We talked to Mitch and Michael – two traders who joined VivCourt early in their careers and have since shaped their roles in meaningful ways, from mentoring others to building strategies from the ground up. They shared how their careers have evolved, what drew them to VivCourt, and the qualities they believe set strong traders apart.
What did you study at university?
Mitch: I studied Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Queensland.
Michael: I studied Biomedical Science, and Data Science at the University of Queensland
How has your trading career evolved?
Mitch: I started as a grad in 2015 and have worked on many different products throughout my career. I’ve traded options, ETFs, stocks, futures, and more, and been involved in training graduates, planning large infrastructure projects, and rolling out new strategies. In my current role, I’ve been developing a strategy of my own – an exciting project with near-unlimited potential, where machine learning has the potential to support increasing levels of complexity.
Michael: I got my start in trading as an intern analyst for the VivCourt energy desk in Brisbane while I completed my studies. I moved to Sydney for a full-time role trading Japanese stocks, ETFs, and futures, then onto my current role developing fully automated strategies for global currencies and derivatives. Throughout my career, I’ve enjoyed a healthy balance of autonomy and collaboration across trading, research, and development, while also having the chance to develop the skills and knowledge of VivCourt interns and grad traders.
Why VivCourt?
Mitch: I chose VivCourt because of how it uses its profits: I love knowing that when we make money, it rewards us and those in need, rather than being funnelled to the top. This model also creates a genuinely positive workplace, with no shareholders influencing decisions, employee well-being truly comes first. Whereas it’s hard to put profits before people when those profits ultimately return to them. An added bonus I’ve found is that the company’s newness results in a real lack of incumbency of ideas and people. There is no notion of “this person is in charge and this is how we do things”: if you can come up with something new and better, we don’t have a long history holding us back from innovating and moving quickly towards that solution.
Michael: VivCourt offers employees the ability to effect change, both internally and externally. I was drawn to the culture, where ideas are judged on merit and there’s genuine opportunity to make an impact, with the company still growing and actively developing new strategies. Furthermore, I’m able to contribute to the broader community through social bonuses and another passion of mine – medical research, via non-profits like the Children’s Medical Research Institute.
In your opinion, what makes a strong trader?
Mitch: The same thing that makes a great tennis player or chef: hunger to improve and willingness to take the time to do things the right way. A deep curiosity for how things work is also a must: the best traders I know always ask more questions and are more willing to challenge what they know when met with contrary evidence. Combine this with some hard skills in maths and coding, and you’ve got the winning formula.
Michael: Endless curiosity, coupled with the ability to prioritise and identify how to make the most of an opportunity. Familiarity with statistics and coding will help you make sense of the wealth of data available at our fingertips. More generally, thoroughly considering information in all of its forms is what will help you find and add value.
