This week, we give a warm welcome to Elise Kennedy, Investment Analyst at Schroders, on Episode 4 of the Shares Not Shoes Podcast! 👠Elise discusses her experience in covering gaming and tech stocks, the importance of having good friends and networks and how to find your confidence when it ebbs and flows. We also learn that she has her pilot's licence and is an ex-swimmer and surfer. How amazing is that?
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Elise
What does matter is your tenacity and ability to learn whatever it is that you do, do it well.
Camilla
Welcome everyone back to another episode of Shares, Not Shoes An Insider's Guide to Careers in Finance. I'm your host Camilla Love, founder of F3 Future Females in Finance shares Not Shoes is a podcast whereby I interview some of my favourite people, all with one thing in common they work in finance. We lift the lid on who they are, how they came into a career in finance and arm you with some knowledge about why a career in finance could be a good fit for you, I will promise that all my guests will share some amazing personal stories. We'll be open and honest and will inspire you.
Camilla
So let's go!
Camilla
Welcome everybody to another episode of Shares Not Shoes. Now, today's guest is an absolute firecracker and I can count her as one of my friends. She is a surfer. She is a, you know, has her pilot's licence. She's totally into tech and I can't wait to introduce you to her. So why don't we just crack on and, Elise Kennedy, welcome to Shares Not Shoes.
Elise
I think that's got to be up there with one of the best introductions that I've ever had. It's a privilege to be on here.
Camilla
Oh my gosh. Because this season I'm doing Equities focus. And I have some of my most favourite favourite people on this season. And you were definitely on the top of that list, as was another Elise. So we've got two Elise's, um, Elise Mackay and she. So there's two Elise's on this season, so I can't wait to interview you and get to the the crux of who you are and what you do. But you recently have started a new job at Schroders. Do you want to tell me a little bit about that?
Elise
Absolutely. So after ten plus years on what they define as the sell side. So that is the side that more does the advice but doesn't own the money. I've moved to what is now the buy side at Schroders. And so what that means is we actually have some of the money to be able to make those decisions. So we've got to back yourself and decide what you and where you actually go and put the dollars. Um, so yeah, that's been an adventure to start with, which, you know, you always feel like you're always you think you know everything. As you get older, you think you know everything at 14 years old.
Camilla
Yeah, I think everybody thinks they know everything.
Elise
And then you realise every day that you don't. So that's saying, um, what is it? The day you stop learning is the day you die. So I'm definitely not dying at this time.
Camilla
No, no. And, like, talk to me a little bit about the sell side, because we've had Karen Jorritsma in this season as well, and she talks about and she's still on the sell side. And so talk to me a little bit about your journey into the sell side and how to make that jump to the buy side, because that is a big that's a big thing. A lot of people talk about it.
Elise
Absolutely. So I didn't know I wanted to do finance. I was all about swimming. And then I did my degree, part time business degree, just because it had such versatility and options. And I found that I liked to get 100%. And that was easiest in finance because it tends to be a number at the end of it versus English.
Camilla
It's very binary.
Elise
Exactly. Um, and then I just took up a rotation around the Commonwealth Bank at the time, and then I fell on the global markets floor, and that's where I fell in love with markets. And for me, the sell side again, I think I think as often a lot of females do you can lack confidence. So I thought, well this is one way to not have to own the money. Make that big bet yourself. Um, and I also not sure of what your investment style is like. There is a growth or there's a value or ways that people, um, different ways that its funds will look at, um, how to invest money. So I thought, well, the sell side is an option to be able to work with some of the brightest minds and understand, um, you know, the different types of styles that are out there and which one resonates best with me. So I did that for, um, as I mentioned, over ten years, seven years at Morgan Stanley and then, um, at Jarden, um, after that, about three years.
Elise
And I did an MBA, um, which is a very supportive of during that time. But I think once I finished that, I thought, well, now's the time to keep on pushing yourself, to keep on challenging to go. You know what? I need this to have this confidence. Otherwise, you know, you question about your own judgement and cause. So with that in mind, I was fortunate to have already had some early conversations, and I think that's always the best position to be in where you know, your customers, your customers, your clients, whoever it is, is coming and saying, hey, would you like to come and join us? So with that in mind, I, um, approached my existing firm, Jordan, at the time, and we discussed it together about the, um, the move. And I think, again, that's a very good position to be in where you're instead of turning around and just putting in a resignation letter, you talk with the business that knows you for that period of time, um, to see and work together of how can we make this?
Elise
Is this a good move? Is this how is this going to reflect? Um, anyway, long story short, we came to the agreement that. Let's have a go. Let's let's try this. And. Yeah, that's where I ended up. Where where I am today. It was so it wasn't it wasn't always smooth, easy steps. But I think those conversations and listening to things like this are always a way to help you self discover yourself.
Camilla
Um, and, you know, you talk about the squiggly. You know, everyone knows about the squiggly career. And you know, it's not a like a straight line trajectory. And, you know, getting putting yourself in spaces where opportunities do exist or present is a really good way to move forward in your career. What do you think?
Elise
Absolutely. I'm the first one to even have four different things in a one night after work, and I'll pop in to each one for 30 minutes. And I think always if you make one connexion, that's one more than you would have had, um, make it meaningful follow up. And you just never know where that connexion will take you. Um, for example, recently I was over in London I had years ago when at Morgan Stanley, been a gaming analyst in there, reconnected with the analyst over there. He's covering a lot of the stocks that I have now got a global perspective. Um, it's just really continues to, um, feed into your opportunities. So yeah, that to me is something that's probably always been in the forefront for me.
Camilla
Um, and, you know, I'm, you know, I like you love to network. And, you know, my view on networks is is it's it's an organism, right? So you've got to add to it because otherwise it will die, right? You've got to add people to it because and take away people to it. So it's constantly moving adding value to you.
Elise
Absolutely. It's because you've got to keep feeding it, even those existing relationships that you have, let alone building it and growing it. And it takes time, but I always will be doing one small thing and think, oh, I haven't reached out to this person for a period of time, or you'll have people on networking, LinkedIn, and you don't really always have the time to be able to take that time with coffee, but you pay it forward. And often I find that, um, yeah, you find that there's some great networks, which is how I've had the great friendship with yourself as well. Um, it just keeps on paying it forward.
Camilla
Absolutely. Now, you mentioned a second ago about confidence. And, you know, there are times in your career, particularly early on, where you lack confidence. Then as you grow and mature and you find your voice, you have greater confidence. But then you sort of in between those points, you ebb and flow in confidence. How do you go about finding that extra like, I don't know, zing. That gives you the confidence boost that you need for either today or an, you know, an interview with a company, with company management or, you know, for an interview for a new job. How do you how do you find that zing?
Elise
It's funny you say those ebbs and flows and that you think you've got it all. I cried in front of my boss, the new boss of mine, uh, like a couple of months ago. Um, so you don't always walk the perfect line of having the confidence. But, um, no, I think that's the point, though, is he even sat me down and said, you're being too hard on yourself. Um, which was the thing that we often are doing. Um, and so what I did with that is, is find two things I find for me, each person is different. Some people, it might be getting your support network that knows you so well to give you that rah rah, hey, we've got this. For me, it's a matter of doing a run or going and getting in the surf or finding for me that altruistic thing that I can centre myself, um, but also self-reflect and think, hey, look at what I've already been able to achieve.
Elise
You know, I think you mentioned at the beginning the pilot's licence. It was the day before I did my first solo flight where I thought, what am I doing? I can't do this. I'm never going to go up. Yes you.
Camilla
Can.
Elise
Yeah, I should just trust you. But all of a sudden the next day, you know, I think I've slept, I've run, and the next day I got on that plane and I just felt it. Something clicked and, um, yeah, my trainer goes, are you ready for me to get out? I said, yeah, absolutely. Get out. And then I was, oh yeah.
Camilla
See you later. Bye.
Elise
You've been you've been here too long now. So I think that's what it is, is whatever it is that you find sensors and levels you and helps you to believe in yourself. Do that and don't think it's wasted time. Don't just keep pushing sometimes. Step back to go forward.
Camilla
Yeah. And I you know I'm a big believer like you on exercise sleep and eating and making sure. And also you know, the analogy of, you know, in the plane you put your oxygen mask on first to look after yourself before you do it to others and making sure that you have when you're in those times where you do lack confidence that you are centring yourself first.
Elise
That's the exact thing that I always say. Yeah. Put your face mask on before you can help anybody else. Absolutely. Mhm.
Camilla
And I love that. It's like pilot analogy. And you had to work it in. So and and so you cover tech stocks right. Did you always cover tech stocks. And you mentioned gaming before as well. How many like what are your favourite sectors to cover as an analyst.
Elise
Look I, I went into tech because I saw there was a gap in the market. This would have been back in 20 1516. And it was just such a growth area. With all the learnings that you've done around exponential growth and how technology, even in economics, and you know about that being one of the ability to get your GDP to go materially higher than, say, adding consumption or all the other variables. So for me, um, just seeing where the evolution was starting to go and people not being as well versed and being part of a global firm, I thought there's a gap in this market to really go in hard and I enjoy it. So yeah, I just started to immerse myself with the US team that were a bit more advanced than we were in Australia, and for me, that resonated because it was helping to make difference in the world. I know that sounds so obvious, but there is a way that for me personally, I just think if we can make this place a better, a better world, then it's something better.
Elise
And because I've picked up some gaming stocks on the side, I thought, well, maybe this is the perfect combination. Um, it's just the gaming stocks were an are a big sector. So it's and and into different analysis. Um some have have cash and earnings. Whereas it's good to always ensure that you can reconcile um accounts to see that versus a tech stock. So do you.
Camilla
And I talk about this across the um, across this season. Um, because I'm always interested in it because to me, it's a, it's a human trait in that, um, whether you fall in love with the stocks that you cover or stocks that are in your portfolio, and has there been a time where that's happened and what do you reflect on at that point in time, and how do you stop it? Um.
Elise
I think I've always I always try to have constructive criticism. I never take anything. And each day you can't just you can't just look at a stock one day and think that something is exactly the same next day. Because look at our world. It changes every single day. So romanticising about a stock? I don't think so. Um, I think when you've you can you can sometimes on the sales side particularly, I think that you can know a stock's going up and it's probably overvalued, but you know that the whole market is going to push it up. But yeah, I think that's where my firm's investment style is a bit different, whereby it's like, well, you can watch that hype happen, but fundamentally it's probably going to go back to the level that it is. Um, and what is fair? So you kind of always have this more stable, um, trajectory. So yeah, I probably don't. I think that the most important thing and key takeaway is don't fall in love with the stock.
Elise
Fall in love with the way that the business is done. Fall in love with the, um, free cash flow that it can and will generate. But if it's not delivering on that, like any love. Right? You, um. You just have to.
Camilla
Need to let it go.
Elise
You have to just put it in. You have to just put it in there until you find that it, um, delivers on those. And sometimes that's the thing is, like there's been zero. For example, I initiated on that stock back when it was like 30, $40. Um, it's 130 now. Um, so that's another one, $3.35. We did the IPO. It's just about to break. Oh, it's broken $100. So those are great businesses, but there are some things that are questionable. And there's things that came out with the short seller reports for Wisetech and really organic growth. Xero went back from over 150 down to I think it was like 70 bucks at the time and nothing. The strategy and some of the things that they were doing had changed. So that's what I mean. It's like, well, now they got a new CEO for Xero, and she's come in and she's kind of changed the decks. It's like, you don't fall out of love, but you kind of just go, all right, these are not the actions to which I appreciate.
Elise
And I can see that free cash flow coming through. Um, so I think that's kind of how I think about stocks and businesses that I love. Yeah.
Camilla
And you know, the Australian talk, the Australian tech sector is reasonably burgeoning. Like, you know, obviously you've got everyone knows about the Nasdaq and all that sort of stuff. But we have a reasonable tech sector here, don't you think? Absolutely.
Elise
We have some great businesses, a lot of even still private. You think even Atlassian came from the Australian guys? Yeah. And another name. Um, wisetech xero's new Zealand business originally. Um, airwallex.
Camilla
There's a whole bunch of them.
Elise
Yeah. Um, I think, you know, we've got a tech hub that tries to be invested in a very fortunate position, as well as an economy with regards to the investment that we're able to put towards our economy versus some other less privileged, um, countries. So I think with that, we've also got a huge amount of finances, you know, our superannuation and funds they're putting towards things that make a difference or feed into the ability of tech stocks to and new businesses to be able to, um, thrive. Not alive. But if they are good.
Camilla
Not always quite true. Not always. He. Hottest topic at the moment. I. What's. What's your views? Not only. What's your views on AI companies and valuations at the moment because oh my gosh that is crazy. But also on the flip side, how are you using AI to better what you do as an analyst?
Elise
Um, so with regards to the valuation, there's a lot of hype in the market that can get carried away. I remember I always use the example of 3D printing or the Google Glass. It's like, no, but there is some realism in the ability of what that's going to do. And the data that that requires the generation of electricity and they all flow through as different derivatives and ways to play AI. So I think it's real. I wrote about AI and AI again, that initiation of zero report. I think that was back in 2016 or 17. So it's not as though this concept is new, but it's been.
Camilla
Around since the 70s.
Elise
Exactly. Um, so is it evolutionary or revolutionary? I think the main thing is how you use it, and that's exactly what you've pointed out.
Camilla
Mhm. And I think that I think that it is, it's we are at a point in, you know, the evolution of AI where every day people like me and you can actually use it simply, um, rather it being, you know in quantum computing and this and that and you know, in, in big tech and only being used in big, large organisations, it is every day, every day we use it.
Elise
Absolutely. Um, and I think that's what we've got to take on board. And it's in every single presentation because the use cases are becoming more mainstream. It's starting to cross into, um, an adoption where, you know, most people I know will have their GP and can write some quick assignments for you or in our cases. Yeah.
Camilla
Um, your research reports are done. Yeah.
Elise
I will always say check it, because the person next to you has probably got the exact same report if you go and.
Camilla
Yeah, for sure, for sure.
Elise
But for us, for example, you can you can ask it to reconcile what across all these five different, um, financial reports are their key messages or what is the free cash flow as quoted by XYZ? It's all about how you put the inputs. But those are ways that things where you have to go searching yourself straight away, chat to people, go and find out, or whichever AI tool that you're using that is such a time saving tool. Um, so it's not as though it makes you redundant. It enables you to have the ability to use that time for something else that will continue to provide an edge within the market. Yeah.
Camilla
And add value to your clients? Absolutely. Hey, um, what would your top tip be for someone wanting to become an analyst in this in the market today?
Elise
Look, we take as analysts, you don't necessarily even have to have done a finance degree. Um, guys that were engineers or people that were healthcare geologists.
Camilla
Yeah.
Elise
Sure. Exactly. What does matter is your tenacity and ability to learn whatever it is that you do, do it well. So with that in mind, if you maybe in your if you're of the age where you haven't done or you didn't, you had too much fun in university, so.
Camilla
Nothing wrong with that.
Elise
That's exactly my point. Nothing wrong with that at all. Um, but then you go, well, you know what? I've been there, done then I want to do things a little bit differently now. I want to try and apply myself. Go, go pick something else up. Um, whatever it is, um, that will help to show your passionate about getting into the market. So yeah, maybe go do a finance degree, or maybe go do whatever it is, do it well. And what I mean by that is, is get those marks properly, learn what's going on. If you are interested in being an analyst, show it. Maybe do some investing yourself or build some models. Because the thing is, it's not just about the person saying they want the job. We want to know when we're hiring. Does this person genuinely know what this job is? And do they? Are they going to enjoy it? It's not a matter of rejection or anything like that. It's like we're both working together to a common goal of, is this going to be a right fit?
Elise
Because if it's not a right fit, it's not going to be good for you. It's not just it's not going to be good for the company. Um, so yeah, to me that is is the best way to go about it and just never give up. And again, that just shows that you might have to start somewhere of a smaller firm if you do want to get into a bigger firm, but you're going to learn a heap. Mhm.
Camilla
Absolutely. And I'm always a proponent of smaller firms. You know I quite like the fact that it gives you breadth as well as depth. So you know having going for large brand names that maybe silo you. I'm much more a, you know get my hands dirty. I want to know what's going on in legal compliance operations. You know investment management, sales, marketing. I quite like all of that. And, you know, like, you naturally curious type of person, not only in on the world at large but you know, about other people. And yeah, I just, you know, that's that's my M.O..
Elise
It's funny you choose the word curiosity. That was one of the key things that we do look for as an equity analyst. That willingness and wanting to learn more.
Camilla
Yeah, and a lot of people come to me and go, well, you know, I haven't you know, I haven't got to the stage of my career where I can do some investing myself. Like, how do you like what tips do you give to people, particularly juniors who are interviewing, you know, maybe for their first analyst role about how to showcase what they know about finance and what they know about the intimacy of the companies that maybe you would ask for, like, you know, is it wisetech? Is it zero? How do I, you know, as a as a junior, how do I present my thoughts on those companies that can actually resonate with you?
Elise
Yeah, I did think it was hard when I was interviewing. And you know, you've just spent all your money towards just getting your degree done. That's where you put all your time and energy, and any other minute you're trying to get recommendations from. I just thought, where the hell do you think I'm going to find time? And if I do find time, I'm not going to be doing a very good job of it. So what there is, is one there's an ASX trading platform on there that is free and it just gives you a paper book. So that's that's one thing. If you do want to actually have a try at that, you can read the paper and be aware of what's happening in the world and see if you enjoy it. Um, because you are wanting to learn and understand all of that in your subjects at university, whatever it is, apply it in the way that you think at an analyst would apply it. And if you don't know, then grab a coffee with somebody to help see what their reports are like to see what you'll be doing each day.
Elise
And again, that's a learning curve for you. But then fundamentally, when somebody asks you the questions about stocks, you will naturally have read the business section or the company section or of your of the Australian or the AFR, and you will, um, speak just naturally. That's what I found occurs. Whereas when you just can always tell when somebody has not done their due diligence. And that's if you haven't done your due diligence and effort in the interview and you really want this job, you're probably not going to do the job in the same way. So again, that's where it's more about just showing your skill set more, um, so than it is about did you pick a good stock? The way that you think?
Camilla
Yeah. And it is about preparation.
Elise
Yeah.
Camilla
Like, I get a lot of feedback on people not preparing for interviews, and I'm like, you're being given this fabulous opportunity. Why would you waste it by not preparing?
Elise
I get so frustrated. I'm like, I've only got this. So once this man comes to me, I'm prepared. Normally I'll cut it off in 15 because I just go, which is a bit blunt, but I just thought, let's just not waste any either of our time here. I was in a pleasant way, but you know, it's 15 minutes that you can go and hopefully prepare. I remember I did an interview and, um, well, it wasn't really an interview. I did like a social. It was my first kind of social event where you get pulled along, and it was what Bain and Co and I didn't fully know what it was and how it all worked. But that was my first lesson to always understand what this event is, network and to prepare, because it just felt uncomfortable. And so you can't put your best foot forward if you feel uncomfortable.
Camilla
I agree talking about being uncomfortable. You and I both did our MBAs at Agsm. I know why I did it, but I'd love to hear your story, what you got out of it and why you think that that that, you know, degree was important for you in your role today?
Elise
I did it because I kept on looking at others on boards of companies, which is somewhere that I would like to get in tight. And they had that further education and I always and I and people that I admire did. So I thought, well that means I want it. I always look, if I look at someone, I think, oh, that's I'm so impressed by that. I think, oh, I want to go and do that. Then, um, and then why the MBA? I kind of started the CFA and then I thought, this is what I do all day. This is one section of your brain that let me go into more of the strategic direction and massage that part of my brain. So, um, and also to meet such a diversity of people, so good were. Yeah, I um, yeah, I, I feel so fortunate, even as hard work as it was, um, to have met such a diverse think group, a network of people who will have the same question but answer it differently.
Elise
And then that, to me, is why you as an analyst, you're always trying to generate this concept of alpha, think outside the box. And that's the thing is, you will always, um, if you if you don't do something like that, then yeah, you're going to just follow the market and everyone's going to get on some trades, but then you're not actually going to generate that over and above return of everybody else. And so to me, sometimes keeping your brain massaged in outside of the what is, you know, your everyday job to me, um, I think feeds through into that. So that's kind of my, my MBA thinking. Um, one day I think maybe I'll go. I always say I wanted to do psychology. So I think when I'm in the nursing home and bored, then that's, uh, that'll be my next little venture.
Camilla
Because you just need another degree. Yeah, I.
Elise
Know, right.
Camilla
But I like I like the formal learning piece as well. But for me, the MBA was about, um, pushing myself out outside my comfort zone. Also, that introspection piece. There's a segment of the MBA that has, you know, self-reflection. You know, you have the ability, you know, learning to manage people, people's, you know, as you say, the psychology of IT, negotiation skills, but as well as the strategies, what, you know, I just loved all that piece too.
Elise
Yeah, absolutely. And I think that's for me where I identified there was this core within me of self or lack of self confidence that I went for instead of going, oh, I'm just lacking self confidence. I'm like, let's challenge myself. Let's take this next job. It was scary. It still is a lot of the time. But, um, throw yourself in the deep end. And, uh, I used to be a swimmer, so yeah, I believe that I can swim. It's just even though you sometimes you feel like you're drowning. Mhm.
Camilla
That's why you surf, right? You're on top of a board. Yeah. I'm getting all the things in today. You know the pilots and the boards. The surfing. Woo. Pat on the back for me. Hey. Yeah, exactly. Um, looking back on your career. I mean, is there a moment that really sticks in your head that, you know, was a turning point? That, in hindsight, really was a gift?
Elise
Oh, yeah, there definitely was. Um, it was my partner at the time, and he saw me. I was still doing university by correspondence, working in at CBA. Um, and he just kind of looked at me and he goes, you can do whatever you want because you're so driven. You're here juggling a million things. Why don't you back yourself and go and, you know, take these equity roles. Go for these top tier firms. That was that was the first kind of catalyst for me, um, to get into this career. Probably if I didn't have that person that was close to me told me to, or give me the strength to believe in myself. Um, or even at that point, I don't even think it was me believing in myself. It was me believing in their view that if he's going to tell me to do this, then I trust him. So let's just see where this venture goes. And then yeah, that to me was like that sliding doors moment.
Elise
Um, because it's taken the trajectory. And now I think that's where when you know, when if I've done that run still and I still feel like I, um, don't have that strength to step out. I phone friends and you phone a friend. Yeah, I love that. And then I need.
Camilla
To g up right now. I need a rah rah. Come on, people, I've got what happens if. What happens if they don't pick up, right. You just go on to the next friend. A whole.
Elise
Heap. Remember that that original where we talked about the organism and its mouth. So I've got 1000. So I'm literally I have done that. I think it was like seven phone calls or. Yeah. And it's so funny because I'm like, I don't need you anymore. I'm busy.
Camilla
Yeah. Today. Today I need a rah rah. Tomorrow I'll be good.
Elise
Yeah, they know it. My friends know it too.
Camilla
I love that, I love that I have a really good girlfriend who does the same. And I'm on her speed dial and she's like, Camilla, I just need a rah rah today. I'm like, okay, great. She goes, I'm going into a presentation and there's 150 people in the room and I'm like, okay, what do you want? What do you want me to do? Like this? It's just the funniest thing. And if you were standing next to me on the road while I was woohooing like her through my phone, people would go, oh my God, this lady is crazy.
Elise
Crazy awesome.
Camilla
Uh, but fun but fun. That's what friends are for, right?
Elise
Exactly.
Camilla
Um, so I asked my guests, all of them, this next question, which is the most valuable piece of advice that was given to you and why it resonated and was important to you at the time. What was it?
Elise
I don't know if it's advice that was given. It was more so something that I read and you're going to know who it was by. It's like you can catch a man, a fish, or you can teach the man to fish and he can keep on fishing forever with his families. That, to me was the value of education, the value of helping others, the value of not just throwing donations at something, but legacy of helping. Yeah. Um, so that to me, is where if you kind of walk your life always thinking like that, when somebody's like, oh, hey, can you do this for me? It's like, hold on, let's get you and help you to be able to do that next time. If I'm not standing there doing something. To me, that's probably something that I found most valuable or that I that I've read rather than I can't think about times where something someone has said something specifically. But.
Camilla
And do you reflect on that piece of advice regularly?
Elise
Yeah I do.
Camilla
How does it come up?
Elise
It's a matter of teaching in that way. Instead of just giving donations to a charity or a cause is going in physically and giving your time to help them to believe in whatever it is to enable them to keep on providing for themselves and their future. Mhm.
Camilla
I had a, um, a chance encounter with F3 where I had an approach from youth off the streets, and there was a girl who was relatively, um, good at maths and she wanted to do work experience in finance. So I found her a piece of work experience in finance. And I just sit there and I don't know what she's done with it or where she is today, but I just think to myself, well, you know, if if she has, you know, potential And, you know, a background that is, you know, not the background of you or I, and I've been able to help her. That is just the most amazing thing. I just, you know, it's the most amazing thing. Exactly.
Elise
And she will pay it forward again. And that to me is. Yeah. Just keep on creating opportunities and yeah paying it forward.
Camilla
Mhm. Absolutely. Now when we get to the end of every episode I do this quick fire question thing. We want to know who you are, how you think. So I'm going to ask a whole bunch of questions. And you're going to tell me the first thing that comes into your mind.
Elise
Oh, God. I'm nervous. Yeah. Okay.
Camilla
Yeah. Are you ready? I don't bite, so I should be fine. Um.
Elise
So. Yes. Okay.
Camilla
Exactly, exactly. So. Okay. So let's go. Okay. How would your friends describe you?
Elise
Fabulous.
Camilla
Oh, totally.
Elise
Oh, a unicorn, but no, we go with the first answer.
Camilla
Yeah, exactly. Exactly. What is the most important money lesson you've learned?
Elise
Saving.
Camilla
Saving. Great. Yeah, I'm not very good at it, so I'm trying to. I'm trying to be better at it, though, but I'm not very good at it. We can always work on something. Yeah. So that's why it's called shares. Not shoes. Not shares and shoes. Right, I love that. Um, what, um, what's your favourite book or podcast?
Elise
Favourite book? I'm more of a reader at the moment, Empire of Pain, but another one just that I've read before that was, um, the the Thank You chapter one. Really good book.
Camilla
So why why was it great? Um, should I get it?
Elise
Yeah, absolutely. I would recommend getting the chapter one and or Empire of Pain. Just one. I'll stick to the chapter one. It's about the thank you brand and the origins of that, and how a small concept and where that comes from and how it grows. And about the ethos of, you know, the triple bottom line. So planet profits people. That is, to me, um, a more sustainable future. Um, and then Empire of Pain is just about the whole medical industry and some of the challenges that come from marketing. Um, and not always just take what is in front of you, um, for what it is. Understand? There's can be hidden agendas, but it's also like the house of Gucci, you know, it's like that whole mystery and like. Yeah. So that's kind of like a fun one and one that's a bit a bit more business orientated.
Camilla
Great. Um, on my bucket list is. And now can I say, before you actually answer this, you pretty much tick off a whole bunch of bucket list stuff. I follow you on Instagram. You are a very good traveller, but I would be interested because there are a lot of bucket list items that you've ticked off, so I want to know what is next on your bucket list.
Elise
Well, I'm off to Colombia next Saturday, but that wasn't necessarily on my bucket list. Um, I have such a long bucket. A long bucket list. The reason I said bucket is I would love to go to, um, to Omaha. Yeah, exactly. I would love to do that. Um, but I've also got guitar on there next year. Um, so I've got the recreational pilot's licence. So first thing that I want to do is to finish the full private one and be able to fly myself over to Fiji. So I can't do that with the licence that I've got at the moment. Can I come? That's my favourite. Absolutely, yeah. No, I can take up to eight passengers, so no problem. Excellent. Seals the deal.
Camilla
I'm happy to carry a bag and a surfboard.
Elise
Yeah, I'll be over there. Great.
Camilla
That's great. That's great. Oh, my gosh, I'm so glad I'm friends. I'm so glad. Um. If I wasn't doing this job, I'd be. Doing what?
Elise
Oh, I reckon I'd be, like, a cleaner. Or like a cleaner. Yeah. Yeah. I just really enjoy cleaning.
Camilla
Are you. Are you a bit anal retentive like that, or you. Just like I am OCD. I love a bit of an organisation.
Elise
Like if everything's in order, I. You were born with.
Camilla
A spray and wipe and a cleaner like a truck. Is that what.
Elise
Happened? Not to change and, like, not to rearrange the house. When she would go out, she'd like, say to me, she'd give me a section just so she didn't come back and not know where things were. It's so.
Camilla
Funny.
Elise
I know I should probably see somebody about that, but, um, it's interesting. Like everybody else. Nobody really complains about it when you walk in and I'm there cleaning.
Camilla
No, no, not not. Um, what movie do you absolutely love but are totally embarrassed to admit?
Elise
I'm not embarrassed by it. I absolutely love Happy Gilmore. Oh, yes.
Camilla
Oh my God. That is one of the most awesome movies ever.
Elise
I know.
Camilla
I'm like the crocodile and the hand and the grandma and the.
Elise
So when I get really crappy at work, I go, grandma, grandma, grandma. And then I sent it back.
Camilla
Oh my gosh. Totally. Oh my God. That is awesome. Um, tell me something that no one else knows about you.
Elise
Oh, dear. I'm such a loud person and like, nothing to hide. But I can't think that people wouldn't know anything about me. Um. Um. Um. Um. I don't know. I don't know. I really nothing.
Camilla
I don't know. Like, can you like when you smile? Like, can you I don't know, can you? Oh I'm.
Elise
Dancing. Um, but, like, some people know it. I used to love wrestling when I was younger. And so, you know, I don't know if you know The Undertaker where you just wanted me to. Oh, with the like, you can put your eyes back in the back of your head, so. Oh, my God, I used to. Oh. God, it's gone rogue. The last part of this. Like. Who's this? You know.
Camilla
This is why we love this. Because it's you, right? It's. It's all about you. Um, what if you had to invite anyone alive or dead to dinner? Who would it be and why? Oh.
Elise
There's so many. Why do I have to only choose one at the party?
Camilla
No, you can choose. You can choose 3 or 4 if you like. Yeah.
Elise
Look, there's a few people. When you say dead or alive, there's a few up there that I would still love to bring back. Like from a partner or my grandmother or my cousin or, um, this or friends of other friends. I just wish they could all come back and just have a nice dinner party and, you know, they can go rest up wherever they're hanging out now. But, um, yeah, sometimes you I don't know. I've got this view, though, that always, uh, you'll feel some weird presence and stuff like that, that, um, you know, they're at the dinner party, even if they're not physically there.
Camilla
Yeah, I agree, I agree. Um, the last question I'm going to ask is, um, a finance related one. Describe in three words. So not one, but three. I'll give you that. Why a career in finance is awesome.
Elise
Okay people.
Camilla
Mhm.
Elise
Stability.
Camilla
Yep.
Elise
And core. And what I mean by that is everything that you do in life has finance around it. To live, to breathe, to. To me, there's some things that. Yeah, that's why I think it's just part of this world, at least in the capitalist world. Yeah.
Camilla
No, I agree. And you need to know budgeting skills and you own a home. You might not have a home loan and had all that sort of stuff. It's it's a real.
Elise
If you want to do that. I think it's it's cool.
Camilla
Yeah. Well, Elise, it's been absolutely awesome to have you here. And actually I would say fabulous because that's how your friends would describe you. Um, and I, you know, thanks for being so, you know, open and honest about, you know, your career moving from the sell side to the buy side. What makes you tick? I love the pilot's licence and the bucket list to Fiji. And don't forget me. Um, and, you know, it's it's, you know, your advice is fabulous. So, you know, I just loved our conversation, and we could probably go on for another three hours, but, um, we will stop because we will let our listeners go. But do you want to. Hey, you also have a podcast. Do you want to plug that?
Elise
Absolutely. So talking tech with Elise Kennedy. Um, I've had it on pause, but Schroders is going to sponsor it again. And so stay tuned. It should come out in the next couple of months. And yeah, that is all about um, entrepreneurs, VC funds, early Start-Ups um, and their journey and then also bringing it in with some listed guys and seeing where they, you know, like zero was a Start-Up at one stage. Where and how did they get to where they are? So it's um, hopefully a bit more of a way of different to this, um, in that it's more about where should you invest, what what do you look for in a good business? So if you want to be an equities analyst, it's a good place to kind of listen in and understand what that could look like.
Camilla
Hot tips. Everyone go look up talking tech with Elise Kennedy and Elise. Thank you again. I'm sure I'll see you soon. And I look forward to inviting you back sometime in the future.
Elise
Thank you so much again for having me. The pleasure was all mine.
Speaker 3
Bye.
Camilla
You know the information that is in this podcast. We always talk about finance in this podcast, but it's not financial advice. It's actually really careers advice. If you really want financial advice, I recommend that you speak to a financial planner or a broker and work out your own personal circumstances with that. But this is all about careers advice and how finance will be a fabulous career for you.