Goldman Sachs HR Chief: What I say when college student asked 'how I made it';

Success is Personal

I spend a lot of time on college campuses as part of my job. I’m there to recruit, which means I’m there to listen. I hear from students – each of whom has huge ambitions, has already accomplished a lot and has plans to do much more. I meet mathematicians and economists and writers, and their dreams excite me and make me optimistic about tomorrow’s leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs. I leave these schools believing that the future – regardless of whatever uncertainties may exist in our current day-to-day realities – is actually quite bright, full of opportunity and promise.

Despite my best efforts to focus the conversation on them, many students ask to hear about my journey and how I “made it”. I’m always happy to share my own story, but I’m also quick to point out that I don’t believe my version of success will necessarily correspond to someone else’s. Work evolves, technology advances, circumstances change and, of course, people are different. The demands of the modern workforce and economy are certainly not the same as when I started out; they’re not even the same as five years ago. All of this can raise the question – how exactly do I manage my career and get to where I want to be? Over the years, the mentors whom I gained the most from have been those who encouraged me to pursue my passion and build my own path, rather than follow the one they blazed themselves.

With that said, I do believe that there are lessons which can help you on whatever path you choose. And so, as the year comes to a close and I begin to look ahead to 2017 with hope and purpose, I thought I’d share a few pieces of advice:

Success is personal. Don’t waste energy benchmarking yourself against other people. Rather than try to replicate another person’s achievements, determine what is important to you, and take it from there. Part of maturing as a professional is not just defining your goals, but also knowing when you’ve done well. When I think back on my career, I don’t look at promotions for validation – I remember specific projects, people and teams that brought out the best in me.Feedback is not. If you surround yourself only with people who compliment your strengths rather than call out your weaknesses, you are bound to limit yourself. More often than not, it’s your toughest critics who push you towards success. So, when you find someone who tells you the truth about yourself – keep them close.Surround yourself with difference. It’s natural to gravitate towards people who have similar styles, interests and experiences. While this approach can feel safe, over time, it will stifle growth, limit learning and impede innovation. Your best ideas are likely to be borne from conversations and interactions that occur outside of your comfort zone.Pick your spots. You’re not going to be great at everything every single day. Be clear about your priorities – to yourself and those close to you – and know that some days you’ll be the hero at work and some days you’ll be the hero at home. And that’s OK.People remember people. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside highly motivated and highly talented people throughout my career. Many of these folks have been among the best in their respective fields. As I look back now, what I remember most about certain individuals is not the revenue they produced or the titles they held – it’s the interactions that we had and whether our relationship was based on trust, respect and collaboration.

While these lessons have served me well, what I try to emphasize to others is - it’s not about how I made it to “the top” - it’s about what you will do when you get there. At Goldman Sachs, our firm is itself in a period of transition, with new leaders emerging and longstanding ones saying goodbye. Our workforce is nearly 70% millennial - even our latest partner class is composed of 11% millennials, and of course, that number will only increase as the years go by. More and more, our firm is passing into the hands of a new generation, with different expectations for work and different dreams for what our firm can be. And that’s the way it should be. As senior leaders, it’s our job to prepare the next generation. We must teach them the lessons that will help them take on the challenges Goldman Sachs will face ten or fifteen years from now, and empower them to lead us further into the future.

STUDY ABROAD: A WAY OUT.

  According to internationalstudent, Studying abroad may be one of the most beneficial experiences for a college student. By studying abroad, students have the opportunity to study in a foreign nation and take in the allure and culture of a new land.

 

Who are Study Abroad Programs for?

As an undergrad, you want to venture out, build confidence, participate and learn by doing, seeing, and traveling. Maybe you want to study marine biology and rescue birds from oil spills but you live in a non-coastal state. Or maybe you are trying to understand history and archaeology from an urban jungle. Understanding new environments, languages, and cultures breeds an appreciation for what you have, or where you come from. It also opens your eyes to what is going on in the global landscape. Rather than studying words on a page, the element of participation, learning to say hello in a foreign language, or visiting heritage landmarks and museums might just stretch the parameters of your thinking. So for those of you who aspire to potentially open new avenues – academically and personally, read on to get started searching for study abroad college programs.

How to Find Study Abroad Programs: WHAT - WHERE - WHEN

Study Abroad Programs are available around the world! If you are interested yet slightly intimidated about how to find Study Abroad Programs? No worries. Here are a few tips to get you started.

WHAT Do You Want to Study?

Study Abroad Programs are available in different subjects. If you know what you want to study, go right to the ‘select a specialty’ menu. Are you a musician? Consider studying music in Vienna. Maybe you think it would be to fascinating to study technology in Japan, art history in Italy (as you sip a perfect espresso), Fashion Design in Paris or business in London, England. Or maybe you are interested in a Spanish Immersion program. Learning a second language is considered a fantastic way to strengthen the brain. Programs are available for elective credits and to support your major or minor.

WHERE Countries to Study Abroad?

If you know what country you want to go to, initiate your search for college study abroad programs with the ‘select a country’ menu. Spain, Italy, UK, Ireland…popular countries to study abroad around the world. Each of the countries may even have cities to choose from. Countries to study abroad are vast and each have its own nuances so choosing one that fits your personality and lifestyle will help your study abroad program be extremely successful for your personal growth.

WHEN Do You Want to Go Abroad?

If you know when you can actually get away (you’re thinking MayMester Intercession or Summer), use the ‘select a term’ menu to find year round or undergrad-term specific study abroad programs. This also gives you some food for thought. Using your spring break to learn about the rainforest in Brazil or learn French in France might be a pretty great way to spend your time.

Why Consider Study Abroad Programs?

There are so many personal reasons that undergraduates study abroad. Apart from learning about (fill in the blank) you are opening up new possibilities for personal growth and discovery. Whatever you decide to ‘do’ in your work life, confidence and self-reliance are assets. And let’s not forget communication skills! Navigating new surroundings (literally) is an experience that is likely to help you when it comes down to landing a dream job and learning the ropes of a new position. Studying abroad puts you into a new category, the ‘international’ potentially cultured, bilingual, self-assured student. So get excited about your education…look for Study Abroad Programs from just about anywhere on the globe!