Anita Nemes, managing director, prime brokerage, Merrill Lynch

I didn’t plan to work in banking when I graduated – my first job was in television. I soon found that I was working long hours for very little money, so I felt I should look for a more lucrative career and perhaps return to television later. I started work as an associate at a large American investment bank and soon found that banking was ideal for me; it offered a dynamic environment where my work contributed to measurable results. I liked having the chance to learn a lot through comprehensive training programmes and also ‘on the job’ in an ongoing way. I never went back to television!

Making connections

I’m now an MD in prime brokerage: I have global responsibility for ‘capital introductions’, helping hedge funds meet the right investors that they can raise money from. For instance, I might arrange road shows and conferences where fund managers can speak with investors. There’s a lot of communication involved and I talk to everyone, trying to make connections and put the right people together. I really enjoy having a client base of such intelligent people, since hedge funds are a very dynamic part of the financial industry, and I like the fast pace of my work. Of course, there are also good financial rewards, but the most important thing is that I love what I do.

Advice for graduates

Start your career with real enthusiasm and be intellectually curious and open-minded. In order to build expertise and enthusiasm you will need to be willing to take risks and do new things.

Be yourself

The working environment can be tough; initially I did find it hard to adapt but just had to stay focused. You need to stay true to yourself in order to develop as a professional. I would say that it is possible to be yourself and succeed. This industry is open to individuality and you need to develop your own style, which may be very different from your original perception.