Career Lesson From a Head of Emerging Market Sovereign Debt at Abrdn
Edwin's most significant career lesson is that "one really doesn't truly understand what one is investing in until you've lost money in it," forcing a crucial self-assessment of assumptions and missed factors, although this learning process requires a delicate balance to avoid career-ending losses.
Overcoming Challenges, Resilience, Hard Truths, Industry Realities, Real-World Examples
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Edwin Gutierrez
Head of Emerging Market Sovereign Debt
Abrdn
UC Berkeley
MS Foreign Service, Georgetown University
Political Science, American Studies
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
Honors Student
Video Highlights
1. Losing money is a crucial learning experience in finance, forcing a critical review of assumptions and processes.
2. It's important to balance learning from mistakes with managing risk to avoid job consequences.
3. Challenges and failures are essential for growth and development in a finance career, mirroring lessons from competitive fields like the Olympics.
Transcript
What is one lesson that you have learned that has proven significant in your career?
I have a mantra: one doesn't truly understand what one is investing in until you've lost money in it. It's when you lose money that circumspection kicks in.
That's when you're forced to ask yourself: "What did I get wrong? What assumptions did I make that I didn't get right? Is there something I missed?" Or was this simply beyond my control, a left-field event that was unrealistic for me to see coming?
Losing money is often the best way to learn. However, you can't keep doing it, or you'll lose your job. It's a delicate balance.
Unfortunately, as we know from everything, or just having finished watching the Olympics, it's through challenges and failures that we grow. That's definitely the case with a career in finance.