What Type Of Person Thrives In The Hedge Fund Industry According To A Quantitative Strategies Managing Director At O Asset Management
Trevor, a Managing Director in Quantitative Strategies at a FinTech hedge fund, explains that success in this high-stakes industry requires resilience in the face of frequent setbacks—"people that don't give up when they first see the first sign of failure"—and a strong aptitude for science and math, coupled with a passion for the work and a willingness to dedicate significant time and effort. The competitive global landscape necessitates hard work and dedication to achieve impactful results; it's not a "nine to five kind of path".
Resilience, Passion, Hard work, Technical skills, STEM aptitude
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Trevor Richardson
Managing Director, Quantitative Strategies
O Asset Management
Arizona State University
M.S. Computer Science at Arizona State University
Engineering - Industrial
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing), Technology
Data and Analytics
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. People who thrive in high-tech hedge fund environments don't give up easily and can handle a noisy, challenging work environment. They don't need constant positive reinforcement and can persevere through setbacks.
2. Success in AI/ML requires strong technical skills and a natural aptitude for science and math, though it's not impossible without this background. Enjoying the problem-solving process is key.
3. This is a highly competitive field demanding long hours and significant passion. The potential for impact is substantial, but it's not a nine-to-five career path.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
There are two parts to this question. First, I'll answer about the industry I'm in right now: FinTech, specifically working for a hedge fund.
People who thrive in very high-tech hedge fund environments don't give up at the first sign of failure. We work in an extremely noisy and difficult environment to find any edge in investing behavior. If you're easily discouraged or need constant positive reinforcement, this is not for you. There will be rare days when things work out well, and those days will mean everything.
On the pure AI/ML side, people who have thrived are very technically savvy and have a penchant for science and math. It's not impossible if you don't have that propensity, but it would be a long haul. Enjoying the process is a big part of it.
I also work with people who work incredibly hard. I wish I could say you only need to work 10 hours a week to be successful, but this industry is very attractive right now. You're competing on a global scale with people who have nothing to lose, giving their all to find a better situation.
If you're looking for something less competitive, this is a place for people with passion who want to work hard and make a big impact, as the potential for impact is great. This is definitely not a nine-to-five path.