I recently read an article that truly resonated with me. It was an interview with Margaret “Marg” Franklin, CFA, who assumed her role as president and CEO of CFA Institute in late 2019.

She was asked as to where she see’s opportunities for aspiring (wealth) managers today - her answer: "The people who combine education with ethics and integrity will have the edge.” The firm point Marg Franklin makes to have that become a reality is that it requires a commitment to lifelong learning, regardless of the industry you belong to.

In the context of (soft) skills she mentions two key things which are very true to me:

“Early on in your career, you don’t have enough experience. But you can watch the people around you who do and learn from them. Watching someone in action is itself a skill. We know that people’s attention spans are short, so we need to learn to hit the right notes early.”

“Self awareness is important. What are you missing? Where do you need help?
The first thing is identifying those gaps. Which ones do you need to fill to achieve your career goals? You can then go after those.”
Personally, I see the ability to articulate the value you bring to the table as a crucial part of positioning yourself.

About the competitive pressures of today her claim is:
“Lots of people are looking for jobs. To compete in that race, you have to be self-reflective. You need to be able to honestly identify what you’re good at. Along with that, you need to sharpen both your technical and soft skills.”

“Life is about accepting the challenges along the way, choosing to keep moving forward, and savoring the journey”

- Roy T. Bennett

Isn't it?