Veronica Vieira from Generali Investments is our Sales Manager of the Month

Veronica Vieira oversees wholesales segment for French-speaking investors at Generali Investment. She is based in Paris. After studying law, she chose to do a master’s in finance. After 11 years in equity sales in the UK, Italy, and Germany, she joined one of Europe's leading value specialists to open the French office, thus beginning her second career in fund promotion with the French management team. Passionate about financial analysis, where her natural curiosity comes into its own, she has been working in finance for almost 25 years.

What made you decide to go into the financial sector? Did you have any other vocations?

Life is full of surprises and my career is one of them. I wanted to be a lawyer and to help children. I must confess that this was all very ambitious. Realizing that this job was quite difficult in human terms... I decided to work in finance as a financial analyst and went back to school to study.  What seemed impossible because of my background was possible in finance.  Someone forwarded my CV to the right person one day, and here I am.

Yes, no doubt: I love financial markets, investment strategies, and economic trends fascinate me, and I genuinely enjoy analyzing data and making informed financial decisions.

The financial sector often presents complex problems that require analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of economic principles. These challenging aspects were a major attraction when I was on the front desk. Now I’m promoting different asset classes that lead to a continuous learning process and skill development. As financial markets evolve and new financial instruments emerge, I must stay updated and adaptable.

And finally, the promise of recognition and advancement based on merit that is prevail in this sector can serve as a powerful motivator. This is what I like to the finance sector

Could you tell me the most difficult aspects of your job and also the most positive ones?

Starting by the positive ones in my opinion. Building long-term relationships with investors, I have made a lot of true friends, met wonderful people, skilled professional, top managers, and truly appreciate the interaction with them, for the last 25 years, this was never disappointing.

Then, the financial industry offers various career paths, and one can move to one expertise to another one. It provides ample opportunities for career growth and advancement. Besides, it’s quite based on meritocracy where the advancement is often based on your abilities, talents, and achievements rather than “other factors”. Saying that, I’m no naïve but I do believe less than other sectors.

To be honest, let s admit it: the financial sector is known for its potential to offer good compensation packages.

On the other end, the negative one is for me the high-pressure situations that do exist.

In your opinion, what are the key drivers for successful fund distribution?

The key drivers are pieces of a puzzle that keep moving without notice. On the key aspects: Product innovation and good performance track record, effective Marketing and branding, relationship management, communication… Successful fund distribution requires a combination of these drivers, along with a deep understanding of the investment landscape and investor behavior. Additionally, adapting to changing market conditions and embracing new technologies can further enhance fund distribution strategies. Well, a science and an art, with some good luck and  tons of modesty.

How do see the fund distribution evolution?

This is challenging to guess the evolution. My take on this, I trust that the artificial intelligence (AI) will have a tremendous impact such as more personalized financial products, improved trend or factor detection, and a great help in the fund selection industry. These technologies can also provide valuable insights into customer behavior and market trends. As human job is still vital, putting customers at the center of financial services is crucial. Tailoring products and services to meet individual needs and preferences can complete the IA in the fund distribution. I m not mentioning the ESG since this is a reality.

There is no crystal ball nor one answer that I may risk, but fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability, the financial industry can evolve to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.

What investment products do you believe would be more interesting in the next 5 years?

As a value mind person and very optimist by nature, I do trust that opportunities can be found in many asset classes with 5 years’ time if you dare some curiosity.

You may find a good value fund in a bad market environment. You may find a good real estate fund investing in a good segment of the real estate. Same apply for the fixed income.

Curiosity, continuous learning, embracing changes and a lot of homework, can lead to opportunities in areas you had not considered before.

What is your favorite thing to do when you disconnect from the markets?

Being with my kids and my partner and not planning too much.