3 minute read
Ann Hunt
by PaulGC
Chasing returns
ANN HUNT
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Founder and CEO of Chasing returns
Q Readers may not be aware that you began at JP Morgan. How did you begin your career?
I studied Computer Science at Trinity College Dublin – Ireland and joined J.P. Morgan’s graduate training program in London.
I was very lucky, computer science graduates are allocated randomly around the organisation, I could have ended up in a back office, or the HR department, but instead my first assignment was to the Bullion trading desk building risk models.
It was a global desk spanning NY, London and Tokyo so I got very early exposure to working as part of a global team.
After about a year, I was sent on a business trip to NY. It was supposed to be for 3 weeks, and I ended up staying for nearly 10 years.
I spent a lot of that on the trading floor – building and running risk systems. A lot of the influences for Chasing Returns were born out of that experience. As one of the few people on the trading floor, not running my own position, I was able to observe traders in action through the good and the bad. The broken screens, the tantrums as well as the incredible highs of a good trading session.
I saw even back then, that traders reviewing metrics at the end of the day was such a narrow view of managing risk – when psychological risk drove a lot of actions, but was effectively ignored by risk managers, and traders themselves.
Q Can you explain to readers what it is like working in that type of environment?
The energy levels were fantastic – no two days were ever the same. I learned to thrive pretty quickly. I knew I had an amazing opportunity, and if I didn’t deliver I would be out of there on the first plane home. Most people won’t believe that I was a shy retiring programmer before I got that opportunity, but when you are surrounded by loud, confident, males from Ivy league colleges exclusively, you have to find a way to be heard. I developed my resilience, and honed my “bullshit” detector there, and it made me the personality I am today.
Q What tips would you give to entrepreneurs looking to go out on their own?
I’ve never met an entrepreneur who regretted their decision to start a business. I have met many people who regret years spent in unfulfilling jobs that they choose not to leave.
If you have the desire to be an entrepreneur, then just do it. You won’t have all the right skills, and there is never a perfect time, there is just the decision to give it a go.
I didn’t leave a job to build Chasing Returns, I left to build “something”. I didn’t even really know it was going to be a trading product, as in the early months I went a completely different direction.
Once you’ve made the decision, be strategic about everything you do. Your first hire, your first investor and first client are all massively important. They help you set the culture of the company, and lay the groundwork for the business you become in the future.
Surround yourself with your biggest critics – they will help keep you grounded and focused, and continue to challenge you through some of the hard decisions.
Have fun. Stop and reflect after every day – you’ll have your absolutely worst career days as well as your absolutely best ones when you have your own business.
