LINDSAY BOTTS
Lindsay Botts, a senior associate at Arden Asset Management, works closely with the client development and research departments on a variety of projects relating to business development and client service. But it wasn’t just smooth sailing to get here. Lindsay had to overcome the one-quality most desired by women – her youthful look. Her tenacity paid off, though; now she helps service large institutional investors who have more than $1 billion invested in separate accounts with Arden.
Birthplace: London, England
Education: Duke University – Durham, NC September ’96 – May 2000
Profession: Marketing and Client Service at a Fund of Hedge Funds – Arden Asset Management LLC
Current Position: Senior Associate
Questions:
When and how did you start doing what it is you’re doing?
I was one of the few people who left Duke without a job lined in management consulting or investment banking. After graduation, I moved to New York and hit the pavement looking for a job in finance. Luckily, there were plenty of opportunities available in the summer of 2000 and I landed at Lazard Asset Management with the help of a headhunter. My duties were primarily focused on writing RFPs, which gave me a great base in the industry. I really enjoyed the asset management business and more particularly serving the needs of clients. I progressed from writing RFPs for Lazard’s traditional products to working on RFPs for Lazard’s hedge fund products. Shortly, I assumed a client service role in the institutional marketing division working directly with Lazard’s alternatives products. I joined Arden in the summer of 2003.
What was your best day on the job?
I will always remember the first time a client told my boss what great work I did and how integral I was to the relationship.
Your worst?
My worst day was the second or third day after I had begun working on hedge fund products. I was asked to attend a “conference”, which I thought was a great opportunity and more exciting then solely answering RFPs. I loaded up my notepad and headed over to the “conference”. It turned out it was an intimate lunch of 12 portfolio managers from various hedge funds at the Australian Consulate. I was the only woman present and the only person under the age of 35. The invitation for this event had been sent to one of the Firm’s partners and portfolio managers, yet there I was all bright-eyed and bushytailed ready to take notes. It was a three-course lunch, where all of the attendees had to the opportunity to speak about their difficulties entering the Australian marketplace. When it was my turn to speak the head of the table turned to me and said well now let’s hear from you. I turned bright red and mumbled something about the general challenge of marketing alternatives to institutions and slunk out of there as soon as everyone got up from the table.
If you could change one aspect of your job, what would it be?
Everything is going well.
What quality has most enabled your success?
I have always enjoyed the challenge of solving difficult and unorthodox problems that arise from our client base. Combined with my detail-oriented nature, I think that the motivation that I draw from these problems and my ability to solve them has helped me progress to where I am today.
What did you spend your first bonus on?
Boring credit card debt!
Most memorable encounter with ageism?
One of my first bosses once told me that I had all the qualities and skills to be great in the business, except for one drawback. He told me I looked very young and that it was a disadvantage – needless to say it didn’t help my confidence at the time when I was asked to present to clients.
Whats on your iPod right now?
These days I’m listening to Magic Numbers, Black Crowes, Damien Rice, White Stripes, My Morning Jacket, Rolling Stones, Black Eyed Peas – quite an eclectic mix but one that transitions well from the treadmill to morning rush hour.
Are you reading anything?
I’m currently working my way through "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides and a beginner’s
guide to knitting among other things.
What do you hope to be doing in ten years? Twenty?
I would still like to be working in the funds management industry in ten and twenty years albeit with a family of my own. I think it’s quite possible to do both successfully. In strictly business terms, I want to be the person the client looks to for advice. I want to represent the firm to the client and the client to the firm.
Sushi or burgers?
Definitely burgers. JG Melon’s holds a special place in my heart.
