Laila Arain & Shweta Bhalla | How'd You Do It & Why Should I Care?

Laila Arain: 0:35

So hi, everyone. Welcome to the next episode of the Bay Street Capital Holdings podcast titled How'd You Do It & Why Should I Care? This series aims to highlight women doing amazing work in various industries. So today, we are so lucky to be joined by Shweta Bhalla, who is a financial volunteer and Amplo Global Incorporated, and a volunteer consultant at Cass Consulting. Hi, Shweta. lovely to have you on the show.

Shweta Bhalla: 3:03

Hey, Laila, same here. Thank you.

Laila Arain: 3:06

So let's start off with an introduction as to who you are, and a main answer to the question, which is how do you do it and why should I care?

Shweta Bhalla: 3:14

Okay, so, I am Shweta Bhalla. I'm MBA finance and CFA charter holder with 11 years of experience in financial services industry that encompasses areas like retail banking, corporate banking, as well as the volunteering assignments, like filing individual taxes and consulting for the nonprofit boards and researching various crypto projects in the social impact. On the personal front, I'm a mom of two wonderful kids, I left my full time corporate job to be with my kids for the formative years of their life. Because that is something I didn't want it to miss at all, and not to regret it in future. So I took my time off from the full time job, but I kept myself busy with volunteering assignments and learning new things like us taxation, I learned about crypto projects, I learned a lot about the consulting field, which was entirely new to me, the consulting the nonprofits, nonprofit boards. It's a wonderful feeling. It's good to do something for the community and give it back.

Laila Arain: 4:29

Awesome. So my next question would be What inspired you to join the financial services industry? Was it something like something you studied at school or was it a combination of experiences? Okay, so uh, yeah, so

Shweta Bhalla: 4:43

I always had a love for numbers from the very beginning since childhood mathematics was has always been my favorite subject. And I used to help my parents also in the, with the with the financial matters. with their financial matters, like banking, and any anything, any sort of financial things they were into. So that that is something that piqued my interest. And I always love love to work in a fast paced, challenging industry. So I get I get bored easily. So, so I needed something to challenge me on a daily basis, something very challenging, exciting and constantly evolving. So that is why I joined finance sector. And that's what I think that comes as a natural fit.

Laila Arain: 5:39

Awesome. So you mentioned that, you know, you had love for numbers from the beginning, but I'm curious, what were the best resources that helped you along in your journey in the finance industry?

Shweta Bhalla: 5:48

Okay, so the best resources I would say is, I got to work with the best teachers, best mentors in the, in my career or in my college, who gave me good, correct guidance. So, let me start from the, from the, from my master's degree from there, I so in MBA, you, you have to select your specialization, right? So I got the right, right, right, guidance from the teachers and professors. And I could choose confidently make a choice of finance. Then, once I entered a banking industry, I got very good mentors, seniors, who, who, who helped me a lot to learn about the banking industry. So all these all these things you can say, these are the best resources, so people are the best resources. And once I was into the corporate job, I realized that it is, I would still like to add on some certifications. So that is the time I decided to pursue my CFA. And it was a tough decision because you require in the sea, in CFA, you require a commitment of like four to five years of rigorous study, as well as the relevant work experience to receive the charter. So it was a very, very drastic commitment that I made. And I'm very happy that I could complete it with the support of my family, too. In the middle, I got married. And everything happened, life happened. So yeah, it was a wonderful feeling that after receiving when I received the charter, after clearing all the three exams and relevant four years experience required to receive the charter. It's a wonderful feeling

Laila Arain: 7:50

of Awesome, well, congratulations. And you obviously mentioned that people were one of your best resources. So I'm curious, what were the best? What was it any lessons that you wish you would have known before starting in the finance industry? Okay, so

Shweta Bhalla: 8:03

yeah, so once I entered finance industry, I thought it's all about the models that I learned in MBA, finance, all about accounting, all about numbers, statements, the book is all the books stuff. But, but, but when I started the industry, I actually realized that it is more about relationships with the client, with the people and the trust they hold in you. So it's, it's not all numbers. It's a it's a very challenging industry, with a lot of human interaction and communication. So that is what I think somebody told me.

Laila Arain: 8:44

Yeah, I definitely agree. And I would say it's a very common myth about the finance industry, that it's not just all about numbers, it's all about the chips and the bonds that you form with not only your clients, but your colleagues as well.

Shweta Bhalla: 8:57

Mentors, so. So that actually defines your journey or the career in finance.

Laila Arain: 9:03

That's awesome. So obviously, you've had a lot of experience with your CFA and then also in the finance industry, but I'm curious as to what was your biggest failure in your career so far? And what did you learn from it?

Shweta Bhalla: 9:16

Okay, so your biggest failure, I Okay. So, I believe failure is nothing but actually it is an opportunity to learn and improve on upon yourself. So there was a time early in my career, I got my first I got to do my first credit appraisal of a company. And I thought that okay, this I would be able to complete it in like three or four days maximum. But when I started doing it, I could realize that oh, okay, so it's just not about numbers. There is a lot of stuff involved, which I never knew that all these banks would also make will be helpful in the Credit Appraisal decision because that was my very first proposal. So I went back to my manager, talk to her. She was a fantastic lady. So I talked to her that okay, so I have, I think I have underestimated the deadline I and I am not, I wouldn't be able to meet it better. I think I will extend it right now, I will do my best to complete it as soon as possible. So the best I could complete it was in eight days, so

Laila Arain: 10:38

easy to complete the answer of let your manager know. And as you mentioned, before, failures can be seen as learning opportunities. And now you know, sort of when or Yeah,

Shweta Bhalla: 10:47

and then you know, you can underestimate the things and it finance is not entirely about the numbers, exactly. Only the financial analysis, it requires a lot of other stuff.

Laila Arain: 11:00

Exactly, exactly. And following from that, that's some great advice that you gave there. But what would be one piece of advice you would give to somebody who is wanting to pursue a career similar to yours?

Shweta Bhalla: 11:11

Alright, so my advice would be that, to pursue a career in finance, you have to be a keen learner learner all your life, all through your life. So it's, it's an ever changing industry, it's the most most, I believe that it's the most challenging and the most changing industry and it requires continuous learning on your part, whatever is happening in the market, market research, or maybe learning of picking up a new language, because it is globalized now, so you need to communicate with the clients effectively, knowing their local language would definitely help. I think that would be my My piece of advice to

Laila Arain: 12:03

a great piece of advice. And then following on from that, I'm sure you're very busy at the moment you obviously raising a family and then obviously working but what have you read or listened to recently that's really inspired you.

Shweta Bhalla: 12:15

Yeah, so I love reading books, I still read it. Even though in a British view, like I pick my time, I take my time to read the books. Recently, I read becoming by Michelle Obama. It's a fantastic book, I would recommend to everyone that it's it's some, it's not about Michelle Obama, it's about Michelle Obama, but it's actually about the life learnings you get from the book. So it inspired me in a way that how a person who, who, who doesn't know about politics at all got into politics and actually robbed it. So so there is, there is always a hope that you can succeed in a field, maybe you never knew about, or you never tried it. So. So I would say just the gist of the book was about evolution about taking life as it comes, embracing changes, and trusting and growing yours, yourself. It is actually about standing up for what you believe in seeing life as a progressive journey.

Laila Arain: 13:32

Awesome. I'll definitely make sure to pick up that book I've heard it's very good. And then next of all, you mentioned the power of people and the power of your network. So I'm curious, who are three people in your life who have been the most influential to you?

Shweta Bhalla: 13:47

Okay, so the three most influential people in my life, I would say it would be my mom, who always taught me to be independent, and to follow my dreams, and to do what what I feel is right for me. The second and most influential person was my father, who actually taught me to believe in myself rather than read and he always, he always taught me that you should enjoy the journey of life, enjoy the journey rather than the reaching on the goal. Just enjoy, enjoy your life and have fun. Whatever you do will be so good, you'll be successful. So that faith actually helps a lot. When somebody believes in you. You tend to believe in you. Yes.

Laila Arain: 14:41

And then finally, oh, sorry, to round off our conversation. What is one piece of advice that you wish you gave yourself at any point in your life?

Shweta Bhalla: 14:51

Okay, so I would say trust yourself, but never be too complex. center on things. Because once you are complacent and you just sit back and relax, it's not a world where you can be complacent and say okay, yes, yeah, I know everything and I'm good.

Laila Arain: 15:14

Yeah, that's a very good piece of advice for anybody no matter what, what, you know, area or stage they are in their career. But yeah, thank you so much Shweta for taking the time to speak with me today. It was absolutely lovely to have a conversation with you and all the best for the future.

Shweta Bhalla: 15:30

Thank you, Laila. Thank you. Nice speaking to you.

Laila Arain: 15:33

Right then bye bye.