Aubrey

Background

I was a finance major and received my Bachelors of Science from Rutgers University.

The Interview Process

The hardest question I had to answer was why I wanted to work in Compliance. At the time, I didn’t understand what it meant to be a compliance officer. I just knew that I found the intersection of law and finance to be interesting and I wanted to explore opportunities in both areas.

Getting Started at Goldman Sachs

I learned early on that you have to seize opportunities as they are presented. Recently I had the opportunity to assist colleagues in Hong Kong. At first I was nervous about working internationally, but it turned out to be the most rewarding experience of my career. We were able to brainstorm ways to better communicate across regions and streamline our processes.

I also learned that everyone makes mistakes and that you should accept responsibility for those mistakes, so you can learn from them and move on.

Career Development

My career path has been heavily influenced by the people I work with on a day-to-day basis and by the senior leadership of the firm. My colleagues create a supportive environment that allows me to challenge myself every day, and the senior leadership helps me see our strategic vision. The people who make up our firm consistently motivate and inspire me.

Mentorship

I have a mentor and believe that mentors are crucial to your success at the firm. They provide insight and help you develop key skills that allow you to reach your career goals. In addition, they provide a support system that lets you openly share the experiences and challenges you have faced.

Creativity

We use creativity every day to solve problems for our clients. It’s about asking questions that challenge the fundamentals of how we think about our business. This lets us clearly evaluate our processes and develop better ways to serve our clients’ needs.

Giving Back

I have been very involved in the Community TeamWorks program at Goldman Sachs, and always leave inspired by the enthusiasm of my colleagues. They dive into each project headfirst and give it all of their time and attention.

This year, the nonprofit we worked with reached out and sincerely thanked us for our contribution. It’s these small gestures that make me realize what a large impact the firm can have.

Affinity Networks

I belong to the Women’s Network. They host a number of events, on topics ranging from global investment perspectives to the role of sponsorship in your career. These events are always insightful and very often inspiring.

The affinity networks create a sense of community and allow you to connect with people whom you may not normally interact with.