I graduated from Harvard Business School at the tail end of the dot-com bubble and was fortunate to join Goldman Sach’s high-tech investment banking group after graduation. However, the bubble burst got me, and I was laid off for a short time before finding another investment banking role.
I ended up discovering that banking was not for me. I was interested in the buy-side. It appealed to me for its directness; you invest with conviction in undervalued assets and reap the rewards for your insights. I transitioned to a hedge fund, starting as an analyst before becoming a portfolio manager. I felt that I had hit my stride. I met my husband, started a family, and was achieving my goals more quickly than I thought possible.
But it didn’t last. Sleepless nights, deteriorating health, a lost edge in the stock market, and disillusionment with the game of investing left me with feelings of inner turmoil and a loss of direction. All of which was aggravated by feeling that I lacked a supportive network as one of the few professional women on Wall Street. I realized I had stopped growing. Though I invested in growth companies, I had no defined goals for myself.
I started to take steps to explore what professional changes might help me rediscover the sense of passion and achievement I used to enjoy. I read Carol Dweck’s book Growth Mindset, which had a great impact on my thinking and inspired me to read other inspirational and educational non-fiction books in the field. This motivated me to start a free-writing style of journaling to have a dedicated place to explore my thoughts, feelings, and any memories that might inform my choices.
What I discovered, or rediscovered, about myself during this time of reflection led me to realize that my next move should be to start my own firm.
As a portfolio advisor in Houston, I learned people value advice more than just stocks; they’re also looking for informed opinions on trusts and estates, financial planning, insurance, and more, each unique to their own situation. I decided to become a Certified Financial Planner™ to improve my ability to advise on these additional areas. That choice began steering me toward a new direction with a clear focus.
I noticed a trend on Wall Street; that the arena of advising high-net-worth individuals, particularly men, was notably oversaturated. As a woman in finance, what originally felt like an obstacle now became a gift. I realized that executive women, female business owners, and women navigating significant life transitions were underserved. This insight inspired me to focus my expertise on this unique and growing clientele, ultimately setting myself apart in the industry.
It was a strategic choice that clashed with the industry norms of prioritizing rapid asset accumulation, requiring me instead to focus on relationship building. Most importantly, it aligned with my strengths and added a new level of purpose to my commitment to offering a more personalized advisory service.
Every pivot, layoff, and career choice has underscored for me the importance of planning, learning from mistakes, and leveraging personal experiences to find meaning and purpose. If I had any advice for HBS students today, it would be to look for creative ways to add value and to focus on what you can control. This is how you uncover unique opportunities, build a meaningful business, and lead a fulfilling life.
