Balancing the Grind with Camilla Love, Managing Director of eInvest

Camilla Love is the Managing Director of eInvest, a company that creates easy, tradable, active ETF investment solutions for Australians. She is also the founder of F3 – Future Females in Finance.

1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?

I’ve been in the financial industry for nearly 20 years. I have always specialised in the sales and marketing space in funds management.

In the past I have placed focus on the institutional side of the business with superannuation funds and other financial organisations being my clients. eInvest is a culmination of all my years and knowledge in the industry.

eInvest is a specialist active ETF provider (exchange traded funds) and focuses on the retail side of the market. It’s eInvests aim to create an environment where everyday Aussies can be better invested by tapping into the investment expertise of professionals through trading an active ETF – just like a share – on the stock exchange.

2) What does a day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?

So today, my 2-year-old jumped into my bed at about 5.45am and we had a laugh and a cuddle. I had a quick check of my slack channels and emails and I went to my weekly PT session – exercise is really important to me to keep a clear mind and healthy body. I exercise every day.

I had a quick Zoom call with my great team and we paved the way for the day.

Today I have listened to an AGSM webinar on company responses as we move out of the pandemic – emersion of knowledge is important to me and quickly listened to the back end of one of our Portfolio Managers media interviews on the recent stellar performance of the eInvest Future Impact Small Caps Fund (Managed Fund) (ASX:IMPQ) and what she sees as the opportunities that the portfolio provides to investors.

Most of my day was spent on calls with prospective clients following up on our prior conversations and continuing to execute our sales strategy via our financial advice and broker partners.

I checked in with our dev and social media teams to ensure that our communications have been amplified accurately and our marketing tech strategy is being implemented.

I have had a call with our operations and legal teams to push on with a few big projects that we are rolling out in the near term (stay tuned).

This afternoon, we also have a treat – a game of Zoom trivia with our fixed income active ETF partner, Daintree Capital and the eInvest team over Friday drinks. I’m really looking forward to it, there will be some great competitive rivalries and funny banter.

(Oh, I should add that I’m also trying to home school my 7 year old today, whilst doing all this. Wish me luck!)

3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?

Well as we speak, I’m working from home as the Covid environment dictates. I’m naturally a people person so most of my time is spent doing things I love doing the best – speaking and meeting with clients, suppliers and financial planners and brokers. However, this means that I’m always out and about.

I have set up the team to be able to work remotely when it dictates. It makes it much easier to do the juggle.

4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?

Work life balance is an anomaly. In short, I believe that you only have 100% of yourself and your time.

You can’t ever allocate 100% to anything if you have a diverse life – not 100% to work – not 100% to other life activities. What I do believe is that there are some strategies that can help you manage it all. 

These will differ per person and their needs. For me, to set myself up to win I need to exercise to have a clear mind. I write down work goals and aim to achieve these. I have a supportive work team and, importantly, life team as well and I try to outsource basic life items where I can (e.g. cleaning, gardening etc).

It’s really not easy but you can make the ability for success higher on all fronts by working out what’s important to you and focusing on those aspects. All the other noise ends up being irrelevant.

5) What do you think are some of the best habits or routines that you’ve developed over the years to help you achieve success in your life?

Exercise is one of them. A really important habit to have. I allocate time each day to do my hourly exercise. My team know that it’s in the diary 4 weeks in advance and I stick to it. Even if I don’t have time, I will try to walk the dogs around the block or something just to. It’s the best start to the day!

I always try to learn something new each day. I think it’s important to be open minded and be open to many possibilities, no matter how big or small.

I also aim to have dinner with my family each evening (where I can). I think it is important to be present and encourage good manners and conversation skills with the kids. Here I listen to the stories of their days and ask lots of questions, in particular what made them laugh and what they learnt that was new today.

Networking. Many people put this in the too hard basket but this is right up there on my to do list. Regular networking is super important. This is a particular habit I have fostered over the past 10 years. I put this down to some of my success – knowing the right people, with the right knowledge, at the right time.

Allocating time to downtime (holidays). The best ideas come when nothing else is going on. I try to do this regularly.

Oh yeah, and outsource everything where you can!

6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?

I’m a big (I mean huge) fan of podcasts. Let’s see what’s been on my podcast list this week:

• Freakonomics – I love this one. Well produced and very topical, funny and thought provoking.
• Planet Money – short, sharp and funny – all about money and economics.
• Hidden Brain – always makes me think differently about things, see perspectives from a different angle.
• Pivot – a great tech based podcast but with a topical flare.
• Revisionist History – I can’t wait for the next series – I’ve been listening to reruns.
• How I Built This with Guy Raz – this podcast is always a consistent part of my week. I love hearing war stories for people who build and run business.
• Wow in the World – a science related podcast for the whole family. I pop this on for my 7 year old and listen to it with him as he falls asleep. It’s super entertaining.

7)   What is the number one thing you do to make sure you get the most out of your day?

I work out what my goal is for the day and set out to do it. Without that goal, it’s hard to even get started. Even if it’s only one small thing then I’m still satisfied.

8)   If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be? 

David Walsh, professional gambler and owner of Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). He’d throw everything up in the air and watch it go everywhere – “like fireworks in a church”. No one could ever guess how it would turn out. Totally unconventional and deliberately so.

9)   Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?

Everyone is different. What works for one, does not suit another. Each to their own. Work out what’s right for you and your personal circumstances and run with that. Work out efficiencies and keep those efficiencies running for you.

Disclaimer: Camilla is the Managing Director of eInvest, an active ETF start up. To find out more about the eInvest active ETFs please visit www.einvest.com.au and always read the PDS before investing.

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