Traders Magazine spoke with Christine Lee, Head of Business Development at Liquidnet, who won Rising Star at the 2023 Markets Choice Awards.
Briefly describe your background and career to date.
I have spent nearly two decades in Finance, in roles across research, hedge fund portfolio administration, electronic trading and sales. The last decade of that journey has been with Liquidnet. I went to undergrad at NYU and hold an advanced degree in Statistics (MA) from Columbia University. I also completed an Advanced Management program at NYU and earned a certificate from MIT in Artificial Intelligence in 2019.
How did you get into finance/financial technology?
This industry is led by smart people who enjoy a good challenge and the innovators are the ones who win. I love problem solving. I love interacting with people. Sales in Finance happens to be where my quantitative brain and my enjoyment of building relationships can come together to create solutions for clients.
What is your current role and how do you excel in the role?
I was recently appointed Head of Business Development, New York at Liquidnet. Working with my team, our role is to grow our client base and identifying new business opportunities for Liquidnet.
I believe that the secret sauce for leaders at all levels is the art of listening. Whether it is hearing out teams across the organization about a potential partnership or listening to clients and prospects about the challenges they are facing, I make it a priority.
I love bridging gaps and identifying win-win solutions for all parties involved. When I listen to my clients, it enables me to tailor our solutions to their needs and provide the level of service they deserve. When I listen to my team, it enables me to build trust and empower the team, which organically leads to higher morale and in turn better outcomes.
What keeps you motivated?
My family keeps me motivated. As a mom of two, time is more precious than ever before. It is important to me that I lead by example for my children when it comes to discipline, time management, consistency and perseverance. At the same time, I want them to know how to be flexible, roll with the punches if you will, and to always try to enjoy the wins, big and small, along the way.
I start my day with a 4-am workout. It is the time I set aside every day to challenge myself both physically and mentally. I make a habit of getting out of my comfort zone and it sets the tone for the rest of the day. I never want to be complacent.
Most importantly, despite being in a very demanding and competitive work environment, it’s always me vs me. I’m only ever looking to be the best version of myself without comparing myself to others. There is a saying, “comparison is the thief of joy”.
