Harsh Bhavesh Kotak, CFA

As a CFA® Charterholder and finance professional, I currently lead a team of five members in the Global Hedge Fund Portfolio Valuation team at SS&C GlobeOp. Reflecting on my CFA journey, I successfully conquered the CFA Level 3 exam in the first attempt, following my CFA Level 2 triumph. This achievement was no small feat, especially amidst the peak office workload of about 60-70 hours per week during exam preparation, navigating the challenges of a COVID-impacted environment and adapting to a work-from-home culture became the new norm. As the exam day looms, every ticking second carries immense weight, bringing a mix of tension and the determined effort to stay composed. The secret for staying calm in such high-stake moments lies in meticulous preparation. When you’ve diligently ticked off all the boxes and have confidence in your honed skills, serenity naturally accompanies you into the exam hall. It’s the culmination of preparation that transforms anxiety into poised confidence. Juggling these exams alongside work was a transformative experience, elevating my skills in controlling the controllables, fostering discipline in times of laxity, and mastering the art of maintaining calm amid moments of distress. Finally, I was awarded my CFA charter on 7 November, 2022.