Navigating a Career Shift from Process Engineering to Finance, One Passionate Leap at a Time!
Life, they say, is a journey. A journey that can lead us to some truly extraordinary places when we choose to follow our passions. It’s remarkable how this pursuit can steer us towards uncharted territories, pushing the boundaries of what we thought possible.
Passion is a driving force, an ever-present companion that ignites our curiosity, fuels our enthusiasm, and empowers us to explore the world in fresh and unexpected ways. When we dare to follow our passions, life becomes an incredible adventure, full of vivid experiences and priceless lessons.
The tale of Vijay Valecha’s career is an exemplar of the extraordinary places life can take you when you follow your passion. Born in Mumbai and raised in Dubai, his early years were shaped by the typical expectations of a middle-class Indian family. Medicine or engineering was the envisioned path to success. Yet, life had a different course charted out for him.
Having earned a degree in Chemical Engineering in 2007, Vijay ventured into a career in process engineering at a water desalination company. Back then, the global financial markets were witnessing a boom, and many of his peers began shifting their professional focus from engineering to finance. Driven by this growing trend and the belief that engineers were inherently equipped for success in finance, he decided to make a significant career transition.
However, as he soon discovered, finance was an entirely different arena, far removed from the world of engineering. Beyond the numbers and calculations, it required a profound understanding of intricate systems and complex market dynamics. The learning curve was steep, but Vijay was unshaken, for his heart was in the game. His passion for finance made even the most challenging aspects of the field engaging and enjoyable.
In the end, his decision to pivot from engineering to finance was one of the most rewarding choices he had ever made. It propelled him into the realm of investment, and he quickly ascended through the ranks to become the Chief Investment Officer at Century Financial. His journey is a testament to the incredible places one can reach when they combine their passion with determination, and when they dare to take the road less traveled.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Inspiring Inception
Century Financial, a pioneer in financial market investments, has successfully navigated the UAE market for over three decades. Initially starting with commodity futures and forex dealing in 1989, the company has evolved into a leading provider of comprehensive investment services, catering to both local and expatriate investors. In an industry that has witnessed numerous players and changing market conditions, Century Financial has stood out by earning the trust of its clientele through exceptional customer service and a professional approach. The company’s specialization lies in investment services, offering access to a vast range of 40,000 instruments across 125 global markets and 31 countries. With a focus on high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) in the region, Century Financial prioritizes the needs of its customers and strives to provide them with the best possible experience.
The company’s commitment to empowering investors and traders is evident in its high-touch services, multi-asset trading platforms, bespoke research, and diverse range of investable products. Additionally, Century Financial goes beyond transactional services by offering support, training, and regular seminars to ensure that its clients are well-informed and equipped to make informed investment decisions.
With activities spanning investment, wealth management, and trading technology, Century Financial has established itself as a regional powerhouse in the financial services category.
Global Trading Journey
As Vijay recounted, “Joining finance wasn’t an extensively planned decision. It was more of an interest I had due to my major in economics during engineering. Despite the industry’s perceived instability, I found myself drawn to it.” He remembered his entry into Edelweiss in March 2008, a time many considered to be the worst for the financial sector. “Strangely enough, I consider it to be the perfect timing,” he explained, emphasizing that individuals commencing their financial careers in 2008 acquired a heightened awareness of risk, a quality he believed was lacking in today’s newcomers.
Reflecting on the experience of witnessing the market turmoil during the Great Recession at the outset of his career, Vijay added, “It shaped many of us into good risk managers with a more conservative mindset. These qualities proved invaluable, enabling us to not only survive but also thrive in any market cycle.”
When Vijay joined a large financial organization in March 2008, it had a workforce of over 10,000 employees. His team, focused on low-risk arbitrage, consisted of 130 individuals. However, by the end of the year, the team had shrunk to just 4 people. This experience taught Vijay the importance of survival in the markets, as it ultimately leads to thriving.
Overall, Vijay’s journey in finance has been shaped by his ability to adapt and persevere in challenging market conditions.
Unmatched Expertise
Vijay has always been a firm believer in the importance of having a strong grasp of both technical and fundamental analysis. He explains, “These studies are essential for understanding the market. Fundamentals help us gauge valuations and fair pricing, while technical analysis allows for precise market timing.”
Fueled by his interests in mathematics and economics, Vijay shares, “Learning quantitative analysis and fundamentals was not only educational but also enjoyable.” He notes that many individuals struggle to combine these two sciences due to differing timeframes. “Fundamentals play out over the long term, while technicals and quantitative analysis provide winning strategies in the short term,” he points out. “Combining both approaches is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of various investment portfolios tailored to individual goals and life targets.”
Risk Management Strategies
As quoted by John Keynes, “Markets can stay irrational longer than you can remain solvent.” Risk plays a crucial role in financial markets, and both fundamental and technical analysis can often fail due to the irrational and semi-efficient nature of the markets. Ignoring risk management can result in irreversible losses, which not only hurt financially but also tarnishes the reputation of the financial industry. Vijay has always emphasized the importance of understanding the risks associated with higher leverage, higher beta, small-cap or new industries, and new asset classes. Investing a large portion of your income in the financial markets based on the fear of missing out (FOMO) or the “you only live once” (YOLO) mentality can lead to disastrous outcomes.
A prudent and patient investor, on the other hand, tends to outlast and outperform short-term trends and achieve sustainable gains in the long run.
Trading Blueprints
Vijay, an experienced professional in the financial markets, has increasingly embraced the principles of behavioral finance. As a subfield of economics, behavioral finance examines how psychological factors impact financial decision-making. It challenges the conventional belief that investors are rational actors who base their decisions on logic and objective analysis. Instead, behavioral finance suggests that investors are often swayed by emotions, biases, and heuristics. Many individuals struggle to differentiate between the risks and rewards they truly seek, leading to a misalignment between their investments and expectations. In this role, the objective is to guide clients towards a realistic understanding of risk and expectations.
Key Learnings and Experiences
During his tenure at Edelweiss, Vijay acquired a comprehensive understanding of finance, including Indian markets, ADRs, arbitrage, long-short strategies, quant trading, and option strategy building. He emphasized, “Edelweiss is renowned for its commitment to fostering growth and providing valuable learning opportunities.” As a novice, Vijay was not dismissed but instead encouraged to explore new ideas and further develop his skills.
At Hira Global, Vijay embarked on a different journey, taking the initiative to establish a fund from scratch. This experience provided him with valuable insights into the business aspects of hiring and managing people, as well as meeting client expectations. He reflected, “Both these experiences were immensely beneficial to my personal and professional growth, allowing me to acquire a wealth of knowledge.”
Impact of a Quantitative Background
As a quant analyst at Rasmala, the development of the UAE’s first pure quant-based fund in the regional markets was a unique experience. Vijay’s deep interest and expertise in quantitative analysis, fueled by their educational background and core area of interest, played a crucial role in this endeavor. The convergence of numbers and aspirations has always been a captivating aspect for them, as they find great enjoyment in quantifying everything.
Enhancing Expertise
Education always pays off, is the old saying, and it is very true. Vijay emphasized that coming from a scientific background, I had to get myself and still try every day to get myself more and more educated in the financial field.
Path to Financial Freedom
Financial independence, also known as FIRE, is believed by Vijay to be achievable for everyone. In a highly capitalistic world, individuals often disregard their aspirations and dreams, conforming to societal or worldly expectations. The desire to retire early is common, yet many struggle to understand how to make it a reality. It is strongly recommended that individuals start learning about the importance of investing and the power of compounding at a young age, enabling them to become part of the FIRE movement. It typically takes approximately 20–25 years of work to attain most of the fundamental goals individuals have. Considering that many people begin their careers in their early 20s, it is highly likely that we will soon witness individuals retiring in their early 40s, allowing them to fully enjoy life and the world by embracing this movement.
Prominent Media Outlets
Vijay has been fortunate to receive recognition and have his thoughts and inputs acknowledged by members of the financial community. He greatly appreciates the valuable work carried out by these influential media organizations in spreading financial awareness on a global level. He feels privileged to have the opportunity to collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the world.
Uncovering the Global Market and Investing Industry
Vijay emphasizes the importance of recognizing the dominant theme in the market during a particular decade or cycle. In the 21st century, the first decade saw a focus on real estate and banking, while the last decade witnessed a surge in technology leading up to electric vehicles. The current decade has begun with digital assets, the metaverse, and artificial intelligence emerging as the main themes. While it is crucial to understand these trends, he advises that only a small portion of one’s portfolio should be allocated to trend-based investments. The majority of the portfolio should always be dedicated to investing in basic industries that have consistent growth potential. Core components such as equities, bonds, and real estate should remain the foundation of any portfolio. Once these core elements are in place, individuals can consider making trend-based investments to potentially outperform the market on a smaller scale.
However, it is worth noting that consistently outperforming the broader market by a significant margin has proven to be challenging. Therefore, Vijay reiterates the importance of risk management for smart long-term investors who are planning for their retirement and future goals.
