Leading the Way with Brittany Boals Moeller

 

Leading from Work
 

Tell us about your background.

I grew up in a small town in Arkansas where my parents were both professors. Mom is a professor of Early Childhood Education and my dad taught history, so there really wasn’t a lot of finance discussion around the dinner table. It wasn’t until college at New York University when I became interested in business and specifically finance. Throughout college, I had the opportunity to work at several large financial institutions, and through those experiences I came to understand how much I wanted to one day work at Goldman Sachs. The firm was known for having the very best people with a meritocratic, team-oriented culture.

Luckily, I did have that opportunity. After graduating, I joined the firm full-time and have spent my entire career at GS in five different roles across various geographies. After working in New York for several years as the Chief of Staff for the Head of Private Wealth Management, I came to Atlanta to become an advisor. In late 2018 I became the Southeast Region Head of Private Wealth Management. 

What’s the most important career advice you’ve received? 

Maximize optionality and embrace the different seasons of life. 

What is your role at Goldman Sachs, and how do you support clients?

I lead the Southeast business for Private Wealth Management. My favorite part of the role is spending time with clients and prospective clients, serving as an additional resource and brainstorming creative solutions to help them achieve their goals. I also love connecting clients with others in the Goldman Sachs  network – both within and outside of the firm.

How do you lead by example?

At Goldman Sachs, no one is above a task. We all help each other so we can go further. I also encourage colleagues to stay close to all roles within a team and to spend substantial time with clients. This is where we learn our best opportunities for improvement. 

What are some interesting themes and/or trends that you see in your area of expertise?

The next generation of wealth creators and inheritors is becoming increasingly engaged. They are focused on traditional portfolio management, as well as impact and ESG investing. In addition, clients continue to seek out private alternative investment opportunities. They are very focused on after-fee, after-tax returns and are paying specific attention to maximizing after-tax impact. 

What is your favorite thing about your job?

Our clients. We have the pleasure of working with some of the most successful, and by the way philanthropic, entrepreneurs, business leaders and families.

 

Leading from Home

 

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Worry less!

How do you find motivation and inspiration?

I find inspiration by engaging civically in my community. My favorite days are those when I have had the opportunity to give back in some way.

I stay motivated by spending time with my family, being outdoors and getting regular exercise.

What is one thing you make time for every week?

Dinner with my husband.

What is your favorite weekend activity?

Family hikes. We recently purchased some forest land north of Atlanta. This is a place where the kids can run completely free, yell as loud as they want, and get muddy. It’s perfect.

How do you stay healthy – mentally, physically or both?

I need exercise in my life. Being active makes me feel good physically and mentally. I love to run, Peloton, do yoga with my girls. I take frequent walks with my husband. For my mental health, I also block off time during the week for unstructured strategic thinking. Sometimes that is spent on a particular work project, and other times I will listen to a podcast or read a book. The goal is to let my mind wander off task.

What is your favorite book, movie, podcast or artwork?

My favorite authors are Daniel Kahneman, Malcom Gladwell and Brene Brown. My favorite recent read is “The End of Leadership” by Barbara Kellerman. I love podcasts, specifically Freakonomics, The Tim Ferriss Show, and Hidden Brain. I love all content focused on behavioral economics.

What is one app on your phone that you can’t live without and why?

Nanit baby monitor to watch my daughter Lily!

 

Leading for the future

 

How do we provide more leadership opportunities to women in the workforce?

We can create a cultural environment in which all backgrounds are It is critical for women to have sponsorship. Senior leaders need to proactively offer flexibility and deliver thoughtful feedback.

What are some of your professional and personal goals?

We have ambitious three year goals for our office that we are well on our way to achieving.

Importantly, we are actively working to bring more women into our business and supporting them throughout their early career days. 

On a personal note, I am have several goals around family time. For example, once a month I pick up my daughter early from school to go to lunch and then take to her gymnastics class. I always look forward to those days!

What suggestions would you give to women who are starting their careers?

Anticipate and enjoy each season! Some seasons involve more hours at the office, some seasons require more flexibility. Think of your career across many years.

Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

It’s impossible to predict the future from a career standpoint. It is summer now, so I’ll say in five years I’ll be on summer vacation with my family. Our favorite summer vacation spot is Jackson Hole, Wyoming.