Q&A with Lori Zhou: Supporting Australian agriculture on Macquarie’s Graduate Program

Lori Zhou joined the Graduate Program in 2023 and is a Business Analyst for the Agriculture team in Macquarie Asset Management. Her team works across the full asset management lifecycle for agricultural assets, and she enjoys doing work that has real, flow-on impacts on people and communities. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in finance at Macquarie?

My interest in finance began while studying my Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law. Alongside my studies, I was interested in building a personal investment portfolio. I did a lot of research on different asset classes and financial markets, and regularly followed financial news.

I knew that Macquarie had a great reputation in the industry but heard about Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) specifically through the student societies I was involved in at university. Though interested in finance, I also wanted to be in a role that had a real impact on people's lives. As a global asset manager at the forefront of driving positive change through its investments, people around the world rely on MAM's assets for transport, food and other essential services, and I wanted to be a part of that. 

During the interview process for the Graduate Program, I met several people from the MAM Agriculture team, and they came across as caring about helping me find the path that was right for me. 

What does a typical day look like for you?

The Agriculture team sits within MAM's Real Assets division. Our team actively manages investments in agricultural assets to generate a risk-adjusted returns for our clients and help develop solutions to solve food, climate and biodiversity challenges. We work across the entire asset management lifecycle from acquisition to exit, which offers the opportunity to build a broad skillset.

There is no typical day, week or month. I have worked on a wide range of projects in my first year, including building and running financial models, creating presentations for our investors, and working with the CEO and CFO of our agricultural companies on long-term business strategies. 

One exciting part of my job is that I get to visit the farms we manage. Last year, I did a few farm tours and learnt so much about the agriculture industry directly from the farm managers who operate our assets. It’s a great way to build relationships while gaining industry knowledge.

How does Macquarie invest in your career? How are you encouraged to invest in yourself?

Macquarie has a culture of fostering curiosity and collaboration. I work side by side with senior team members and learn from their collective experience. 

You’re empowered to make a difference and do meaningful work, even as an analyst. From the start, I played a key role in projects and client work which helped me learn and build skills quickly. 

A degree in finance isn’t required. As a graduate you’re provided with training to learn the skills you need. In my first week, I participated in technical training, including how to build financial models. The Graduate Program also has monthly training sessions that aim to help us develop our professional skills. It’s a great way to meet graduates from across Macquarie’s different operating and central service groups.

When it comes to career development, I feel very supported. My check-ins with my manager are two-way. There’s feedback but they also want to know what I’m interested in. They want me to be in a career that excites and challenges me. 

What’s possible for your career at Macquarie?

One of the things that initially drew me to Macquarie was that it's a large, global organisation with plenty of opportunities for internal mobility. I discovered that I love the MAM Agriculture team and plan to stay here, but I know that there’s always the opportunity for change or to try something new.

Even without changing teams your role can evolve in many different directions, so there are endless possibilities - it’s very dynamic. 

What advice do you have for students looking to pursue a career in finance?

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have a finance degree. You don’t need a finance background to apply or be successful here. Macquarie really values diversity of thought. What’s important is being curious and willing to learn. 

There are so many roles that I didn’t even know existed in financial services. I’d recommend that you meet people in the industry, explore what opportunities are out there and what might be right for you.