Nadia Savva, CFA
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• graduated with a B.Comm. in finance from the University of Alberta in 1995
• became a CFA charterholder in 1999
• 20 years serving institutional clients
• Director of Institutional Sales at MFS Investment Management since 2013

How did you start off in the financial industry?

My life has been a series of Plan Bs, for which I’m very grateful. My career in financial services is a perfect example. When I started university, I was going to become a lawyer. During that time I took a political philosophy course based on Plato’s Republic. Essentially, Plato makes a strong case that people are destined to fulfill their purpose based on what they’re good at. At that point, I was conflicted. I loved social sciences, but I had a natural aptitude for math and economics. It was then I decided to transfer into commerce and major in finance and economics. I guess you can say I have Plato to thank.

What precipitated your decision to become a CFA charterholder?

I first wanted to be a sell-side analyst, but I couldn’t get through the door. One day, someone I’d been in contact with for a sell-side role wrote to me and said, “I feel compelled to explain why you cannot get a job here in Toronto. Your degree is from Alberta, and we do not understand their grading system here.” That’s when I started studying for the CFA.

What is the most exciting part of working in this industry for you?

I became director of client services for Manulife in 2003 and worked on building the business. I was involved in everything from understanding the market, the players, the fit of our products, RFPs, presentation decks, et cetera. My role covered product development, new initiatives, and sales. It was a period of blood, sweat, and tears—but it brought a lot of rewards.

What is the key to success in the financial industry?

The most important thing I believe you need to be successful in an organization is to understand and embrace the culture. If you have that, you can learn everything else. When you’re deciding on a job, it’s really key that you look at the culture to see if you’re a good fit.

At MFS Investment Management, we’re all about the culture, which can be summed up as embracing collective intelligence and cognitive diversity. It’s the belief that insights are enhanced with the benefit of multiple viewpoints and perspectives. I’ve always embraced the notion that the whole is greater than the parts, and it’s something we can all relate to—whether it’s participating in a sports team or, in my example, getting through “basic training.”

What are some topics the CFA Institute and CFA Society Toronto have been addressing that you think are truly making a difference?

I’m really proud to see where the CFA designation and initiatives are going. One of these is the focus on financial wellness in the industry.

Paul Smith [president and CEO of CFA Institute] has gone out of his way to emphasize the highest ethical standards to abide by, and we must continue to act as fiduciaries in our roles.

Another topic gaining more momentum is financial literacy at an early age. It has been indicated that many women—as early as high school or even university—don’t come into the industry as aware about the opportunities in the financial sector as men are. We need to be promoters of social literacy and embrace social media as an avenue for financial literacy.

What significant progress have you seen in gender diversity?

I’ve never been prouder to be a CFA charterholder than at this juncture. We’ve acknowledged that more needs to be done, and done so in a public way—which, to me, is evidence of our commitment to gender diversity.

There’s a business case for gender diversity, as it’s a subset of cognitive diversity. In a day and age where information is democratized, your analysis advantage is not predicated by the amount of data you have, but on how you’re able to analyze that data. Diverse viewpoints provide stronger insights.

Who is your career role model and why?

The role model that had a great influence on me was Barry Noble, who’s now retired from Manulife. He was, in a way, my “office dad,” who had an open-door policy. He was very good at assigning people “stretch objectives,” allowing them to achieve things they didn’t think they could. He was also extremely fair and objective, and gave everyone an equal opportunity to succeed, which to me is a very important quality.

What advice do you have for those just starting out in the investment industry?

Be open. My career has been rewarding, but also a comedy of Plan Bs. Consider CFA Society Toronto a part of your nucleus. Staying active with the Society has strengthened my relationships, increased my network, and expanded my knowledge. This is a competitive profession, and it doesn’t get easier just because you are designated. If you see a position you want and know you can be successful, go for it—even if you don’t have 100 percent of the listed responsibilities. Think of those responsibilities as guiding principles—not law. Don’t be afraid to try something different; our profession has endless possibilities.