Serena Kishinchandani, Director of U.S. Equities, won a Rising Star Award at Markets Media Group’s 2024 Women in Finance Awards.

What inspired you to pursue a career in your field?

I began my career in India as a Chartered Accountant, motivated by the influence of my maternal grandfather. He provided guidance and encouraged me to pursue the professional and educational opportunities that weren’t available to him throughout his career.

After obtaining a certification in accounting and gaining experience in financial due diligence at KPMG, I decided to pursue an MBA to gain a holistic understanding of the business world. While pursuing my MBA, I attended a speed networking event where I connected with someone from Nasdaq, resulting in an internship opportunity. During this internship, I developed a keen interest in markets and equities, which ultimately led to my current position as a Director of U.S. Equities at Nasdaq.

Who have been the main influences in your career?

It is essential to address this question from both personal and professional perspectives.

From a personal standpoint, my family, particularly my parents and maternal grandfather, have profoundly influenced my career path. They have imparted valuable lessons on identifying and prioritizing my goals to achieve work-life harmony.

From a professional perspective, there have been three significant influences on my career. The first was my manager during my internship at Nasdaq, Sumeet Chawla, who recognized my potential and helped accelerate my initial career within the company. The second is my current manager, Andrew Oppenheimer, who has encouraged me to build robust client relationships and empowered me to expand my capabilities and excel. The third major influence has been a Women in Leadership group, which has provided me opportunities to connect with other women in the industry and address critical topics pertinent to career advancement.

What advice would you give someone just starting their career in finance?

I have five key pieces of advice that I use to guide me throughout my career:

1. Manage your career and energy effectively – Find what really lights you up and pursue that fearlessly.
2. Play on your front foot – I love watching sports – in cricket,  playing on your front foot means being aggressive and making things happen for yourself.
3. Network and build relationships – You never know when a key opportunity will arise through meeting the right person, especially in client-centric roles like sales.
4. Have a plan but stay flexible – Keep your main goals focused but be ready to take the right chances when they come.
5. Find your own board of directors – Identify people who will endorse you and provide genuine advice that helps guide you in your career pursuits.