders
Stream: Investment Management
For me, investment management is about how we manage and invest money wisely and effectively. With that said, at the first stage, you need to be wise in choosing what to invest in, then how you manage your investment during the ups and downs of the market and with the current practice, whether and at the end, the return is maximised.
I would say it is risk management. With lots of uncertainties going on in the global market, what practices are investors using to reduce the risks? Specifically, the derivatives market. As the global market is surrounded by uncertainty and volatility, investors seem to be becoming more conservative, or they are stepping back a step and waiting, hedging techniques seem attractive to me.
It is lucky for me to have Jennifer as my mentor, as she always prepares the agenda before each meeting to make sure we are spending time effectively, and I can get the maximum benefit from it. However, that does not mean mentees rely on that only. For me, before each meeting with Jennifer, I have always written down a list of questions whenever something pops up in my head, and those questions were what I could not easily find the answers on the internet. That is because the time that my mentor gives me is precious, so I must maximise the quality of the time she spends helping me.
We just had 2 meetings. However, every session was extremely helpful for me. In the first session, Jennifer told me about the nature of her work and gave me some guidance on what career path I feel interested in and would like to pursue. That helps me to understand not only more about the position that I would like to try, but also more about what kind of roles would fit me the most.
In the second session, Jennifer helped me with my resume. She gave me some tips on how to make my CV look clean and professional, increasing the chance of getting hired. We will have the third session, which is about her giving feedback for my case study competition. Can’t wait to meet her again!
Ahnie is keen to learn, incredibly responsive and takes initiative. She has quickly gotten significant value from the programme learning about different roles in finance and which is best suited to her personality. I’m truly enjoying our sessions as she rapidly builds confidence and gains insight into a career in investing. - Jennifer Odjugo, Equity Analyst, Schroders
Always jot down whatever questions pop into your head. Try to search for your answers first, then continue to dig deeper with your mentor. Always prepare an agenda for the conversation so that you will not be in a situation of not know what to ask next. It’s also helpful to learn a bit about your mentor beforehand — understand their background and expertise so you can tailor your questions to get the most relevant insights.
Yes, definitely. Career Connect is a great service for students like us to broaden our knowledge about the industry. Having a chance to meet professionals helps me sharpen my understanding of different positions and what would be a good fit for me. Furthermore, if you have any finance-study questions or join in any competition, this is a great place you can find someone who has the expertise to help you.
My dream job is to become an equity analyst, equity researcher, or portfolio manager, where I can utilise my expertise to help clients achieve their financial goals. However, I’m also eager to explore other areas in finance such as investment banking, M&A, derivatives trading, risk management, and corporate finance, as they all play a vital role in shaping investment strategies and understanding global markets.
Through my career, I hope to make an impact by promoting a more disciplined and value-driven approach to investing. I want to help people understand that successful investing is not about speculation or chasing short-term gains, but about patience, research, and long-term value creation. As an aspiring equity analyst and future portfolio manager, my goal is to provide thoughtful analysis that guides investors toward sustainable growth and financial confidence. In the long term, I also hope to inspire greater financial literacy so that more people can approach investing with clarity, responsibility, and purpose.
While it may seem like a familiar answer, Warren Buffett has been my greatest inspiration. When I was in high school, I didn’t have any interest in finance. I used to think investing was all about luck and speculation. However, learning about Buffett’s investment philosophy completely changed my perspective. His emphasis on patience, discipline, and understanding the true value of a business showed me that successful investing is built on long-term thinking rather than quick gains. His approach inspired me to pursue finance seriously and to focus on value-driven, responsible investing that creates sustainable results over time.
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Career Connect is a great service for students to broaden our knowledge about the industry. Having a chance to meet professionals helps me sharpen my understanding of different positions and what would be a good fit for me.