From screenwriting to stand-up: How 6 Goldman Sachs managing directors turned unlikely experiences into career success

"They've made films, performed stand-up, run races, and served in the Marines. For some of the members of Goldman Sachs' newest class of managing directors, these pursuits aren't just hobbies - they've shaped how they lead, think, and confront the stress of the job. So how did they get here? These new leaders at the Wall Street bank say that experiences away from the desk help them stay grounded under pressure, forge deeper connections with clients, and find fresh perspectives in an industry that rarely pauses."

"Wall Street is often seen as a world of uniform resumes, but these unexpected backgrounds show that the people who work in the industry aren't a monolith from the same schools with the same interests or the same Patagonia vests. Indeed, Goldman's new MD class counts among its ranks a filmmaker, a former Marine, an ex-stand-up comic, and a pediatric cancer survivor who's fighting childhood cancer on behalf of others now. Their experiences outside finance, they say, augment the work they do inside the bank."

Six members of Goldman Sachs' 2025 managing-director class come from varied backgrounds including filmmaking, the Marines, stand-up comedy, athletics, and surviving pediatric cancer. Those outside pursuits have shaped leadership approaches, decision-making, stress management, and client relationships. Experiences away from the desk provide grounding under pressure, foster deeper connections with clients, and introduce fresh perspectives in a high-pressure industry. The new class challenges the stereotype of uniform Wall Street resumes by showing varied skills and life experiences. Nonfinance activities augment professional work inside the bank and contribute to distinctive leadership styles and resilience.

Read at Business Insider