The Human Side of Finance

On September 30th, Unionville hosted Amol Dhargalkar as its September career speaker. Dhargalkar is a capital markets advisor and Chairman of risk management firm Chatham Financial. He has spent 25 years at the company, beginning as a college intern in its initial stages. He attended the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State, majoring in chemical engineering at first and eventually transitioning to economics. Following graduation, he earned his MBA from Wharton and continued his work at Chatham, focusing on client interactions and market management. Dhargalkar was drawn to a career in finance by his interest in economics and global markets, in combination with his passion for the rigor of engineering. The ever-changing nature of markets has continued to fascinate him, and continues to be a major factor in his dedication to finance. The adaptation to varied client needs and the environment of his company have both contributed to his continued passion for finance as well.

Chatham Financial is an advisory firm that works with large investors primarily to help them manage their risk relating to interest rates, currencies, and commodities. In his role as Chairman, Dhargalkar aims to embody the purpose of his company through acquisitions and direct client contact, as well as take on additional responsibilities that come with his position, such as company governance, public relations, growth initiatives, and philanthropy. Although he has remained at Chatham for his entire professional career, he notes that his career has still been tumultuous due to the nature of his field. Finance and markets perpetually evolve, forcing him to continuously learn new strategies and information surrounding risk management and the state of markets so he can stay ahead of the needs of Chatham’s clients.

Dhargalkar reflected on the ways that his career has personally impacted him. He believes that his career taught him the value of communication through building trust with clients to understand what matters to them, emphasizing that, “It’s not enough to just know the material; you have to be an effective communicator as well.” Focusing on client needs is a theme at Chatham, with Dhargalkar noting that his ability to understand multiple perspectives is the personal quality that plays the most significant role in his professional life because it allows him to grasp the varied needs of his clients and devise solutions that best meet those needs. His emphasis on client relationships explains why he believes that the biggest misconception about working in finance is that it is “all about the money”. In actuality, the most effective financial services prioritize client trust and communication, which is exactly what Dhargalkar’s career illustrates.

When asked what his best piece of advice was for young people entering college or the workforce, Dhargalkar continued to stress the importance of relationships. He considers networking to be one of the greatest advantages for students interested in finance, viewing it as an opportunity to, “open doors in a way that’s more effective than the standard interview and application process.” Dhargalkar serves as a local example of financial success, and he hopes to share the message it was built through people, not money.