Discover the fascinating journey of Mark Temnikov, CFA, who transitioned from an aspiring surgeon to a passionate finance professional, as he shares his experience with the CFA Institute Research Challenge. Learn how Mark honed his skills in data analysis and problem-solving, key elements in both medicine and finance, and his inspiring story of pursuing the CFA Program. Not only did the CFA Program help Mark land an internship in Hong Kong, but it also allowed him to apply his university...

Anil Ghelani, CFA, head of passive investments and products at DSP Mutual Fund discusses his experience as a volunteer for the CFA Society India, where he has been involved for over a decade, serving as a director and former vice chairman. Anil explains that he initially joined to network and learn from senior colleagues in the industry, but also found the experience fulfilling and rewarding, particularly in terms of the learning and experience gained, which has helped him in his professional...

Alexandra Smedoiu, CFA, partner at Deloitte and president of CFA Society Romania, speaks to Lauren McAdams about her experience earning the CFA® charter, the value of the charter and the CFA community, the activities of CFA Society Romania, and its impact in the markets. Achieve one of the highest distinctions in the investment management profession: Become a Chartered Financial Analyst®. As a CFA® charterholder, you will have the knowledge and the skills to thrive in the competitive...

As a senior relationship manager at Polen Capital Management, Taneka Lawrence, CFA, works with due diligence analysts in national accounts. Earning the CFA charter while starting a family was tough, but the knowledge and skills gained from the CFA Program give Taneka confidence in client meetings, and the CFA designation gives her credibility with peers and clients. Achieve one of the highest distinctions in the investment management profession: Become a Chartered Financial Analyst®. As a...

Malak Kraisha, CFA, shares her experience of earning the CFA charter during the COVID-19 pandemic to become one of the youngest CFA charterholders in the Middle East, and how she leverages the knowledge she has gained from the charter in her role as a venture capitalist in the fintech space. Achieve one of the highest distinctions in the investment management profession: Become a Chartered Financial Analyst®. As a CFA® charterholder, you will have the knowledge and the skills to thrive in...

Hear how the CFA® Program helped Gene Gard, CFA, chief investment officer at Telarray, pivot from submarine tours in the US Navy to a career in finance, and how involvement with CFA societies supported his growth in the finance industry in this episode of My CFA Charter Story.   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Achieve one of the highest distinctions in the investment management profession: Become a Chartered Financial Analyst®. As a...

Season @ launches Jan 25th, 2023.  My CFA® Charter Story returns with double the hosts and two episode formats. Join returning host Sibil Patri, CFA, as she guides us through inspirational CFA Program journeys in diverse places like Nigeria, Romania, and Jordan. New host, Lauren McAdams, will be talking to industry leaders about the doors opened to them as a result of earning the charter and joining the CFA society community.  Subscribe or follow to get updates when new episodes are...

A few broken bones on a fateful bike ride were not enough to break Santiago Castillo’s spirit. Upon arriving to the United States as part of his semester abroad, Santiago used his time recovering to dive deeper into his love of finance, including becoming a teacher’s assistant while he was actively pursuing his MBA. Oh, and he managed to find time to join a rock band.   Santiago’s endless curiosity ultimately led him to the CFA Charter. Hear how Santiago’s travels from Ecuador to Spain and...

Imagine preparing for one of the most notoriously difficult exams without any kind of support or mentorship. That’s exactly what Attila Köksal was up against in his home country of Turkey when he set his sights on becoming a Chartered Financial Analyst®. Back in the mid 90’s, there were only a handful of candidates in his part of the world. Without much support system, he studied constantly. Despite having difficulty with the first level, he was able to push ahead. Learn how Attila beat the...

While some kids spent their summer days reading comic books or playing ball with friends, Michael Hakerem was reading about the S&P 500. To say finance was a hobby would be an understatement. Michael set his sights on a career in finance at an early age, but it was not a straight path to success. Through some unforeseen obstacles and challenges, Michael leveraged his personal and diverse social network as well as his experiences growing up to prevail. Be sure to listen to Michael’s...

Just a few years into her burgeoning finance career, Azra Mirza left it all behind to focus on raising a family. And while motherhood proved to be rewarding, Azra felt something was missing. Her passion for finance and an unerring determination for success never wavered. With the support of her family, Azra returned to the workforce and set her sights on obtaining the CFA charter. On this episode of My Charter Story, we hear how one determined young woman bucked the trends of her traditional...

Thomas Edison once said, “many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." For Greg Campion, CFA, those weren’t just some words cobbled together by one of the world’s greatest inventors, they were a reality. In his vigorous pursuit of the CFA® charter, Greg ran into many challenges including failing the exam. But sometimes life gives us an opportunity to discover who we truly are and realize our dreams no matter how far out of reach...

Slinging drinks in crowded night clubs. Serving up street food to hungry patrons 7 days a week. Vying for the opportunity to land a job catering to the demands of weary passengers on transatlantic flights. What do these widely unique experiences all have in common? They were the first steps that would ultimately guide one man’s journey into the world of finance. On this episode of My Charter Story, we meet Eric Sim – a banker, lecturer, author, and CFA Charterholder. Eric shares how his...

In our premier episode, Sibil Patri, CFA, shares how her strict upbringing and determination helped give her the confidence she needed to tackle the Level I CFA® exam. Learn how her journey took her from working behind the cash register at her father’s convenience store to being one of the youngest VPs at American Century Investments and a leader in championing diversity, equity, and inclusion.   Sibil Sebastian Patri, CFA, is vice president, strategy and corporate development for American...

This January CFA Institute will launch a new podcast, My Charter Story, in which CFA charterholders like you will share personal stories of what inspired and motivated them to pursue the CFA charter. Have a compelling story about your journey to earning the charter? We want to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected] so we can explore telling your story on a future podcast episode.