What advice would you offer prospective candidates on
transitioning from school to the workplace?
My advice to prospective candidates is to reach out to alumni
and any other contacts they may have on Wall Street. Candidates
should spend as much time as possible with people in the business
that they want to pursue. The candidates who are most successful
during the interview process are those who have learned the
subtleties and the language of our business.
If asked about your career at a dinner party, how would
you describe it?
I joined Citi’s Global Loan Sales desk in May 2002 after
spending 16 years at another bank, where I spent four
years in Investment Banking, five years in Commercial Lending
and seven years in HY Bond and Loan Sales.
How has Citi supported your career
development?
I have been extremely fortunate over my five year tenure at
Citi because I have attracted some great mentorship. I believe that
good mentorship is extremely important to the career development
process. My mentors have been very helpful in helping me navigate
the Firm and interpret feedback from managers. In addition, my
mentors have helped me gain a significant amount of exposure to
senior management.
How do you see the your business group/the Firm/the
industry changing in the future?
The leveraged loan market is currently going through a
tremendous amount of change. In May of 2006 dealers started trading
Credit Default Swaps (CDS) referencing senior secured loans. This
event has sparked the entrance of a number of sophisticated new
investors into our market. Much like we have seen in the bond
market, in order to be competitive in the leverage loan market in
the future, participants will have to be well versed in cash (bank
and bond) as well as synthetics (CDS).
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I see myself managing a sales team in five years. Over the past
20 years, I have honed solid product, sales, communication and
negotiating skills. In addition, I am already part the leadership
structure of the Loan Sales Desk. A sales management position is a
natural next step.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
I have two passions outside of work; 1) spending time with my
six year old son and 2) studying martial arts. I am an advanced
student of Northern Shaolin Kung Fu. I even find time to compete in
martial arts tournaments a couple of times a year, in both open
hand and weapons events.