Francesca McGowan — Client Service Representative
I was born in Colombia and moved to Caracas, Venezuela, at the age of six. My mother is Danish and my father is American. Growing up, I was exposed to various cultures, languages and ideas, and I am fluent in Spanish, English and Danish. As a result, I have always wanted to learn as much as possible about the world around me. I ask questions and take advantage of every opportunity to gather new skills, ideas and perspectives.
I joined Daruma Asset Management in August 2006 after graduating from Bowdoin College with a BA in psychology. At Daruma I provide administrative support to the entire team. I streamline gathering research and work closely with Patty Clarkson, Partner, Client Service and Consultant Relations. I help bring our clients the best service possible, from handling queries to assembling quarterly performance reports.
Recently, I participated in a pension fund conference, where I had the chance to interact directly with some of our clients and learn more about why they need excellent investment results. Daruma invests for a foundation funding college scholarships and an organization that supports new approaches to energy use, to cite just a couple of examples. This broader understanding of what our clients do with their money has reinforced my desire to provide quality service, and I have increasingly gravitated toward a service-oriented role here at Daruma.
To build my understanding of the investment management industry — and to move closer to my professional goals — I have started taking classes at NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, where I plan to obtain a certificate in both Portfolio and Wealth Management.