- Name: Yi Jean Lim
- Role: Investment Banking Analyst (Technology, Media & Telecoms)
- Joined: June 2015
- University: University of California Berkley
- Degree: Business Administration
What does your role involve?
The role of an analyst is to
support the senior bankers, helping them to advise clients on strategic
alternatives and maximising shareholder value. A big part of my role
involves analysing the capital structure of a company and identifying
strategic opportunities through financial analysis and industry
research. What I really like about my job is that it allows me to have a
real impact and to take ownership of certain projects.
Why did you choose a job in this sector/profession?
When I
thought about possible career options, I took two things into
consideration: what I enjoy and what I am good at. I recognised that I
really felt engaged whenever my studies involved numbers and different
forms of analysis. Similarly, I really enjoyed working in teams and with
people who were focused and driven.
It’s at this point that I identified Investment Banking as an ideal
career path for me to pursue. I then applied for an internship with
Lazard and had an incredible experience, which made my decision on what
I want to do after graduation easy.
It was also important for me to work in a meritocratic industry and
finance fits the bill. Once you break into the industry, it doesn’t
matter who you are and where you came from. As long as you possess the
right attitude and produce consistently good work, you will succeed.
What does Lazard do to support women in the workplace?
Lazard
has a strong Women in Banking (WIB) network within the firm. There are
various initiatives to help us connect and learn from each other through
organised monthly lunches, conferences and even dinner and drinks at a
Managing Director’s house!
There have long been concerns in the industry about the lack of women,
but not enough about the empowerment and support for women. I am glad to
be a part of a firm that recognises that disconnect and has laid out
concrete initiatives for boosting recruitment and supporting existing
female employees.
Even as a first-year analyst, I never felt that I was ‘too junior’ to
voice out my opinion on the recruitment and retention plans. I recently
worked with another colleague to run a Women’s Breakfast Networking
event to encourage female students across all disciplines to consider
finance and to debunk the common misconceptions about the profession. It
is extremely rewarding to be able to play a bigger role in the firm
which will lay the foundation for a more equal and diverse future.