Employee Spotlight: Oscar Coromina Pujol

What is your title at Badgley Phelps?
Associate Research Analyst

You’re studying for your CFA. How is that going, and what are some of your techniques to stay focused?

I’ve passed the first two levels of the CFA Program, and I’m currently preparing for Level III. What has worked well for me is keeping the process structured and sustainable over time. I start by managing my study time carefully, so I can stay consistent without burning out during this dense preparation period.

From there, I try to study topics in parallel rather than sequentially. Since the exam integrates all areas into a single session, rotating across subjects helps me think more holistically and improves retention. 

Finally, I focus heavily on reviewing mistakes. Whenever I get a question wrong, I try not to just look at the answer, but to break down exactly where my reasoning failed and how to approach that step correctly next time. That feedback loop has probably been the most effective part of my preparation. 

I’ve also found that staying adaptable and adjusting my approach based on what works and what doesn’t has been key, especially for more qualitative sections like ethics.

What’s a skill or habit that’s been a game-changer for you?

I think the biggest game-changer has been staying disciplined in how I think, constantly questioning assumptions and being willing to update my views as new information comes in. 

What draws you to research? 

What draws me to research is the combination of analytical rigor and interpretation. Part of it is essentially following the scientific method: I enjoy forming hypotheses, testing them against data, and refining them as new information comes in. At the same time, investing adds another layer: it’s not just about understanding how a company or industry works, but also how other market participants perceive it, and you need judgment to balance both aspects. That interaction between analysis and meta-analysis (fundamentals versus market expectations) is what makes the process particularly engaging.

You’re from Barcelona, tell us how you ended up in Washington, and at UW?   

I grew up in Barcelona and was looking for the opportunity to continue gymnastics at the collegiate level while also studying at a strong academic institution in a major city. The University of Washington stood out as a great fit, allowing me to pursue both at a high level, which made the decision a natural one.

What advice would you give to college students or other early-career individuals interested in going into finance? 

In the beginning, it’s easy to focus too much on technical skills or trying to have strong opinions on everything. Those are important, but what matters more is building a solid process: being curious, asking the right questions, and taking the time to really understand how businesses and markets work. 

I also think relationships matter, but more in terms of depth than breadth. Developing a few strong relationships with people you can learn from tends to be much more valuable than trying to build a large network without that level of engagement.

Finally, finance has a steep learning curve. At the beginning, it can feel difficult to contribute independently, but once you build a solid foundation, the pace of learning accelerates significantly. Staying patient through that early phase is key, because that’s when the compounding really starts.

Describe your perfect PNW weekend.

My perfect PNW weekend would probably be in the summer. It would start with a good Saturday morning gymnastics practice, followed by spending some time outdoors; going to a lake or the beach for a swim. In the evening, I’d go out with friends for dinner or drinks. 

Sunday would be a bit more relaxed: spending time on personal projects, and then playing some sports with friends, like tennis, golf, or other ball games, and finishing the day by cooking something at home.

What is one of your favorite things about working at Badgley?

One of my favorite things about working at Badgley is the level of responsibility I’ve been given early on. It’s a great environment to learn, because I’m able to work across teams and contribute to different parts of the investment process.

I also find it particularly rewarding to help address client-specific questions. Being able to connect the research work directly to real decisions and client needs makes the role more meaningful.

What accomplishments are you most proud of? 

I think one of the accomplishments I’m most proud of was early in college. After dealing with knee injuries throughout my freshman year, I competed at the Spanish Senior Elite Nationals and earned a bronze medal on vault. Given the circumstances (and the fact that vault is one of the more demanding events on the knees) that experience stands out to me.

More broadly, I’m proud of the consistency I’ve been able to maintain across different areas. Balancing high-level athletics, a rigorous academic path, and now a career in equity research has required a lot of discipline.

There’s a common idea that you can do anything but not everything, and while I agree with that in principle, I’ve found it rewarding to push that boundary: taking on multiple demanding commitments and seeing them translate into meaningful progress over time!

If you could have coffee with any historical figure or leader, who would it be and why? 

I’d probably choose Stefan Banach. What I find interesting about him is not just the impact of his work, but the way he approached problems, often developing ideas in very informal settings, like discussions at the Scottish Café. I think that kind of environment would make for a very engaging conversation. More importantly, a lot of his work was driven by solving concrete problems, which makes it both theoretically deep and practically useful. 

While there are more well-known mathematicians and historical figures, I think a conversation with Banach would be both productive and enjoyable, and ideally, you’d walk away having developed a new idea, even if most of the credit would probably be his.

Closing Thoughts 

Oscar’s perspective reflects many of the qualities that strengthen Badgley Phelps: discipline, curiosity, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning. Whether he is preparing for the CFA exam, contributing to the investment process, or helping address client-specific questions, he brings a thoughtful and rigorous approach to his work.

We’re grateful to have Oscar on the team and look forward to all he will continue to contribute in the years ahead.