Q&A with Victoria Leggett

Kunle Q&A

WITH VICTORIA LEGGETT

Victoria Leggett and I bonded over a chat about financial education and how to encourage school leavers and graduates to consider career opportunities in fund management.

Victoria is the Head of Impact Investing at Union Bancaire Privée (UBP) and as a successful Fund Manager, she has some useful tips for dealing with the pressures that come with the role, as well as with modern day life.

Can you tell us a bit more about what you do?

I work with a team of people who are investing money in companies, which are making a positive impact on society or the environment. Our day to day job involves finding those businesses, stress-testing them and then when we have invested, staying in regular contact with them to make sure they are meeting our financial and impact expectations.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

It is the privilege of being able to meet the leaders of businesses which are driving genuine change. I also feel that in a small way our team is contributing to finance becoming more responsible and hopefully working for society instead of being detached from it. What is your company doing to be more sustainable?

UBP has recently conducted a full sustainability review and made commitments around carbon footprint and the increase of assets invested in sustainable solutions.

What suggestions would you have for younger people wanting to become a Fund Manager?

If you think you probably shouldn’t be a Fund Manager because economics or maths haven’t been high priorities – you’re probably exactly what this industry needs, so don’t be put off. However, the one thing you do need in this job is resilience. Investing can be very taxing on your self-esteem! We all go through phases of getting things wrong and the stock market is a merciless place. You have to be able to shake off the stress at the end of the day.

Would it have been important for you to have learnt about personal finance at school?

YES! We were taught nothing. I always found it strange that I le school being able to name the component parts of a mitochondrion, but I had no idea what a mortgage was or what APR meant.

How do you deal with disappointment?

Pretty well! I have very high expectations of almost everything, so I am regularly disappointed. The good thing is it means I’m used to it.

What's your favourite quote?

Thoughts aren’t facts. Don’t believe everything you think. What would you now like to have known that you didn’t know before?

That you have to be generous to the present to really get the most out of your future. Also, to pay attention to the anger in myself or anyone else, there’s normally something behind it to connect with and stop it escalating – and that can really rescue your day if it works!

What is the best money tip that you have been given?

Never invest in something you don’t understand, which is probably why I don’t have many biotech companies in my fund.