Q&A

Student spotlight: Ella Fu

Meet Ella Fu, part of the impressive winning team in our 2023 Investment Competition. As her prize, Ella chose an internship with Mercer and shares her insights, highlights and aspirations with us.

Tell us a little about yourself

I’m turning 22 this year and in my final year studying Bachelor of Actuarial Studies and Commerce majoring in finance at UNSW. I was born in Shanghai and came to Australia when I was 10. My recent hobbies are playing tennis, tufting, and trying out different restaurants/cuisines.

How did you first hear about Future IM/Pact?

I first heard about Future IM/Pact through Yolanda, who reached out to me on LinkedIn. I have been involved with the program for almost two years now.

What do you find most valuable about the program?

The comprehensive support offered by Future IM/Pact equipped me with tools and connections to navigate a career in excel. I find that the mentorship and networking opportunities were extremely valuable in supporting the career development within investment management of young students like me. In particular, the internship opportunities further enhance the program’s value by offering hands-on experience and keeping me informed about relevant topics in the industry.

What interests you about a career in investment management?

The exposure to the dynamic nature of global markets and economies piqued my interest in a career in investment management. I was always intrigued by the dynamic and ever-changing nature of markets. Investment management allowed me to be involved in analysing financial data and market trends and navigate the complexities of international finance, which I found to be very intellectually simulating. Although studying a degree in finance, I did not have much clue to what a career in investment management looked like until I participated in the Future IM/Pact Investment Competition. Having the fortunate opportunity to intern at Mercer in the investment management team opened my career visions.

Tell us about your experience participating in the Investment Competition

Having completed a few finance courses in financial valuations and portfolio management, I decided to challenge myself and apply these theoretical knowledge into practice by participating in the Future IM/Pact Investment Competition in 2023. I enjoyed conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis using the knowledge and skillsets I have gained through my studies. It was also an extremely valuable opportunity being able to present our recommendation to a large audience of industry leaders in investments.

Is there anything you’d do differently? Any advice for this year’s participants?

I was really happy that I was able to form a good team with likeminded peers who also had a passion in investing. This was definitely fundamental to produce the best quality of our work for the Investment Competition and make the most out of this practical learning opportunity. My advices for this year’s participants would be:

Ensure you form a team with likeminded individuals from various backgrounds as a large part of deciding between a good and bad investment is leveraging opinions from different perspectives.
Start early and don’t leave it until the day before.
Be creative when coming up with your investment thesis and final recommendation.

Although studying a degree in finance, I did not have much clue to what a career in investment management looked like until I participated in the Future IM/Pact investment competition. Having the fortunate opportunity to intern at Mercer in the investment management team opened my career visions.

Tell us your internship with Mercer

As my team was fortunate to win the 2023 Investment Competition, I chose to complete a 10-week part time internship at Mercer in the Investment Management division. During my internship, I had the opportunity to rotate across different teams within Investment Management such as multi-asset allocation, public markets, private markets, and sustainable investing, and learn more about how the teams work together to maximise the positive impact on clients.

Is this your first internship/role at an investment management firm?

This was my first internship at an investment management firm. Prior to that, I was did an internship in traded market risk.

What did you enjoy most about your internship?

I think the most valuable part of the internship was being able to learn about what each team in the investment management does through connecting with different colleagues. Since this was my first internship in investment management, I really appreciated the opportunity to get exposure to the various areas within investment management, such as multi-asset allocation and public markets.

Did you meet any mentors/role models?

I was fortunate to have an investment analyst from each team that I rotated between as my buddy for my time working with that team. This was extremely helpful as I felt very comfortable to ask questions and learn more about what a career in investment management looks like. I also felt very supported by other female colleagues and seniors in the investment management team who provided valuable insights, perspectives and advice which definitely made me consider pursuing a career in investment management.

Did you notice a gender imbalance within the workforce during your internship?

Although gender imbalances are still prevalent is many companies, particular in the investments and financial industry, I felt very supported that many companies are promoting gender diversity with women scholarships and mentoring programs. However, the primary obstacle we face is the insufficient representation of women in senior roles. Enhancing this visibility is essential for inspiring young women to set ambitious long-term objectives and gain guidance from experienced female mentors as they progress in their careers.

Future IM/Pact has been so supportive through mentorship programs, networking events, and investment competitions tailored specifically for individuals with a strong passion in investments. Additionally, offering opportunities within reputable investment firms provides valuable hands-on experience which has been super beneficial in supporting me pursue a career in investment management.

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