Lauren Ponsonby

Most people hate mathematics. Mathematicians aren’t creative. Only men can do math. Wrong. Lauren Ponsonby is not only a mathematical genius, but she can easily whip up a screenplay for a drama, build a replica of the Empire State Building with Lego, and for good measure, write complex mathematical algorithm code. For these reasons and more, Lauren passed her application to join the elite RMB Class Of Programme, with flying colours.

Lauren has always had a head for numbers, and unlike her peers, excelled at maths in school. Her choice to study BSc (Pure Mathematics) (Hons) at Wits therefore became a natural path that would see her follow in her math teaching grandfather’s footsteps. She is currently working on her Masters of Science degree in Quantitative Finance at the University of Cape Town.

Making sense of big data

Lauren started her career as quantitative analyst at a debt collection company where she was analysing and interpreting trends and patterns in complex data sets. It was during this time that she built a system to infer demographic data. This solution saved her team several hours of work per week. She then joined FNB where she worked as Quantitative Analyst and Data Scientist at the bank’s PCB unit. Through statistical modelling and data analysis she optimised processes and informed strategic decisions using programming languages such as Python, SAS and R.

Although she enjoyed her job as a quant, she wanted to learn more. Then COVID hit the world. It forced her to do some introspection and she decided that the time was right to “learn new, cool things on the side”. A few Udemy courses later, among others, teaching herself to code open source, Lauren still wanted to learn more. She became increasingly more interested in exploring the world of finance and banking and how she could put a mathematical quant lens on a corporate and investment banking environment. Her manager at the time suggested she apply for the RMB Class Of Programme.

It was Lauren’s ability to view things from a different perspective and question the norm, as well as her gift to make sense of complex data, that made her a natural choice to be selected on the elite Programme.

Quantum leap

Lauren is currently based in the Markets division of the bank as an Algorithmic Trading Quantitative Analyst where she is interpreting and analysing data, writing code, formulating algorithms and making sense of it all to help the bank make informed decisions to price and trade and minimise risk.

She is very upbeat about the numerous possibilities that are now available to quantitative analysts, compared to a few years ago. “Quants these days are able to use automated trading systems, machine learning and world-class languages such as Python, R and open source to do precise modelling in an increasing complex securities market.”

Lauren says that her decision to join the RMB Class Of Programme has been one of the best (and most informed) decisions she’s ever made. She is in awe of RMB’s sharing culture and the fact that everyone is open to imparting their knowledge. She too has had the opportunity to impart her knowledge to young grads in the bank.

While our competitors all make use of quantitative analysis and advanced machine learning, Lauren believes that it is RMB’s talent that sets us apart. “Quantitative models and tools, at best, highlight problems – our challenge is to offer innovative solutions by combining mathematical knowledge with computational skills – and that is where the real value lies.”

Learning more

Lauren is the eternal student – always looking to learn and explore new things. In fact, she is busy making the final arrangements for her next rotation at RMB Ventures.

When she is not working on complex algorithms for the bank, Lauren and her dad like to dabble in investments and trading on the stock exchanges of the world. She also recently discovered a Dremel tool that she is using to make wooden toys for her nephew. She is an avid Lego fan and can spend hours doing what she calls ‘brain-dead-follow-the-instructions-building’. Other times she spots an axel and a few wheels – and before you know it, a new futuristic car sees the light.

One day when all her goals are met, Lauren wants to be remembered for being kind, funny and a great person to be around with, being good at her job, imparting knowledge and being prepared to help others. Judging by the great value she is adding to the bank as a RMB Class Of, it is clear that Lauren has already achieved those ideals and so much more.