Prerna Gupta, Senior Vice President – Fixed Income Product Strategy at PIMCO, won Rising Star at Markets Media Group’s 2023 Women in Finance (U.S.) Awards.

What was your reaction to winning the award?

I was truly honored to win such a prestigious award within our industry. I felt humbled to even be nominated among such a talented group of women in finance both from within PIMCO and across our industry. It was a great privilege to share this exciting news with my family and friends.

What have been the main drivers of your success?

I attribute the successful outcomes throughout my own journey to a few important drivers:

– A strong work ethic that my family instilled in me growing up which has been critical throughout my educational and professional career;

– A very supportive and uplifting spouse along with my children that always encourage me to pursue my professional ambitions in order to have a lasting impact in our industry;

– The unwavering support of incredibly talented, kind and empathetic managers and colleagues that value my input and create an environment that fosters excellence, collaboration and innovation;

– A tight network of mentors and advisors that have paved the way for my ambitions and continue to guide my professional and personal outlook over many years;

– A learning mindset has always been important to me as it has allowed me to evolve and stay fresh in my career, build on necessary skills, recover from failures and lead with increasing confidence.

What keeps you motivated?

Key motivations for me include:

– Wanting to make a meaningful impact in my professional pursuits by aiming to have the greatest outcomes for my firm and our clients;

– Serving as an inspiring role model for my children as they will eventually strive to make a difference and;

– Being in roles where I can be intellectually stimulated and encouraged to think strategically.

What’s your advice to the next generation of women in finance?

My advice for the next generation of women leaders in finance would be to consider that:

– Financial services – like any industry – will at times be intense but it is an incredibly rewarding career path. If the work inspires you, jump in with both feet, take things as they come and don’t worry about planning your whole future and family life out;

– Finance is multi-faceted and there are many career paths in finance that can be interesting. I have spent time in investment management, consulting, and sales and trading and have found all of these experiences extremely rewarding. Focus on learning as much as you can in every role so you can set yourself up for ever increasing responsibility;

– Seek out strong mentors who will be straightforward with you, give you meaningful and actionable feedback and are committed to helping you be a better version of yourself. This will inspire you to pay it forward when that opportunity comes around.