Student: Danai Rose Makoni
Degree: Bachelor of Applied Finance at Macquarie University
Mentors: Whitnie Jeeves, Associate, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management ,
Mark Wiseman, Head of Australia Energy Research, Macquarie Group
Work Experience
Hobbies
I absolutely love public speaking and you’ll usually find me volunteering to hold the microphone before anyone else does. I also enjoy playing along to my favourite songs on my guitar. More recently I’ve become slightly obsessed with Pickleball, which has become my latest excuse to stay active while pretending I’m much better than I actually am.
What draws me to both investment management and financial advice is that they sit at the intersection of analytical thinking and human connection. I genuinely enjoy solving problems, understanding why markets move the way they do, and constantly asking “why?” But equally, I enjoy working with people, hearing different perspectives and explaining complex ideas in a way that actually makes sense.
Investment management fascinates me because every day is different. Markets are constantly changing, new information emerges every minute, and there are endless puzzles to solve. It rewards curiosity, adaptability and continuous learning, all things I naturally enjoy.
Financial advice captured my attention for a different reason. I’ve always loved economics because it explains how people respond to incentives and uncertainty. Every client has a different story, different goals and different experiences that shape how they think about money.
Being quite entrepreneurial myself, I find it exciting that advisers effectively build a business within a business. Success comes from technical knowledge, but equally from building trust, communicating well and creating long-term relationships. That combination of finance, psychology and people is something I find incredibly rewarding.
I’ve always been fascinated by what drives the decisions people make. Two families can have the same level of wealth, yet invest completely differently because of their experiences, values, goals and the level of trust they have in the people advising them
In a world where information is everywhere and AI can answer almost any technical question, trust becomes even more valuable. I’m curious about what that trust will look like in the future and how advisers and investment professionals can build relationships that last across generations, not just market cycles.
That curiosity has also led me to explore family offices. I love that they look beyond quarterly returns and think about preserving wealth, managing risk, preparing future generations and creating a lasting legacy. To me, it’s a reminder that finance isn’t just about growing money it’s about understanding people well enough to help them make decisions that could shape their family for decades to come.
I think that’s what excites me most about the Australian market right now. We’re not just witnessing a transfer of wealth; we’re witnessing a transfer of responsibility, relationships and trust. Being at the beginning of my career while that transformation is taking place makes this an incredibly exciting industry to be entering.
I tried not to overcomplicate it. Before every meeting, I’d ask myself one question: “If this conversation goes really well, what do I want to walk away knowing?” Whether it was understanding an industry better, getting honest feedback on my resume or simply hearing someone else’s journey, having that goal made it much easier to ask meaningful questions. I also wasn’t afraid to admit when I didn’t know something. Looking back, curiosity was probably my biggest form of preparation.
It definitely helped that both Whitnie and Mark were incredibly generous with their time and genuinely wanted to help. Once the conversation started, it felt much less like a formal mentoring session and more like sitting down for a coffee with someone who was happy to share what they’d learned along the way.
Every conversation felt a little different, which is what made the experience so valuable. Whether we caught up weekly or fortnightly for 30 minutes or an hour, the flexibility of meeting online meant it easily fitted around university, work and everyone else’s schedules. It never felt like a formal mentoring session, it felt more like grabbing a coffee with someone who genuinely wanted to see you succeed.
We talked about far more than careers. Conversations ranged from different pathways in the industry to university, networking events, CVs, cover letters and even how my assessments were going. Both mentors constantly encouraged me to keep saying “Yes” to opportunities because you never know which conversation, event or connection might open a door you never expected.
One of my biggest takeaways was that careers are rarely as linear as they seem. Hearing how both mentors had navigated unexpected opportunities reminded me that there’s no single path to success, which was incredibly reassuring as someone still exploring the industry.
Mark encouraged me to think beyond simply using AI today and instead focus on developing the skills that will remain valuable alongside AI in the future.
Whitnie completely changed how I viewed financial advice. We spoke about Australia’s intergenerational wealth transfer, the growing importance of trust, and how the best advisers build relationships, not just portfolios.
Career Connect didn’t just help me understand the industry, it helped me better understand where I might fit within it.
Mentors join Career Connect because they genuinely want to help. The best mentoring relationships aren't one-sided interviews, they're conversations. The more proactive you are, the more you'll learn, and quite often those relationships continue well beyond the program itself.
I’ve always been the type of person who wants to understand the whole picture rather than just one piece of it. If there’s an opportunity to learn something new, I’ll probably take it.
What I found really interesting is that investment management and financial advice are so different, yet they rely on each other. One focuses on researching markets, building portfolios and making investment decisions, while the other is about understanding people, earning their trust and helping them use those investments to achieve what matters most to them. I found that relationship between the two really fascinating.
Career Connect gave me the chance to explore both sides instead of trying to choose one without really understanding it. I still remember telling Whitnie that I wanted a career where I could combine my love for analytics and investing with my passion for public speaking and connecting with people. She smiled and said, “Have you considered financial advice?”
That conversation genuinely shifted my perspective. Whether I end up in investment management, financial advice or somewhere in between, Career Connect reminded me that the best career decisions come from staying curious rather than trying to have everything figured out from day one.
Don’t overthink it. Be curious. Ask the question you’re worried might sound silly. Take ownership of the conversation.
Mentors join Career Connect because they genuinely want to help. The best mentoring relationships aren’t one-sided interviews, they’re conversations. The more proactive you are, the more you’ll learn, and quite often those relationships continue well beyond the program itself.
If you’re ever lost for words or unsure what to discuss, just tell your mentor. Chances are they’ll have plenty of ideas, stories or experiences to share, and sometimes those unplanned conversations end up being the most valuable.
Remember, it’s all part of growing. I still catch myself overthinking conversations all the time. But over time, you realise mentors were once in your shoes too. They’ve had the same doubts, asked the same questions, and probably felt just as nervous reaching out to people.
Without question. The funny thing about learning is that once you start, you realise how much more there is to discover. Lately I’ve become increasingly interested in property funds because they sit at the intersection of financial markets, infrastructure and real assets. I’m curious about how investment decisions are made beyond traditional equities and how investors think about creating long-term value across different asset classes. Career Connect has shown me how valuable it is to learn directly from people doing the work every day, so I’ll definitely continue exploring new sectors through the platform.
My dream job is one where I can make decisions that genuinely matter. I love analysing numbers, identifying patterns and solving problems, but what really motivates me is seeing those decisions create real outcomes for people or businesses.
I’ve always believed that you don’t truly understand something until you can explain it to someone else as though they’re five years old. Whether that’s a financial model, an investment strategy or a market trend, being able to simplify complexity is a skill I hope to build throughout my career. Whatever role I end up in, I want people to leave conversations feeling more informed, more confident and more empowered than when they arrived.
Professionally, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to build relationships with mentors who have challenged the way I think and encouraged me to keep asking questions. Every conversation has left me with new insights not only about finance and careers, but about myself.
Personally, though, my biggest inspirations will always be my parents.
They taught me the importance of working hard, looking after your health, finding the right workplace culture and having the courage to change direction when something no longer aligns with your goals. Growing up, they always included me in conversations about important family decisions. Looking back, I think that’s where my curiosity began.
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Both my mentors, Whitnie and Mark, were incredibly generous with their time and genuinely wanted to help. Once the conversations started, it felt less like a formal mentoring session and more like sitting down for a coffee with someone who was happy to share what they'd learned along the way.