As Head of Growth Alternatives at Rest Super – one of Australia’s largest profit-to-member super funds – Marina Pasika’s focus is often on what’s missing – the ideas and opportunities that others overlook. She’s built a career by backing bold ideas and trusting her own judgement, even when the path wasn’t clear. That mindset shapes everything she does – from how she invests to how she leads. Marina is also a panellist on our Melbourne Keystone Analyst Program, where she’ll share her career journey and the self-belief and mindset shifts that shape smart decisions and long-term success.
Marina was born in Ukraine and moved to Melbourne at age seven, growing up in a household where critical thinking was valued over conformity. “My parents raised me pretty gender-neutral in a way – there were no assumptions about what a girl should or shouldn’t do. But they did expect me to think critically,” she says.
That upbringing built a quiet confidence that carried her through a Commerce/Law degree, actuarial studies, and into investment banking and investing roles across private equity and now growth alternatives.
“I’ve always had confidence in my ability to figure things out. That’s helped me stay focused on what matters most and not get derailed by trying to do everything perfectly.”
In the early years of her career, Marina was ambitious and driven to climb quickly. A conversation with the CIO of Future Fund changed that trajectory. He reminded her that investment careers are slow, built over decades, not years. The message landed and she began to shift gears and embrace the long game.
That mindset became even more important when she had her first child at 27. While it wasn’t the most convenient moment professionally, Marina trusted that her career would unfold in its own time, and it solidified her self-trust. “I knew I could come back stronger. I didn’t need to do everything at once.”
In private markets, where feedback loops are long and outcomes unfold over years, that mindset is essential. “You have to make decisions without immediate validation. That takes patience and conviction.”
It’s also why she’s passionate about changing the narrative around ambition, especially for women. “There’s so much pressure to progress fast, and it’s burning people out. We need to be okay with taking our own path.”
There’s so much pressure to progress fast, and it’s burning people out. We need to be okay with taking our own path
As an investor, Marina isn’t drawn to the deals everyone’s chasing. Her Enneagram profile – a tool used in the Keystone program – revealed she’s a Type 4 personality: the ‘intense creative.’ She sees what’s possible and gravitates toward ideas that break ground.
At Rest, that shows up in the thematic completion portfolio she leads, backing ideas that fill gaps others miss – like Wollemi Capital, a specialist climate investment firm tackling the ‘missing middle’ in climate finance.
“This part of the market suits me. Private markets are more willing to try something new, and alternatives give you room to back a contrarian view.”
Marina is also known for her calm and grounded energy, which can be attributed to her Enneagram 9 traits – the adaptive peacemaker. “When ideas are pitted against each other and people are fighting for capital, I don’t mind losing out if there’s someone who wants it more than me. But that’s not always the most effective way to influence,” she reflects.
Influence, she’s learned, isn’t just about winning or being right, it’s about bringing people along with you. Her growth edge is learning to take others on the journey rather than arriving at the answer alone.
That shift is playing out in how she leads her team today. She’s deliberate about creating space for others, making sure every voice is heard, and every person feels part of something bigger.
That collaborative instinct was deeply shaped by her time at Future Fund, where a total portfolio approach rewarded collective success over individual wins. It removed the need to self-promote and reinforced her belief in a leadership model built on trust, clarity and shared purpose.
“Back yourself. Be patient. And don’t feel like you have to do it all at once.”
The Melbourne Keystone Analyst Program kicks off in a few weeks. Register now and build the mindset and skills to thrive in your investing career.
Share:
You have to make decisions without immediate validation. That takes patience and conviction