A long-time veteran of the foreign exchange (FX) industry, Ana V. has seen a few changes in her career. She first started with Monex in Mexico City, and now works at Monex, part of the Monex group. Her longevity with the company is testament to both her rewarding job and how much she enjoys her coworkers.
“There’s a large amount of respect between colleagues,” says Ana. “It’s really like a family. We collaborate and push each other to succeed, and it’s wonderful.”
Ana loves art and initially studied and worked in interior design. An interest in business drove her to make a change. Her second job ever was as an FX salesperson at Monex, though she didn’t know anything about FX. However, she enjoyed the challenge and learned quickly. She then had the opportunity to transfer to Monex. She was excited about the idea of selling in a market as large as that of the U.S. and jumped at the chance. She’s since earned a bachelor’s degree and continues to work at Monex today, 23 years later.
TEMPUS was a natural fit for Ana. She loves talking to people and enjoys working with customers. And when it came to learning about FX, her colleagues were there for her.
“They showed me the ropes about what the FX market was, what things are done, and how it impacted companies,” says Ana. “They taught me how to talk with prospects to show them that TEMPUS is the right choice for their business.”
Creating a Fulfilling Career by Helping Others
A people person, Ana enjoys getting to know her clients and their businesses. That’s why she still finds her job interesting and fun after all these years. It’s fulfilling to help clients do what they need to do. It’s not all a walk in the park, though.
“I’m not going to lie. Depending on the transaction and the volume of money involved, sometimes my job can be stressful,” says Ana. “After all, it’s finance. But it’s so rewarding when you help your client accomplish their goals and they let you know how happy they are with your help.”
FX can be complex, but Ana sums up what she does in a couple of lines. She helps companies manage their foreign exchange exposure, reduce costs, and find the best option for their international payments. While that’s pretty easy to understand, the actual process of foreign exchange does still confuse some people.
“Some people want to know how we do it,” says Ana. “They’ll ask if we sell cash. I tell them no, that’s not what we do. That’s when I explain more about FX exposure and international payments. That’s what we do at Monex, make foreign exchange more digestible and understandable.”
FX Trading Has Evolved — While the Fundamentals Remain the Same
The U.S. Dollar has always been king in the world of foreign currency exchange, with most payments worldwide happening in USD. In the past, the average person didn’t need to understand how foreign exchange affects their day-to-day lives, or how it can affect their business. However, the FX industry has changed over the past two decades, and Ana has noticed that customers have changed, also.
“Trading currencies has become more understandable and accessible to the average person,” says Ana. “In our global economy, most people understand that if they’re importing or exporting, it makes a difference how much a dollar is worth.”
Ana’s duties have evolved over time, and she feels they’ll continue to change over the next decade or so. As technology develops, customers can execute their own trades through apps, without any assistance. Going forward, though, Ana feels it’s important for her to guide her clients.
“We’ll still be needed because people will always need expert advice on what the market is doing,” says Ana. “You have an app… But an app can’t replace a real-time discussion with an expert. You can’t replace human interaction for planning, exploring payment and risk strategies, and assessing market forecasts.”
No matter what happens with technology, one of Ana’s most important responsibilities is to look out for her clients’ best interests. She stays on top of what her clients need, keeping an eye on the FX market. She prioritizes her day based on what the market is doing and how she can use that information to benefit her clients.
Turning to Her Artistic Background for Self-Care
Like everyone, Ana had to find ways to protect her mental health during the Covid pandemic. She’s careful to take a break every couple of hours to have mental space away from work. She’s also turned to therapy and hobbies to help keep herself mentally strong. One of her coping tools is to plug back into her artistic roots. A former interior designer, art has always been a big part of her life. Though it’s no longer her career, art helps her keep balance. Her current passion is painting portraits in oils. She describes her painting time as meditation.
“Whenever I’m stressed, I pick up a paintbrush and there I go,” says Ana. “Hours can go by, and I don’t even notice it. When I’m in the flow, I don’t think about anything else.”
The strange situation of the pandemic reminded Ana how important it is to not take anything for granted. She remembers to appreciate the little things in life, like talking to the barista at her local coffee shop. She’s also grateful for the supportive work environment at Monex, who quickly transitioned everyone to work from home when the pandemic began. TEMPUS showed it cares for its employees, something she mirrors that same empathy back to her own clients. When she’s onboarding new companies, she listens to understand what they’re going through, and tries to find solutions to help during this difficult time.
Ana recommends a similar process for new employees that come to work at Monex. Her advice is to be patient while they’re learning FX and the job. The market may seem confusing today, but eventually it’ll click.
“Once you understand what’s going on, you’ll not only understand FX, but also learn about many other industries and how they operate,” says Ana. “The world of FX and international business is exciting and very interesting. Give it a chance and learn the ropes, it’s a very gratifying career.”
