Why Two Goldman Sachs Partners Are Losing Sleep

While it's common for Goldman Sachs partners to juggle the pressures of extensive investments and the ebb and flow of global markets, two senior executives share a more personal concern during their sleepless nights.

A Shared Concern for Team Well-being

Business Insider reached out in separate conversations with Meena Lakdawala-Flynn, who co-leads Global Private Wealth Management, and Asahi Pompey, the global head of Corporate Engagement and chair of the Urban Investment Group, to uncover what thoughts linger as they attempt to find rest.

Lakdawala-Flynn, a Goldman veteran for over a quarter-century and partner since 2014, emphasized, "The people in our organization occupy my thoughts." She is deeply invested in nurturing and retaining talent, akin to guardians of the company's cultural values. Facing challenges like high employee turnover, she points out that maintaining a stable team is crucial for crafting excellent business strategies and robust client services. Under her leadership, private wealth advisory teams cater to affluent clients worldwide from 39 global offices.

Fostering Talent at Goldman Sachs

Pompey, who is approaching twenty years with Goldman and became a partner in 2018, also finds herself preoccupied with similar concerns. "The responsibility of managing the careers of many resides with us," she reflects. "Are we fully leveraging their capabilities, and are we offering the paths they require to thrive? This notion keeps me tossing and turning."

She highlights that the success or failure of the organization heavily relies on the caliber of their workforce and its professional growth. Pompey also leads projects like 10,000 Small Businesses, 10,000 Women, and the One Million Black Women initiative.

Leadership Transition and Challenges

As Goldman Sachs prepares to announce a new cadre of managing directors, who are just beneath partners in the corporate ladder, scrutiny has mounted regarding the lack of female representation in top leadership roles. CEO David Solomon recently addressed this, acknowledging progress, particularly in higher ranks, but admitting that more work remains to create equitable opportunities. "Our focus remains on fostering diversity," he commented.

Attention to Detail in High Positions

On a personal level, Pompey admits that attention to detail is another point of stress that prevents restful sleep. She confronts the misconception that seniority means less emphasis on minutiae. "Ensuring we are prudent caretakers of the firm's assets, achieving maximum impact, and knowing when to innovate or change course — these are considerations that weigh heavily on me," she adds.