Ep 46 - Raj Shiva, Wall Street Trader & Mentor: Embrace the ‘Squiggly Line’ - Secrets to Never Missing an Opportunity

Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comSHOW NOTES:Raj Shiva oversees market conduct compliance at one of the largest financial firms on Wall Street. A former Fx sales and derivatives trader who grew up in Africa and Asia, she shares her “squiggly” career path, the keys to re-enter the workforce after an absence – and the bold and intentional moves to design the career and life you seek. We discuss how serving in an ERG (Employee Resource Group), volunteering and mentoring can make you better at your job – and accelerate career opportunities. All statements by Raj reflect her personal opinion. Growing up as a "culture vulture" and learning to speak upChoices: How she challenged the safe career trajectory of her conservative Asian backgroundMechanisms to gain valuable experience early in your careerWhen you need to act: How she got onto the trading deskAdvantages of being an outsider, starting on a smaller desk and making mistakesYes, you have to work harder than other people – but strategies women can use to avoid being shut out of critical organic networking opportunities.Connect & Humanize: Your first few interactions with others should be about this.What happened when Rajalakshmi shortened her name to Raj, a traditionally male nameExercise: Identify your “transferable skills” to manage career gapsDon’t sit around: How Raj started the Harlem junior tutoring tennis program.The value of finding people who look at you in new ways ....We are constantly changing, get your foot in the door – and tell your storyHer “concentric circles” exercise“The word women includes the word men” & “Join ERG’s where no one looks like you”How upskilling led to executive education led to her DYC platform on WEAVRHow ERGs help you break silos, do your day job better, build new skills -- and discover “mobility opportunities”2-way flow: The value of reverse mentoringWomen and people of color: “You don’t need to do things differently, but you do need to be aware of specific dynamics.”What makes you, you?Never stop learning: Raj’s to do this year, using Michael’s Power Map toolEmbrace the squiggly line: Graduated from Stanford Exec Ed the same time her son graduated from Stanford undergrad! BIO AND LINKS:Raj Shiva is a financial markets professional who oversees market conduct compliance at one of the top financial firms in on Wall Street. A former FX and derivatives trader and salesperson who has lived and worked in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, Raj wants you to “never miss an opportunity.” She volunteers, mentors and advises others, particularly women, on how to design their careers. Raj is Founder of the Academic and Creative Engagement (ACE) program at the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program; Mentor at the Financial Women’s Association at Baruch College; and member of the leadership team of “Women on the Move,” her bank’s initiative to fuel female ambition and advance financial equality. Raj holds a BA in Mathematics and Economics from St. Stephen’s College; an MBA in Finance from the University of Delhi, and completed executive education at Pace University and Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raj-shiva/Design Your Career, through WEAVR: https://designyourcareer.weavr.cafe/g/channelsThe Financial Women’s Association at Baruch College: https://www.alumni.baruch.cuny.....edu/get-involved/fw