My path to finance has taken me across two continents. I was born and raised in Shanghai, then moved to the United States for seven years of school. First, I studied business at the University of Washington and interned at an investment firm in Seattle. Then I headed across the country to study informatics at Carnegie Mellon in Pennsylvania, where I learned to code. I also explored the underlying logic of emerging trends like artificial intelligence, 5G, and big data.
After spending seven years abroad, I decided to come home to Shanghai. I applied to intern with the Global Investment Research (GIR) team. One of the great things about working for a global investment bank is that you not only work with smart people around the world, you can also work in multiple places around the world.
Researching renewable energy was new to me. I ended up joining the GIR Utilities team full time, focusing on renewable energy, even though I didn’t have a background in this sector. Turns out, many people in GIR don’t come in with experience in their focus area. What’s more important is that you can learn things quickly. For me, this role feels similar to learning a new coding language—I learn best by diving in and doing the work.
Each day, the first thing I do is check the news. I first get a feel for what’s happened overnight in the markets, then spend the morning talking to traders and clients about the news or going over reports I published recently. In the afternoons, I write in-depth research reports or briefs on any interesting developments and get ready for the next day.
Being a researcher takes curiosity and communication skills. To start, you need to be genuinely curious about what’s going on in your area. You can’t just mimic other research that’s already out there—you need to ask your own questions and share a unique point of view. Along with that, you need sharp communication skills, both written and verbal. People won’t always have time to read your full report, so you need to be ready to give a quick verbal brief instead.
Shanghai is an up-and-coming place to live and work. While I was away from China for seven years, the city developed significantly. I would come back over the summers to find new buildings everywhere. There are a lot of startups now in Shanghai, as it’s a convenient place to live, with many subways and wonderful restaurants. The office here is growing, too. Only a few years back, the team filled about half a floor in our building downtown. Now, we’re expanding to a second floor.
To unwind, I watch and play plenty of sports. I’m an avid fan of soccer (Chelsea, the team I’m named after), American football (the Seattle Seahawks), and Formula 1 car racing. I also enjoy bandying about a volleyball, tennis ball, or shuttlecock, sometimes with my colleagues from work.
Chelsea is hired under Beijing Gao Hua Securities Company Limited. Gao Hua is a strategic partner of Goldman Sachs.