WOMEN'S MONTH
31 August 2019
CFA designation almost ‘a rite of passage’ in investment industry
D
elphine Govender, CFA, probably is) one of the most complete Co-founder and Chief business qualifications in terms of the Investment Officer at grounding it provides.” Perpetua Investment Managers, says It was during her university years that as a child, she had little exposure and accounting articles that she became to the field of financial services. exposed to the world of investing. “I had two academics as parents, “Once I discovered this world, I realised with neither of them in finance or exactly where I was heading.” business-oriented fields (my dad was Govender explains that it is only in science and my mum in education, hindsight that reveals tough patches language and the that may have been arts in general). obstacles in her GOVENDER IS Even the school I career journey. attended offered “While I remain INSPIRED BY THE no usual business on my career MANY INTELLIGENT, journey I experience subjects like accountancy, etc. DRIVEN, PRINCIPLED various challenges, “I decided YET HUMBLE PEOPLE none of which are around age 15 that insurmountable.” She SHE MEETS I could see myself says that in a malein a finance-based dominated industry field and wanted to develop commerce – like the investment industry – the and business-related expertise after challenge of unconscious bias towards school. I did some research into women is a very real one. this and decided back then on the “It is so frustrating for women CA qualification, which was (and to have to spend time dealing with
situations in which this bias is at play. I call this distraction the ‘woman tax’. Ironically, men don’t see how they benefit from not having to waste time dealing with this issue.” Govender is inspired by the many intelligent, driven, principled yet humble people she meets throughout the spheres of her life (especially those on a genuine journey of continuous learning among family and colleagues). “I am motivated by my own deep sense of curiosity and desire to be of service to those around me,” she adds. She was introduced to the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) credential at university back in the mid-90s as she learned about a career in investing and what qualifications would be the most relevant to pursue. “If you are committed to a career in investments, the CFA designation is almost a rite of passage. The reality about the exam is that in and of itself I do not believe it qualifies
you to do something specific, but it is a necessary leveller for all in the industry or for those who wish to enter. “Often I encourage colleagues who write this exam to obsess less about how tough it is and concentrate more on what it is equipping them to do. In this way the content becomes relatable. When a profession has a strong fiduciary element, which investments does, it becomes essential that a robust framework to govern behaviour, actions and thought-processes exists – and the CFA designation is excellent at providing this common base to all.”
Delphine Govender, CFA, Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer, Perpetua Investment Managers
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