20 Years of Goldman Sachs’ Vice President Leadership Acceleration Initiative

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Vice President Leadership Acceleration Initiative (VP LAI), a program that provides select vice presidents with an opportunity to strengthen their leadership capabilities and enhance their ability to drive forward their teams in support of Goldman Sachs’ strategy.

Held in each region from June through October, VP LAI recognizes participating vice presidents’ contributions to the firm, and represents a critical investment in Goldman Sachs’ future leaders. Participants join a series of sessions, including a kickoff with regional program sponsors, a two-day conference featuring guest speakers and skills-based workshops, as well as networking opportunities with senior leaders and peers.

“We take great care in developing highly motivated and engaged teams around the world – our priority is to invest in our people, at every stage of their Goldman Sachs career,” said Jacqueline Arthur, global head of Human Capital Management. “That commitment is reflected in a number of talent development strategies that help ensure our people have the resources they need to grow and thrive, and VP LAI has long been a cornerstone program for vice presidents who are developing as leaders of the firm.”

The 2023 class heard from a number of senior leaders on topics ranging from strategies for adopting a growth mindset and building a long-term career at Goldman Sachs to the importance of serving as allies in the workplace, building knowledge and understanding of diverse communities and offering support to colleagues.

Among other aspects of the program, the class also completed “Challenge Forums,” an activity designed to bring participants together in small pods for discussions on challenging topics and collaborative problem-solving.

In addition, members of the VP LAI Class of 2023 were paired with a coach to review their leadership strengths and areas for development, and joined a series of Business Insights and “Ask Me Anything” sessions, highlighting key firm priorities and advice from our senior leaders, respectively. Managers also play a key role in supporting their team members, by providing guidance on goal-setting to maximize the VP LAI experience.

Shubha Iyer, who leads the Operational Risk and Resilience function for the firm’s first line of defense and is a VP LAI alumna, shared that the network she was able to build through the program was one of the most memorable aspects of her experience: “This is a very special program, make the best use of it and build the strongest network that will stay with you for a very long time.”