In this regular series, female members of the ESG investment industry detail how they are dealing with the transition to remote working during the coronavirus fallout
Following on from our sister title Portfolio Adviser which has been running the Working from Home series with investment experts from the wider industry, we are running these articles twice a week with women in ESG. This week we speak to Ama Seery, ESG analyst at Janus Henderson Investors.
How has the coronavirus affected your day-to-day work – from both a portfolio and workplace perspective?
The biggest difference is that it has allowed me to see my family more and avoid commuting. It has not changed the way I work on the portfolio as sustainability factors have not disappeared, but it has changed the way I work with others, with conference calls now becoming the norm. For all of this I am really grateful, as I am acutely aware that this has been incredibly disruptive for others. The Janus Henderson IT Department are absolute stars, and have been the key reason why I am able to work from home comfortably.
Share some good news you have heard recently about the holdings/sectors/themes you invest in?
Teladoc is a virtual healthcare platform that provides telemedicine services in many countries around the world. We invested in this company well before the outbreak, because we believed that it was aligned with making healthcare more accessible. This company has been providing virtual healthcare appointments during the covid-19 epidemic. In the first quarter of 2020 alone, Teladoc Health delivered two million medical visits to people around the world, while simultaneously expanding access to millions of new members.
How do you find working remotely during volatile markets?
I miss not being able to walk to a colleague’s desk to discuss aspects of the market. But I am able to speak to my colleagues on the phone easily, and we can talk about changes to the market as they happened during a meeting as we are all at our computers.
What do you do for fun when you take a break from working at home?
I have rediscovered my love for on-demand television. I am currently watching a number of shows that are enhancing my knowledge around sustainability issues. I am really enjoying The World According to Jeff Goldblum on Disney+. I have found the episode on sneakers fascinating especially since we invest in Adidas and Nike.
What is your favourite sustainable snack/hot drink when working from home?
I love drinking herbal tea. My favourite flavour is lemon, ginger and manuka honey. All the products of the company that makes the tea are organic and Fairtrade, its packaging is from sustainably sourced card, the tea bag is 100% compostable and the company donates 1% of revenue to environmental and social causes.
If applicable, how is home schooling being managed in your household?
I do not have any children, but my husband is a primary school teacher. I have seen how he has been preparing home-school material and have even helped out in some of the videos he has made. When the crisis began, many schools were sending hand-outs to parents, that the parents would be required to print out to deliver the lesson. However, one of my neighbours did not have a printer, and as a result I would print off these materials. My husband saw this, informed his colleagues, and they made sure that the work sent home would not require a printer. This is when the educational videos began.
Do you have a ‘top green tip’ to share on working remotely?
Attend as many online courses and conferences relating to your work that you can. There are many speakers that are based in other countries and previously the only way to hear them speak would be to fly to that country. I do not quite think that we will return fully to travelling long distances for conferences and training, but people are giving more online courses and webinars. We are also giving webinars so please go to www.janushenderson.com to find out more.
To view the previous articles from the Working from Home with … series see below:
Social conscience, fishing and Christmas risotto: WFH with Hawksmoor’s Rebecca Fournier D’Albe
Safe harbours, team yoga, and Animals of Farthing Wood: WFH with Tribe’s Amy Clarke
Active ownership, hip-hop pilates and natural light: WFH with Federated Hermes’ Kimberley Lewis
Cautious positioning and interactive lessons: WFH with Square Mile’s Diane Earnshaw
Climate debate, board games and weekly podcasts: WFH with Quilter Cheviot’s Claudia Quiroz
Deadlines, schoolwork and team drinks: Working from home with ESG Clarity’s Natalie Kenway
