Goldman Sachs Panel Focuses on Work-Life Balance
Members of Goldman Sachs’ Merchant Banking Division discussed their career paths with Yale SOM students in a panel discussion sponsored by the Women in Management club on April 17.
Panelists included Ann Berry, a vice president who focuses on corporate private equity investing in industrials and natural resources; Neha Santiago, a vice president who focuses on value-add and opportunistic real estate investing across both equity and debt opportunities; and Jennifer Neff, an associate in the Strategic Capital Group who focuses on deal syndication.
The panelists described their current roles within the organization and the challenge of balancing their personal and professional lives. They agreed that individuals must arrive at their own work-life balance. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.
“You have to figure out what your life priorities are and then focus on them,” Neff said. The notion that you can “do everything and juggle everything” isn’t always realistic. Santiago added that it’s equally important to tune out criticism and not compare your situation to anyone else’s: “I try not to let the external noise detract from or bring down what I know is working for me.”
WIM co-leader Hyun Kim ’15 said that the panel’s message was relevant and valuable to all students, including the many men in attendance. “When they addressed topics like setting goals, networking and mentorship, and maintaining balance, they were applicable to every aspiring financier in the class—and not gender specific at all,” Kim said. “It was helpful for everyone.”