Leading the Way with Nadine Urseanu

 

Leading from Work

 

How did your career develop?

I’ve always been interested in finance, so I knew early on that I might want to work in banking. I went to university in Madrid and studied business. I had the opportunity to do several internships in banking and connected with Goldman Sachs at a recruiting event. After school, I ended up taking a role elsewhere, but several years later I decided to  reconnect with the team at Goldman Sachs. Both times I explored roles at Goldman Sachs, I really enjoyed meeting the people. I think it’s important to get to know your potential colleagues, as you will be working with them day in and day out, and to ensure you connect on both a professional and personal level. I started at the firm as an analyst, supporting Private Wealth Advisors. I was later promoted to the position of Private Wealth Advisor, giving me the opportunity to cover my own clients.

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

My advice to those who are starting out is to find a mentor. When I started at the firm’s Frankfurt office, I connected with a second-year associate in London. I asked him to be my mentor, and he’s still a mentor to me 11 years later. It’s been helpful in my career to have someone whom I can go to for advice or to talk something through.

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

I am a Private Wealth Advisor. I like to think of my work as being akin to running a marathon. Connecting with people is key, and it's not something you can do overnight. It takes time, grit, and resilience to connect with potential clients and to build positive, long-term relationships. In my case, I came into this division without any clients of my own and built my portfolio and network from the ground up. I’ve enjoyed the entrepreneurial nature of it and the ability to connect with people, which is one of my biggest strengths. My team and I help clients preserve and grow their wealth to achieve their personal goals. Our offerings include discretionary business, brokerage advisory, lending, alternative capital markets, single-stock risk management, and much more.

How do you lead by example?

Now that I’m further into my career, I am able to work with more junior team members, passing on the mentorship and advice I received earlier in my career. This is something I really enjoy.

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

The economy is changing. Quotas, diversity movements and female empowerment are not only reorganizing companies, but they are also shifting the maxim. Women's income has increased by 82% worldwide over the past 10 years.

Teams with both men and women have the best ideas! In order to best structure a portfolio or assess risks, a diverse set of views is required. At Goldman Sachs, it is critical that we have a diverse personnel structure to best meet our clients' needs. The number of female investors is also steadily increasing — in both public and private markets.

The topic of sustainability is also increasingly top of mind for clients. It is not only one of the greatest challenges of our time but also an opportunity. In order to cope with challenges such as climate change and the associated technological changes, we need to innovate and to invest in new technologies. We are partnering with clients to incorporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into their investment strategies. We identify companies that stand out and demonstrate sustainable development. 

What is your favorite thing about your job?

I appreciate the diverse group of people whom I get to work with. There are so many different personalities, backgrounds, and stories. Our clients have many different motivations when it comes to their money, and it’s so interesting to learn about their needs and to help them find the best ways to put their ideas into play.

In my decade with the firm, partnership across the divisions has strengthened, and we truly operate as one firm, to serve clients holistically.

 

Leading from Home

 

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t be too hard on yourself.

How do you find motivation and inspiration?

The greatest joy is my clients, the people who are at the center of what I do. I get to know so many fascinating people! Clients differ not only in their investment strategies but also in their personal backgrounds and stories. I work with a very diverse group — from young tech entrepreneurs to traditional family businesses in the second or third generation.

What is one thing you make time for every week?

Pilates classes.

What is your favorite weekend activity?

Spending time with my kids and family.

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

The firm gives me the flexibility to grow my portfolio—and my family (I have two little kids.) Working in Private Wealth Management can be a great long-term career. There’s space to build your book or clients and have a family too. Granted, it takes some doing. I have to stay organized, and my husband and I support each other so that we both can have great careers and still have time together as a family. I also invested in a stationary bike during lockdown, and it was worth every euro. I ride it several times a week to relax and recharge.

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

Tough one. I guess after an exhausting week, I sometimes just love to read or watch something easy. I also like movies that have a series of different events, unexpected developments, or an unforeseen end (Lucky Number Slevin is one example).

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

Blinkist. I love to use time efficiently, so it is amazing to get the key ideas from several books in minutes.

 

Leading for the Future

 

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

As a first step, it is very important to visualize and convey our commitment to diversity and inclusion for employees and our clients.

It starts with commitment and communication from our leadership.

At Goldman Sachs, we are dedicated to promoting diversity in our work with clients and in our core commercial activities. We recognize that diversity is a priority that many of our clients and stakeholders share.

It is important to provide clear communication about initiatives, such as Launch with GS, that can help increase diversity. If this groundwork is done, opportunities for women at Goldman Sachs will grow organically.

In addition, role models need to share their stories so that employees will be aware of their journeys and feel understood.

I would say that the most important thing is to work on relevant pipelines and understand what employees need to develop further. I also would suggest putting in place clear key performance indicators to solidify engagement and to measure progress. We need more role models for younger generations.

Women have the opportunity to have incredible careers, but this requires building a strong network. It is not only the financial industry that is changing — all industries are changing. In traditional family businesses that we advise, the next generation is taking over responsibility, and it is increasingly the daughters who are assuming control.

What are some of your professional and personal goals?

To make a difference in everything I do.

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

I encourage young women to start a career in the banking world. I enjoy facing new challenges every day. In Private Wealth Management, connecting with people is critical, and that doesn't happen overnight.

You can build a long-term career in finance and have a family as well.

Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?

As Co-Head of Private Wealth Management in Germany.