Jackie Analyst, Goldman Sachs University Human Capital Management division, Hong Kong

While formal training is important, I pick up most of my skills on the job, especially while working with others. There are many intelligent people in the firm who are great to learn from.

Background

In tenth grade, my favorite teacher sparked my interest in teaching and in economics by making the supply and demand economic model one of the most interesting and fun lectures I’ve ever had. Sharing his experiences in university and business had a big influence on my decision to attend school away from home.

Studying economics and statistics strengthened my data analysis skills and taught me the basic framework of the financial market. I never knew that economics and statistics could have much to do with Human Resources! I guess we should never limit our career options by our areas of study.

At university, I met many business professionals and began to think that wearing a suit to work would be cool. Who could have guessed, years later, I would be wearing business attire to work every day in the field of learning and development!

Getting Started at Goldman Sachs

This is my first full-time job in Hong Kong. On my first day, I was excited and anxious about the culture and dynamics in the office. Fortunately, there wasn’t much to be afraid of. I found that the people were quite diverse, much like my previous experiences working in Canada.

Career Development

I work in the Goldman Sachs University team and every day is a learning experience. I have attended seminars with topics that include internal culture and strategies, presentation skills, diversity, career management and more. Since Goldman Sachs has a “leaders develop leaders” philosophy, many senior firm members facilitate our classes. I learn a lot of valuable lessons from their success stories.

While formal training is important, I pick up most of my skills on the job, especially while working with others. There are many intelligent people in the firm who are great to learn from.

I have been exploring the learning and development field. I want to be a great teacher one day and perhaps motivate a few young minds, the way my high school economic teacher inspired me both academically and personally.

Teamwork

Teamwork is a key component in my role at Goldman Sachs. My responsibilities include managing orientation programs for new hires in Asia. I work with people in the Goldman Sachs University team and the Human Resource Generalist team to address the needs of thirteen different divisions in seven countries. We then work closely with managers in each division to ensure we are fulfilling their business needs.

In addition, I work on orientation programs with various stakeholders across levels and divisions to ensure new hires get assimilated into the firm’s culture in the shortest period of time possible. Creating an outstanding orientation program requires the efforts of many people and teams.

Challenge

While creativity is important in solving a client’s problems, a “can-do” attitude and an open mind are equally essential when faced with a seemingly impossible request.