In this episode of Careers in Finance on FinPod, we sit down with Nirav Shah, founder and partner at Versor Investments, to unpack his path from software engineering to quantitative finance and building a global systematic investment firm. Nirav shares what drove his pivot, how he built deep technical and market expertise, and what it takes to develop an edge in a field where your process is tested every day.

Nirav’s early career started in computer science and system development, then shifted when he realized his engineering background could become an asset in markets. He explains how formal finance training, hands on experience in Chicago’s trading ecosystem, and a relentless focus on research discipline shaped his approach to investing and risk.

In this episode, we cover:

• What triggered Nirav’s transition from engineering to finance
• How a technical background accelerates the learning curve in quant roles
• What quantitative finance work looks like day to day, from data to models to portfolio construction
• Lessons from navigating market stress, volatility, and the 2008 financial crisis
• The principles behind building systematic strategies, including risk management and diversification
• What it really takes to start an investment firm, from talent to infrastructure to client trust
• Why adopting cloud, alternative data, and AI early became a competitive advantage
• How candidates can stand out in recruiting when resumes look the same, plus what interviewers evaluate
• Career advice on perseverance, humility, adaptability, and continuous learning

Relevant for:

• Early and mid career finance professionals
• Engineers or technical professionals considering a pivot into finance
• Aspiring quantitative analysts and researchers
• Professionals interested in hedge funds, systematic investing, and entrepreneurship

Careers in Finance is a FinPod series focused on real career journeys and the decisions, skills, and lessons that shape long term success in finance.

For informational purposes only. Not an offer to sell or a solicitation of any type with respect to any securities or financial products. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. For important disclosures, please visit: https://www.versorinvest.com/terms-and-conditions/
 
Versor LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/versorinvestments/
Research Repository ("Athenaeum"): https://www.versorinvest.com/athenaeum/
Versor YouTube Page: ‪ https://www.youtube.com/@versorinvestments
 
Versor Investments ("Versor") is a pioneer in applying AI and alternative data to global equity markets. As a quantitative equities boutique, we focus on systematically delivering uncorrelated alpha across single stocks, equity index futures, and corporate events. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in New York, Versor manages assets on behalf of a global client base. Our edge is defined by four core pillars that underpin how we operate and how we continue to stay at the frontier of quantitative investing. These include the use of alternative data across both developed and emerging markets, a disciplined integration of artificial intelligence with human judgment and domain expertise, deep experience in systematic investing, and an embedded approach to risk management that informs research, portfolio construction, and implementation.