Finance for all: Markets, Minds and a Sustainable Future

Thirteen years ago, as a 22-year-old Honours student, I recorded a video about my passion for research and my dream of becoming a professor. On 6 May 2025, that younger version of me introduced my Inaugural Professorial Lecture – a full-circle moment celebrating how curiosity, when nurtured by the right people and opportunities, can make dreams a reality.

From Numbers to Human Stories

My research began with market anomalies – why high-risk stocks sometimes delivered surprisingly low returns. My work on arbitrage costs and mispricing revealed markets weren’t the perfectly efficient machines we studied in textbooks. But my biggest breakthrough came when I realized the most fascinating variable wasn’t in the data; it was the people behind it.

This epiphany transformed my work:

Discovering the "Tuesday Blues" effect showed how days of the week sway investor behavior
Investigating finfluencers exposed how social media reshapes financial decisions – research that directly informed ASIC policy reforms
Revealing how trading apps gamify investing highlighted the thin line between speculation and gambling

Finance isn’t just about trading floors – it’s about living rooms, smartphones, and the minds of millions making daily money decisions.

When Leadership and Media Engagement Fuel Discovery

Taking on leadership roles at RMIT and engaging with media didn’t distract from my research – it enhanced it. Every committee meeting, student interaction, and media interview uncovered real-world problems demanding investigation.

Some of my most impactful work emerged from these experiences, like:

Studying how retail investors interpret ESG ratings after fielding questions from journalists
Developing financial literacy tools inspired by student struggles

Being "in the arena" proved the best vantage point for asking relevant questions.

12 May 2025

Building Bridges Across Disciplines

Today’s finance challenges demand interdisciplinary solutions. My current work blends:

Computer science to develop AI tools detecting greenwashing
Behavioral economics & marketing scholars to understand investor psychology
Policy expertise to translate research into regulation

This collaborative approach reflects my core belief: the most important financial solutions emerge at the intersection of disciplines.

The Mentors Who Shaped Me

I stand here thanks to those who believed in me:

Professors Philip Gray and Phil Gharghori, who transformed an uncertain student into a confident researcher
Professor Banita Bissoondoyal-Bheenick, who modeled compassionate leadership
Professor Heath McDonald, who saw my potential before I did

Now, as a professor, I pay this forward by mentoring emerging scholars – especially women in finance.

With Gratitude

This achievement belongs to:

My parents, whose unconditional love sustained me
My colleagues, who foster a dynamic and nurturing academic environment
My students, who constantly remind me why our work matters

That 22-year-old wondered where her curiosity might lead. Today’s answer? To the privilege of:
🔹 Creating knowledge through research
🔹 Sharing insights in classrooms and media
🔹 Driving change through industry partnerships

What’s Next

As I look ahead, I’m energized by finance’s evolving challenges – from sustainable investing to AI’s disruptive potential. One principle remains constant: finance should serve everyone. That vision will guide my next chapter.

Author: Angel Zhong

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12 May 2025

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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Finance for all: Markets, Minds and a Sustainable Future