Kalina Berova is a recipient of the Women in Investment Management Recognition. Kalina has over 20 years of investment and risk management experience. She is a Managing Director in the Partnership Portfolio of British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI). With over $250 billion in assets under management, BCI invests on behalf of BC’s pension fund and institutional clients. In her role, Kalina is responsible for fund investments and co-investments across a broad range of private credit, structured credit, and market-neutral hedge fund strategies.
Previously, Kalina was a member of the External Relationships Team of OMERS, where she gained investment experience across various absolute return alternative strategies. Ms. Berova began her career at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in the Asset Mix and Risk Group.
Kalina graduated from the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School with a master’s degree in Investments and Securities.
What aspect of your work or contribution are you proudest of, and what impact do you hope it will have on others?
I have worked for three Canadian Pension Plans in the last 22 years. This job is meaningful to me, and I am proud of what I do. It is straightforward: If we do our job well (and investing is always "we" and rarely "I"), hundreds of thousands of hard-working people have the chance for a financially secure retirement, based on our ability to generate returns that clients need to pay pensions.
What advice would you give someone who aspires to be in your role someday?
Give more than you take. Stay curious and optimistic. Work hard because you choose to do so. Love what you do and enjoy the tough episodes: It is fun to find solutions.
What part of your portfolio are you most excited about?
I am grateful to be part of an organization with strong values, exceptional people, and an agile investment strategy focused on delivering consistent risk-adjusted returns for our clients through the business cycle. Our culture of capital preservation and patient capital deployment allows us to stay focused and objective and find good opportunities in all market environments.
Who are your mentors, and how did the two of you connect?
I have been lucky to have many mentors who have given me the clarity and perspective I needed at each junction. When it comes to connecting with a mentor, my approach has been identifying the issue I need to solve and then looking for the right expert to seek advice from.
What is your favorite hobby outside of work?
Gardening and experimental cooking.
This piece has been edited for length and clarity.
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