Women in India Explore Careers in Financial Services

The second annual Women Emerging in Finance event, hosted at the Goldman Sachs Bengaluru office on January 25, offered students an opportunity to network with people from across the firm and learn more about careers in financial services.

Eighty-two university students attended the program, which targets prospective women students across leading engineering and business schools, giving them exposure and perspectives into the finance industry.

“Diversity is embedded in our firm’s DNA: we look for innovation and creativity, and we achieve that by getting a diverse set of people with varied thoughts and ideas at the table,” said Nyron Latif, chief operating officer of the Bengaluru office. “This event is a key part of our strategy to find and hire the best talent.”

Vidya Lakshmi, head of Human Capital Management in Bengaluru, moderated a fireside chat with Bunty Bohra, chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs Services in India. Bunty shared his thoughts on developing a successful career. “When given a choice, prioritize your professional development – your experience, knowledge base, and relationships – over career advancement, or your title and job description,” he advised. “Developing the right experiences and skills will propel your career forward and drive sustainable success."

A panel of professionals from the firm’s Global Investment Research, Investment Banking, Operations and Securities Divisions also shared career advice. “Sponsorship is key,” noted Sophie Taylor, a managing director and the head of Bengaluru Securities Division Operations. “You need to build your credibility, but building a network and investing in relationships are important in helping you succeed in the long term.”

Participants also had the opportunity to tour the campus, review case studies in meetings with people representing different divisions, and attend a skill-building session focused on building one’s personal brand offered by Goldman Sachs University and Talent Development, the firm’s training and development groups.

The event concluded with dinner hosted by Bengaluru leadership, and received positive feedback from participants. “It was inspiring and encouraging to hear that the only factor to my success is my performance,” one participant said.

 

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