Athletic Background: A Key to Success at Goldman Sachs

Madison Crutchfield, who played lacrosse at Duke University, picked up advice from her coach about playing swiftly yet calmly. This mindset now guides her on Goldman's bustling trading floor, helping her manage tasks from order execution to project deadlines.

Crutchfield believes the capability to operate efficiently but without stress is essential in the trading world where time is always ticking. This exemplifies why athletes, who are seasoned in grit, determination, and teamwork, have become an essential recruitment source for Goldman Sachs.

The renowned bank doesn’t restrict itself to graduates; it has hired former sports professionals like NFL’s Justin Tuck, moving him to a senior position by 2022. “Being an athlete distinguishes you,” says Jacqueline Arthur, the head of human capital at Goldman. “The skills from sports benefit the dynamic finance sector.”

The Advantage of an Athletic Edge

In today's competitive environment, having a sports background gives candidates a competitive edge. For instance, Goldman reviewed over 300,000 applications for its 2024 internship program but selected less than 1%. Business Insider spoke with several Goldman employees, including Olympic swimmer Ryan Held and former Yale tennis captain Sara Naison-Tarajano, about how their athletic endeavors helped them secure roles at Goldman.

Crutchfield affirms that her experience as a student-athlete was significant during internship applications in sales and trading. "Lacrosse instilled in me the ability to think on my feet, stay resourceful, and take initiative," she said.

Qualities Transferred from Court and Field to Finance

Hiring managers on Wall Street recommend having a memorable trait during interviews, and sports can present this through skills essential for the job.

According to Arthur, candidates exhibiting grit, resilience, collaboration, and leadership often find success. Crutchfield mentions that the term “athlete” at Goldman describes employees who are adaptable and continually improving on the trading floor. She asserts that the levels of commitment and work ethic she observes at Goldman often surpass what she experienced in sports.

A Path from Sports to Wall Street

Initially eyeing a legal career, Sara Naison-Tarajano ended up on Wall Street guided by feedback from peers and coaches during her tennis career at Yale. Her skills were recognized as fitting for finance: focused, competitive, disciplined.

As a global head of private wealth management, Naison-Tarajano discovered that athletes excel at understanding detailed instructions. “Athletic insights translate effectively to the job, especially in environments like Wall Street where learning is constant,” she believes.

Ryan Held, who balanced athletics, academics, and personal life as a student, finds that sports have taught him valuable lessons in time administration and recovery from failures.

Leveraging Networking in Athletics

Goldman Sachs's attraction to athletes appears more circumstantial due to the desired attributes rather than a formal strategy. Although other skills can demonstrate strategic thinking, leadership, and teamwork, those who possess sports experience often excel.

Post-2024 Olympics, Held explored life beyond swimming by connecting with fellow athletes who integrated into finance, offering insights and contacts that eventually led him to a role at Goldman in cyber risk analysis.

Networking: The Key to Opportunity

Held's transition from competitive sports to the corporate world was facilitated by a network of former athletes within Goldman, demonstrating how such connections can be pivotal in advancing careers within the financial industry.