| "You can be anything you want to be and do anything you want to accomplish. Just remember, you don't have to do them all at the same time and you don't have to do it alone." --Linda Pei
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Are there any emerging trends in your industry/company that will impact your hiring criteria?
I believe with SEC requirements for all mutual funds to disclose their proxy voting records and guidelines will change the way many mutual funds operate. There will be more accountability, transparency, and disclosure. Because of this trend, there will be a need for more research in the area of 'social responsibility".
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Tell us about your international business experience and what advice you'd have for those looking to work abroad?
I've worked in Japan, Hong Kong and London as an independent consultant. While in Japan, I had the benefit of speaking the language and understanding the US financial system so I had many projects using Japanese systems analysts and programmers to help develop solutions for US financial institutions in Japan. I guess it's important to develop a skill that is necessary in the right environment. One needs to do research to figure out what skills are necessary and required in what sector of the market at the right time.
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What are the biggest problems for people working abroad? Share your strategies for overcoming these challenges?
Language and culture are important issues for working abroad. I know of those who were successful at jobs overseas but were lonely because it was difficult to find social outlets once work is done for the day. Each situation and each person is different. The important thing is to know yourself and know what makes you happy.
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Tell us about your Corporate Diversity/Women's Programs: What is your company doing to educate employees on valuing diversity in the workplace?
Our firm is 100% women-owned. Through our Fund, we encourage companies to increase the number of women on their boards, ensure that the top management positions include women and compensate these women appropriately. We also vote our proxy's to encourage companies to disclose their EEOC data. We want these companies to have programs in place to train and promote women to senior-management positions.
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What women have inspired you on your career path? How?
My mother always worked outside the home. As a child growing up, it never occurred to me that I had a choice of not working outside the home. I've been lucky to have met many friends along the way and all continue to be friends with whom I share and am inspired by.
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What challenges have you faced in business because you are a woman? Share your strategies for overcoming them.
I'm sure we face many challenges because not only are we women who run this Fund, but this Fund's focus is on women. This is probably why the Fund remains small even though the Fund's performance has been better than that of the benchmark. What we need to do is to educate the public. The goal of a mutual fund is to allow individuals collectively to invest to manage the risk through diversification and improve the viability of better return. The side benefit is that collectively it gives us a voice to influence corporations to hear women's voice. The key is collective -- This Fund can be such a big voice to influence change of behavior toward women. We must become so large that what we say matters. With one million investors this will be a one billion dollar Fund that corporations cannot ignore.
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How do you maintain balance in your life? or Do you?!
My children make sure that once I'm not at work, they are the center of all my attention. I think having kids forces one to have the balance in her life.
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Share your Favorite Quote/Inspiration or Words of Wisdom:
This is the advice I give to my daughter when she tells me what she wants to be and do when she grows up: "You can be anything you want to be and do anything you want to accomplish. Just remember, you don't have to do them all at the same time and you don't have to do it alone."
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Tell us about your latest career-related projects:
We are working on launching an income fund. This fund will focus on community development and increasing capital access to women and minority-owned businesses. We hope to launch it this year.
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Thank you Linda Pei, for sharing your insights and expertise with careerwomen.com
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