Under 30: the industry’s future leaders. Meet Holly Fitzgerald
Under 30 and moving up the ranks. We talk to Holly Fitzgerald, Head of Back Office at FXPRIMUS to find out how she got into the industry and what she does daily.
In an industry so well established with roots in all four corners of the globe we took time to discuss what the industry will look like in 10 to 20 years from now.
Whilst we all share different views on where the industry will end up or what it will morph into, the fact is that we forget the many good folk working in the industry. Especially the younger generation that started at the bottom and worked their way up essentially dedicating their careers to fintech, trading and finance.
As is a FinanceFeeds tradition, we decided to celebrate these hard working individuals that have and very well may become the future industry leaders as they move up the ranks. So without further adieu, meet the industry’s future leaders (all under the age of 30).
What is your role at Primus?
Head of Back Office.
How many years have you been at Primus?
1 year.
When did you start in the industry?
The end of 2013.
What attracted you to / made you get into this industry?
After moving to Cyprus – fresh from my studies – I made the decision that I wanted to work for an international, professional industry in which I could grow, and in which people could grow with me. Even though my studies were completely unrelated to forex or even finance, (I had a masters in Sports Science!) I was determined to absorb everything I could about this complex industry and work my way to the top.
My first move was to a binary company within the sales team and then I moved on to a social trading firm. Both places helped me to understand where my skills fit best and helped me to realise that although my career wouldn’t be in sales, I would make a fantastic addition to a back office team.
I learned the important skills of how to manage, the importance of discipline and most of all the importance of attention to detail; checking your work in order to avoid mistakes and having a strong work ethic will get you everywhere! Forex truly allowed me to develop these valuable aspects of my daily working life, and now I am privileged to be able to pass on these skills to others in my team.
The other aspect of forex that very much appeals to me are the people within the industry. Some of the finance world’s best minds are working in the forex industry and it humbles me to work with those people of varying nationalities, experiences and work ethic. They all add value to the work that I do. I am from a small town in the North East of England, and so working in such a multicultural, multitalented and diverse environment is a true privilege.
Most of all, I enjoy managing my team and helping them all to succeed as professionals within the industry. Whilst I joke with my team that they are like my children, in actuality, the forex industry has afforded me this incredible privilege of being so young yet being able to have a positive influence on people’s careers and help them to provide a world class service to others – FXPRIMUS has allowed me to do this.
It is a family oriented company in which everybody wants to succeed and it is in this environment which I now thrive and in which I am able to convey my energy and motivation to those in my team and to all those around me. This is what makes both myself and the business successful.
Any tips for others looking at getting into the industry?
I suggest to anybody new coming into forex, that they start from the beginning as I did, and work their way to the top. Somebody wishing to start their career in the forex industry may find it incredibly valuable to start in the sales team in order to understand the client needs and the mechanics of trading, before moving into other departments. Forex is a flexible industry who will provide opportunities for people who are hard-working and who will show initiative, regardless of their experience.
For anybody interested specifically in back office, the advanced CySEC exams are extremely helpful in giving an overview of the laws and legislation that govern a clients’ trading experience.
The fact is that forex is also a high intensity work environment. In order to cope with the rigours of a working day and the stresses of the job, I suggest that potential applicants are well organised and give their full attention to getting their work absolutely right. A key ingredient in my success, which I am happy to share with others, is that networking can also be particularly useful in forex.
Having the correct work attitude and showing people that you are capable, is important in getting your good name established. Put in the time and effort to providing excellence to your company and to your clients and be prepared to work over and above the call of duty and beyond the 9 to 5 standard day.
Finally, I would like to say at this stage that – whilst being younger hasn’t hindered my career progression – it’s also important to have some life experience which can give you the drive, the motivation and the energy to push your career forward.
Meet other “up and comers under 30” – view all the profiles.
