A Goldman partner on getting sidelined
Summary
Sara Naison-Tarajano, a partner at Goldman Sachs and global head of private wealth management capital markets (and head of Goldman Sachs Apex), credits competitive sport for shaping her Wall Street career. A defining childhood episode — nearly being forced off a boys’ basketball team in Park Slope — taught her resilience, focus on controllables and the value of teammates who back you up. She went on to play tennis at Yale, entered Goldman in 1999 as an investment-banking analyst, spent years in derivatives and now advises ultrawealthy family-office clients. Her advice: find what excites you, step outside your comfort zone, adopt a growth mindset and be willing to take risks and ask for feedback.
Key Points
- As a child she faced being sidelined from a boys’ basketball team; teammate support proved pivotal to her confidence.
- Sports taught her to focus on skills she could control (aggression, defence, consistency) rather than on immutable disadvantages.
- Tennis led to a scholarship and captaincy at Yale and a path into finance after a trainer suggested Wall Street suited her personality.
- Her Goldman career spans investment banking, derivatives and private wealth; she now leads capital-markets efforts for wealthy clients and family offices.
- Career tips: pursue work that genuinely excites you, embrace discomfort, speak up, seek feedback and maintain a growth mindset.
Why should I read this?
Short version: if you like neat leadership lessons served with a human story, this is for you. It’s a quick, relatable read that connects childhood sport to real, repeatable career behaviours — resilience, focus and getting comfortable being out of your depth. We skimmed the full piece so you don’t have to.
Context and relevance
This profile sits at the intersection of career advice and finance leadership. It’s useful for anyone interested in how non-work experiences (sport, team support, early setbacks) translate into durable workplace advantages — especially in high-pressure fields like investment banking and wealth management. The piece reflects ongoing interest in softer skills and resilience as differentiators in competitive industries.
