Operations Unpacked: A Day in the Life - CISI award-winner Samantha Moore on building a career in finance and leadership in Trade Operations
🎙️Episode 14 of Operations Unpacked is out now! This one's packed with practical career advice, leadership insights, and exam success stories! 🎙️
Rachel Clark Chartered FCSI and I were delighted to be joined by Investment Operations Manager Samantha Moore for a wide-ranging discussion on building a successful career in investment operations. From studying Anthropology at university to leading a high-risk operational function across Europe and Asia, Samantha's story is proof that there is no single route into financial services.
We unpacked:
🎓 How an Anthropology graduate found her way into investment operations - and how the two are actually connected
📈 Lessons learned from working across investment banking and asset management environments
⚖️ Why prioritisation is really a form of risk management
🏆 Samantha's incredible achievement of attaining the highest mark in the CISI Level 6 Global Operations Management narrative exam
📚 Practical tips for preparing for CISI exams, from multiple choice through to narrative assessments
🔍 The skills every operations professional should develop, including attention to detail, problem solving, communication, and judgement
👥 Leadership in operations, including how to build trust, create psychological safety, and make invisible work visible
🚀 Why operations is becoming increasingly strategic through technology, transformation programmes, automation and AI
🤖 How future operational leaders can embrace AI while maintaining effective risk management and governance
One of my favourite takeaways from this episode was Samantha's perspective on long-term success. As regulation evolves and technology advances, Operations is constantly changing. Samantha shared that the most successful professionals don't say, "We've always done it this way," but instead ask, "Is this still the best way to do it?" That mindset keeps both individuals and organisations moving forward.
Whether you're just starting your operations career, studying towards a CISI qualification, leading a team, or navigating change within your organisation, there's something in this conversation for you.
A huge thank you to Samantha Moore for sharing her experiences, insights and lessons learned so openly.
🎧 Listen now: available on Apple, Amazon, Spotify and CISI TV. Links in the comments.
❓What advice would you give someone looking to build a successful career in operations? I'd love to hear your thoughts below.
✨ Creator credits ✨
Presenters: Cllr Victoria Sena and Rachel Clark Chartered FCSI
Guest: Samantha Moore
Editor: Ollie Murphy
Platform: The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (The CISI)
🎧 Listen now: