Letter to My Younger Self: Bracha Cohen, Asset & Wealth Management

Bracha Cohen, a managing director in Engineering within Goldman Sachs Asset Management, member of Goldman Sachs' quarter century club, and mother of seven, shares advice she would give her younger self.  

Dear Bracha,

You’re currently enrolled in university studying computer science, and will soon be graduating to start your career at Goldman Sachs as an analyst and programmer on the Repo team in Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities Technology.

Your path at the firm will span several areas of the organization, and you will eventually become a managing director in Engineering for Goldman Sachs Asset Management within Asset & Wealth Management, serving as global head of Client Servicing and Public Portfolio Servicing. Your team’s priority, first and foremost, will be to build and support resilient and commercial platforms that can serve multiple client types and purposes. Having seen the firm from a variety of perspectives, you will be equipped to find new ways to add value as you pursue that mandate.

Over the years, becoming a member of Goldman Sachs’ Quarter Century Club will also be a highlight, along with becoming a mother of seven! You will prioritize raising your family in a way that optimizes each of your children’s unique talents to thrive on social, academic and religious fronts. Throughout your journey, you will learn the importance of compromise -- choosing carefully what is in the foreground and in the background at any moment in time. You’re also a firm believer that there are more feathers in your cap when you collaborate – there’s a higher chance of success for all involved. And, you will often be reminded that while technical prowess and deep subject matter expertise are essential to success, soft skills are also an important part of any job.

In this letter, I wanted to share several pieces of advice that will serve you well as you embark on this next chapter:

Impressions stick. The moment you meet someone, they form an impression of you. Use every chance you get to make a positive and lasting one. It’s also important to form relationships at every step with the people you work with, those you work for and those who work for you. Build trust. You never know how your paths might cross again in the future.

Knowing what questions to ask is more valuable than having all the answers. The value is also in understanding the answers you receive to your questions. If you’re wondering why a certain decision was made, always ask “why” until you get the clarity you are seeking. People tend to be open to dialogue, and by having that conduit of information, you can get the broader context, share ideas and influence outcomes.

Think about your career as a learning and performing cycle. When you start to feel “been there, done that” too often, aren’t learning things in your role, and have a real sense of accomplishment because you've had a significant impact in your seat, it may be time for a change. But don’t be too quick with that analysis – it can take months and sometimes more to truly notice transformational themes in your space and gain the perspective you need to make a true impact. So before moving on to the next challenge, think about it this way: did I really make my mark?

Be deliberate about your choices, and think long-term. Think carefully about the recommendations you put forth but don’t let caution and preserving optionality come at the expense of making progress – at some point and after a thorough review, you need to commit to a path forward. And if you kick off something that requires a sustained investment, make sure you’re in it for the journey.

Why you’re doing something is just as – if not more – important than what you’re doing. Sometimes, it can be difficult to get buy-in to pursue a project or initiative – but really, it comes down to the business case, and whether it’s strong enough when you present it to decision-makers. If you’re passionate about something, don’t show it as a task list that needs to get done. Instead, explain why it matters. 

Before I leave you, I wanted to share one final thought– there’s a domino effect when you support others. Relationships are two-way streets, and they’re dynamic – invest in keeping them up and figure out ways to help others be successful in their roles. It goes a long way, and one day, those you helped will support others, too.