WIN is proud to feature Laura Kirkpatrick, Vice President and Institutional Portfolio Manager at The Haverford Trust Company. Laura shares her journey with WIN and how it has influenced her career in the investment industry.
What inspired you to become a member of WIN, and what has kept you actively involved over the years?
I’ve been a WIN member almost from the time of its founding. The Philadelphia investment community has always been very close-knit. I worked with Sharon Hayman at Delaware Investments and knew Tracy Musser from our ever-crossing paths in similar roles for different investment managers. Always impressed by these two amazing professionals, I wanted to be a part of their new initiative, establishing a network of support and education for women investment professionals in Philadelphia.
While my ability to actively participate in WIN has ebbed and flowed with my work/travel schedule and personal responsibilities over the past 15+ years, my enthusiasm for the organization has only increased. Tracy, Sharon, and a robust leadership team have steadily increased the breadth of programming/events and the frequency of opportunities to get together. WIN’s membership has grown and given the benefits I have experienced, I am an active WIN recruiter of women at all stages of their careers.
Could you share your journey into the financial services industry and how you’ve navigated your career path up to this point?
I began my career in banking, working for a regional bank as an analyst and then as a Commercial Loan Officer. Intrigued by capital markets and the asset management business, I went back to school, earning an MBA from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. After a brief tenure on Wall Street in Sales & Trading with JPMorgan, I transitioned to the “buy side” as a fixed income specialist at a well-regarded investment manager in Philadelphia with aspirations of joining their research team. I earned my CFA charter over the next three years. While at Miller, Anderson & Sherrerd, I came to realize that my strengths, skills, and interests might better be leveraged in a client-facing role; I held positions in business development and client/consultant relations for the next twenty years. By working for a number of Philadelphia-area investment management firms over that period, I was able to take advantage of opportunities to enhance my knowledge of the markets and investment strategies, expand relationship management and communications skills, experience exceptional firms, and work with great people.
In 2017, I was given the amazing opportunity to work exclusively with the nonprofit community, managing investment portfolios, offering expertise beyond investing, and building strong relationships. Discovering the great work and serious impact that these hardworking nonprofit professionals are doing each and every day and having a chance to assist the organization in achieving its mission is my dream job and the culmination of my prior experiences.
Reflecting on your experience, what key skills or attributes have you found universally applicable across industries and roles?
- Communication skills – both within an organization and with clients and prospects, having the ability to express your thoughts and opinions clearly and effectively while tailoring them to your audience.
- Service orientation – again, both internally and externally, having a service mindset, being resourceful and responsive, being proactive in recognizing and meeting needs, and being reliable and well-organized.
- Detail orientation – being attentive, striving to deliver high-quality results, learning from mistakes, and striving not to make the same mistake twice.
- Curiosity—eager to learn, ask questions, and pursue knowledge. The investment industry is constantly evolving, and to be successful, it is important to be open to change, new concepts, new systems, and new processes.
Could you share a personal or professional accomplishment you’re particularly proud of and how it has shaped your career?
My proudest accomplishment is both a personal and professional one. I am proud to have been able to raise three boys, now happy and accomplished 25, 26 and 29-year-olds while working full-time in a very challenging, competitive industry. Being a parent provided me with insight and empathy, required me to be flexible and adaptable, and forced me to set priorities and stay organized – all attributes that have contributed to my success as a professional. Being a professional mom taught my children that it is possible to work hard, and strive for success but still have balance in their lives.
If you could offer advice to your younger self, what would it be?
There are no stupid questions. By asking questions, you increase the opportunities to learn, and everyone appreciates a good listener.
Do you have a favorite WIN event? If so, what made it so special/memorable?
I really enjoy the winter and summer social events as opportunities to connect with friends, share news, and have fun.