Working with money. Wouldn’t that be fun? Let’s find out from 25-year-old fund manager Bekxy Kuriakose

What’s my story?
As a fund manager at SBI Mutual Fund, my job is to manage the money of investors. In lay terms, people give us their money, and we invest it in stocks that will give them high returns. So why would they give it to us in the first place? Because, we know the pulse of the market. After intense research and market analysis we decide when to sell stocks, and when to buy.

I started out in research and dealing functions. Credit research on companies, smaller dealing functions like call money, money markets and the like. Slowly my responsibilities were increased and I was made assistant to the fund manager. Even there, my boss didn’t have the time to go deal with everything so he would trust me with many big deals. He let me make decisions on important clients and I kept learning. After three years in this company, I was promoted to fund manager.
Being a woman in this industry...

There are very few women fund managers in the industry because the pressure is immense. When I first started out, whatever trouble I faced was because I was young and inexperienced, not because of my gender. But yes, if women are mild and soft spoken, there is no way they can handle the pressures of this job. I have realised that in this field, respect is performance-based. If you are good, it doesn’t matter who you are.

The slippery market floor:
Over a period of time, you develop a gut instinct, a radar for hoaxes. People will try to take you for a ride all the time. Big counter parties and rivals try and give you wrong quotes. For instance, a rival company is looking to buy a huge amount. To get a good price, they might make it appear like they are selling, so other people in the market will come up with prices. Apart from being knowledgeable, you must know how to handle these people. Never get swayed by what other people are doing. Even the best companies, the biggest names make mistakes. Have your own view and be very clear about your decisions.

Choosing a life partner:
I know that my job doesn’t end when the market closes. I have to be aware at all times. Even after I go home, I have to read up on market strategies, watch CNBC, CNN, to keep in touch with the rates. My work requires lots of concentration and responsibility. The economy changes so fast. So when I look for a husband, it is imperative that he understands my passion for my job.

I knew I had arrived when:
The boss acknowledges my efforts and tells me that I am invaluable to the company. This is a job with instant results. My decisions will reflect in the ranking of my company through the returns. A deal that I had worked on was ranked first in a study by ‘Economic Times’. Such things reassure me that I am on the right track. But the one thing that gave me the biggest boost was being made fund manager. It’s very uncommon to be given that position at this age. Even in my company, people need to have at least five years of experience; I made it in three. It felt great.

The adrenaline rush:
Yes, it’s a great feeling to be in the middle of an environment that is so charged. You should see the office in the morning during market hours; it’s chaotic. I am on the phone all the time, shouting at people, people yelling at me, buying, selling... it’s just fantastic. It gives me a high when I make big deals and the race is to get the best possible price. It’s not like I don’t make mistakes. I have made wrong predictions and lost some money but you have to go with your gut. No one can boast of 100 per cent hits on calls but you learn. It’s stressful but it gives me tremendous satisfaction. In fact, I have quite a reputation of being aggressive — people joke that they are scared of me!

Bekxy Kuriakose Spoke to Sejal Mehta

Got comments or questions? E-mail us at femina@timesgroup.com with ‘on the job — fund manager’ in the subject line