Kate Lakin ’17

In the asset management sector, we’re seeing a shift from a passive to a more active management role. The question for us is how we’re going to add value for our clients. Yale has helped me approach this question from new angles. Environmental social governance, for instance, is going to be very important over the next decade, and I’ve learned a lot from my classmates who are focusing on sustainability. I’ve become a better investor and I’m a better, more inclusive, manager, thanks to all our group work projects. I’ve also built a network of professors and classmates that’s going to be valuable throughout my life.

My favorite class by far was the Global Financial System with Jeffrey Garten. He’s had many experiences, both academically and in the public sector. We looked at how financial systems are changing around the world and how companies are competing on a more global level than ever before. Professor Garten challenged us. We read a ton and we had the most lively and dynamic class discussions. The three hours would fly by, and I learned something new every time.

The Leadership Development Program (LDP) was one of the things that drew me to Yale. I was super excited about the opportunity to challenge myself as a leader and as a manager and to reflect on my strengths and weaknesses. I learned that I’m a doer. I like to get things done and sometimes maybe I move a little too quickly. The LDP gave me a set of tools that I can use to force myself to slow down and focus on one task at a time. In addition to classes, we had monthly calls with professors when we would spend an hour talking about what’s going on in our lives, how we’re working, and what we’re focusing on at the moment.