This month’s professional spotlight features Dawit Woldemariam. Dawit is a Product Consultant in the Institutional Research Software Division of Morningstar, Inc. Morningstar is an Independent Investment Research firm that focuses on providing research and data on equities, mutual funds, fixed income, ETFs and many other types of investments. Lear more about Dawit and his work below:

Could you briefly explain some of your responsibilities in your current career role.

I consult with leading asset management and consulting firms to leverage Morningstar’s Investment Research Software to conduct asset allocation, attribution analysis, and mutual fund research. I work with our clients globally to also understand Morningstar’s methodology and research tools.

How did you come to decide that this was the right career path for you?

Through my passion for investing and working with clients, I felt the field of Finance was the best place for me given my interests. Everyday presents a new challenge and opportunity that keeps things interesting. Speaking with clients globally on how they can conduct investment research is a great experience. It allows me to interact with people from many different backgrounds.

Is there a philosophy that drives your career?

Simply put, curiosity drives my career. Always seeking to learn as much as I can to develop my skills professionally is a continuous goal. Having a constant appetite to keep learning has allowed me to excel thus far. I enjoy the feeling of having just learned or discovered something new. It keeps me hungry to learn the next new thing.  

What do you consider to be your greatest professional accomplishment?

I consider being recognized by clients as a go to source and knowledgeable Consultant as a great accomplishment. I’ve developed great relationships with clients given my drive to meet any request and to optimize a client’s workflow.  

What’s one piece of advice you would give someone looking to transition into your line of work?

I recommend getting your hands on all of the great books in finance. Reading the classics is the first thing that puts you in the best position to understand and explore the opportunities in Finance. Secondly, it’s important to network with people that hold positions in Finance. Their experiences provide valuable information you may not have otherwise learned or known. Finally, showing passion for the field through your preparation is critical. Once you’ve gotten in front of key decision makers, passion in my opinion is the key decisive factor on whether an employer wants to bring you onboard.

Outside of all of your hard work and efforts toward building your brand, what do you do for fun? Hobbies?

I certainly enjoy spending time with my family and friends. Also, I enjoy playing various sports such as basketball and soccer. I spend a lot of my free time writing. The most fulfilling thing about writing is the opportunity to sit down and reflect mentally about an idea or topic that I’m writing about. I’m currently gearing up to write some short stories.