Gigi - Fund Manager

I joined Threadneedle in 2000 as a graduate trainee, after graduating in Politics, Philosophy and Economics and spending a year gaining a Postgraduate Diploma in Law. I joined the Far East team and am now working as a fund manager and analyst covering the Hong Kong/China, Malaysia and TIP markets. I also have research responsibility for the telecoms, energy and utility sectors regionally.

Right from the start, I was part of a close-knit team and assumed responsibility at an early stage which was very challenging and motivating for me. Within three months I had taken my IMC examination and in 2005 I passed the last of my three CFA exams and am now a CFA charter holder.  Attending these courses and other seminars provided me with the theoretical frameworks on which stock valuations were based and the accounting tools I needed for financial analysis; at the same time I was involved in hands-on work which put this knowledge to good use right from the start. At the end of my first year I spent a month with the Fixed Income team. This enabled me to gain valuable exposure to detailed macroeconomic analysis.

I go out to the region twice a year which is really helpful in gaining greater insight into my markets and companies. I am from Hong Kong and being able to use my languages (Cantonese and Mandarin) has been a great advantage. It is especially useful with companies from China where at times a lot of what is said can be lost in translation.  I am now a fully-fledged fund manager running my own regional portfolios, which is great.