Today we welcome Bhanavi Sharma, our Ambassador in London. She is from New Delhi, India, did an internship in Berlin and is currently located in London. She completed her bachelor’s in Management from ESCP Business School and is currently pursuing her master’s in Accounting, Organisations and Institutions from the London School of Economics (LSE). So, let’s hear the story of her passion for finance!
”The financial industry is continuously growing and evolving.”
I chose finance because I truly believe that no matter what the routine of someone with a finance job is, there are always problems to solve and challenges to face, even if it’s just trying to find the reason behind a variance in the income statement. These challenges, no matter simple or complex, are what keep me motivated to do my job!
I also love the degree of flexibility in the finance industry. If someone likes finance and fashion, they can pursue corporate fashion and if they are interested in finance and tech, they can work in a fintech startup. Also within pure finance, there are so many options from investment banking to insurance. I chose finance because I will always have so many career options and thus, the endless possibility to develop my skills and knowledge.
Lastly, the financial industry is continuously growing and evolving. Even though parts of finance may become obsolete due to technological developments, the entire industry can never disappear due to its importance in driving world economies.
Interesting how finance sounds right? I do think that if you enjoy the fast-paced environment which always urges you to step out of your comfort zone, finance is for you!
‘’I do think that if you enjoy the fast-paced environment which always urges you to step out of your comfort zone, finance is for you!’’
”At the end of the day, the decision is yours and yours only.”
Trying to determine which direction to go in is no easy task. I always find it useful to reach out to people in my network who are more knowledgeable and experienced than me. They are able to answer my questions and give me an insight into their jobs and field of work. I also talk to my family and friends who know me well and can advise me on what would be the best choice or decision for me to make.
Practical experience is also important. It is okay to do internships or other work experience stints until you figure out where your interest lies. You may be surprised by how you can be fascinated by a field you never considered before!
Companies, universities and other organizations usually have job insight days and other skill-building sessions which can also help you realize your strengths and guide you in the right direction.
At the end of the day, the decision is yours and yours only! The one advice I will give you is to love what you do. It is important to wake up everyday and look forward to going into work otherwise work can become a burden
‘’It is okay to do internships or other work experience stints until you figure out where your interest lies. You may be surprised by how you can be fascinated by a field you never considered before! ’’
”A different way of seeing stress which has helped me when I’m in strenuous situations.”
I normally start off my mornings by watching a TED Talk which really has helped me broaden my perspective in various aspects. For example, I learnt the importance of body language after watching Amy Cuddy’s ‘Your body language may shape who you are’ and Kelly Mcgonigal’s ‘How to make stress your friend’ showed me a different way of seeing stress which has helped me when I’m in strenuous situations. These TED Talks were also useful in strengthening my professional skills used in finance, such as *pitching*, or simply learning how to adapt when there is overwhelming work.
I also love reading books on behavioral economics. My favorite book so far has been ‘Nudge’ by Richard H. Thaler. The book explains how our environment nudges us into making certain decisions in our lives and how we can harness the power of nudges to make better decisions for ourselves. In case you want to improve your decision-making skill, I would highly recommend this book.
Bhanavi Sharma, our Ambassador in London
Over the past few years, I have developed a deep interest in Sustainable Finance and Accounting. I wrote my Bachelor thesis on the topic of Green Bonds. I studied the Impact of Green Bonds from a financial and societal perspective. I am currently writing my Master dissertation on the development of corporate sustainability disclosures in India. I look forward to contributing content relating to sustainable finance and accounting to the FxF community but also focus on the importance of presenting yourself and being confident.
