As a newly minted college graduate, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew I wanted to be successful, and that meant I needed to build experience at a reputable and well-known company.

I had grown up reading The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing, so when I received an offer to join Vanguard in Scottsdale, I enthusiastically accepted the opportunity. I had enough of the frigid Michigan winters.

I started my Vanguard career as a Client Relationship Associate in 2014, answering inbound phone calls and assisting clients with placing trades, resetting passwords, and educating them on Vanguard products. To be honest, I saw my first role at Vanguard as a stepping stone to somewhere else. I never thought I would stay.

Like many ambitious and naive college graduates, I defined success as making a six figure income in a stereotypically cool job like investment banking or tech. If I achieved that, I would know that I “made it”.

And yet, here I am, four years later. Why did I stay? What changed?

In my first year, I discovered that I loved educating clients on Vanguard mutual funds. There is a special fuzzy feeling that comes from using my skills to educate and help others, and I wanted to chase that feeling. I thought to myself, “Where can I do more of that?”

As I gained experience at Vanguard, I began to plot my next career move. I knew that financial advisors typically make a good living doing meaningful work, so I decided to pursue the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation.

Vanguard Personal Advisor Services was still in its infancy at the time, so I explored opportunities outside of Vanguard, but was disappointed to learn that a vast majority of advisory positions were sales driven. I was attracted to Vanguard Personal Advisor Services compared to other advisory firms because, as a salaried advisor, I didn’t have to worry about prospecting or earning commission-based compensation. The only thing I would need to focus on is making the best investment decisions for my clients. For many outside advisors looking in, this is the dream (trust me). And after about two years working hard in inbound phone roles and passing the CFP® exam, I joined Personal Advisor Services.

Vanguard has a noble mission: “To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success.” As an advisor, I get to live that mission, and this is truly rewarding in the sense that I find purpose doing something meaningful and worthwhile. You know that special fuzzy feeling I was chasing? I found it in Vanguard Advice! I know it’s a cliché, but I love what I do here. You can’t put a price on that.

Furthermore, freedom to travel, especially in my 20s, has been an invaluable benefit of working for Vanguard. In the last two years alone, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to Thailand, Vietnam, France, Spain, Canada, and Japan. Vanguard provides a generous amount of flexible, guilt-free paid-time-off (PTO). With our collaborative culture, my supportive team allows me to treat PTO as a time to completely forget about work. If I worked for a different company that based my income on sales performance, I wouldn’t have been able to take the amazing trips that I have.

As I approach my four year anniversary in August, I can’t yet say that “I made it”, but I couldn’t be happier with where I am. I have redefined success as maximizing my fulfillment. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past four years, it’s that success is not all about the paycheck. Rather, it is mostly about finding rewarding work towards a worthwhile cause. Needless to say, I’ve found that at Vanguard.

-Daniel M.

If you enjoyed this post, check out more from our #LifeatVanguard Blog. And if you’re ready for a more rewarding, engaging, meaningful career, search our Advice opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.

There’s a famous scene at the end of the movie Cast Away (if you’ve never watched the movie put it on your “to do” list”) in which Tom Hanks is standing in the middle of the crossroads trying to determine which direction he’ll take his life after spending 1,500 days alone on a deserted island. The scene highlights the power of having options and the factors involved with making decisions that shape the direction of lives. The power of choice can never be undervalued. We have so many choices to make in this life and perhaps none more important than what shapes the direction of our careers.

In July 2015, after 11 fantastic and rewarding years with Vanguard, I found myself at a career crossroad. I chose to leave the organization to explore a different path. It was a very difficult decision as I knew what I was leaving behind: the crew, the relationships, the stability, the mission, and the pride in saying I worked for Vanguard. I chose to leave to push myself outside of my comfort zone. I was intent on taking the life and career lessons learned at Vanguard and positively impacting an entrepreneurial start-up organization. I knew what I was leaving behind, left on the best of terms, and was excited by the unknown ahead.

Returning to Vanguard

My career tenure outside Vanguard did not last long. Fast forward 9 months…in April 2016 I returned to Vanguard as a contract recruiter – a return that was possible based on previous performance and the strong relationships I had built during my time with the organization. While there are many reasons why the other career opportunity did not pan out as I had hoped, the lessons learned, both positive and negative, further solidified my drive and passion to return to Vanguard. Most importantly, I learned the value of humility, as I left Vanguard a full time crew member and returned as a contract resource with no guarantee of being rehired as a crew member. Despite the risk, other full time job offers, and lack of guarantee in being rehired, my heart was set on Vanguard. I was eager to reconnect with my peers and positively impact the organization for a second time.

When I share my Vanguard career journey with external candidates and internal crew, I’m always asked the same question: “Why did you come back to Vanguard?” It’s a fair question as people don’t often return to a former employer. My “why” can be categorized in three key groups: the people, the purpose, and the possibilities.

The People

Vanguard’s people (crew, contractors, interns, etc.) drive business initiatives and innovations that positively impact our shareholders. Throughout my collective 13 years with Vanguard, I am grateful to have worked with smart, inventive, engaged, passionate, and dedicated people who have helped me grow personally and professionally. In turn, they have become my best friends, confidants, teachers, counselors, and extension of my family. I am also grateful to have led so many talented professionals. Watching their growth and development is as equally rewarding as my own career success.

The Purpose

Vanguard’s continued commitment to clients, crew, and community is unwavering. It’s rewarding to work for an organization that strives to put the best interest of clients first, provides rewarding career opportunities for its crew, and consistently serves our surrounding communities. The business initiatives, strategies, and innovations implemented at Vanguard are done to create the best possible experience for our shareholders. For crew who make a personal commitment to own their career journey, perform well in their existing role, and continuously push themselves to learn, opportunities await – whether it’s interesting projects, coaching and mentoring, or a new position. Lastly, I am proud to work for an organization where supporting our communities by volunteering our time, talent, and treasure is part of our cultural fabric and not an organizational obligation.

The Possibilities

I originally started my Vanguard career as an entry-level Processing Associate. In the subsequent years, through hard work and taking an active role in my development, I’ve built a successful career in Human Resources in both individual and leadership roles. I’ve gained something from each of my positions at Vanguard while embracing the challenges of new roles and pushing myself outside my comfort zone. I define career possibilities as the opportunity to combine my passions with organizational needs and openings. With hard work, initiative, and an open mind, there are no limits to what your career can be at Vanguard.

At some point in our lives we are all in the same position as Tom Hanks’ character in Cast Away. Each of us will encounter a career crossroads at some point in our lives. Defining your “why” is a critical step in determining the path you take. I have taken the road less traveled and my “why” has allowed me to come back home to Vanguard. The very last words spoken in Cast Away are “thank you”. The words simplify the gratitude Hanks’ character had for his journey and the ability to determine his path – regardless of which road he chooses. Thank you Vanguard for allowing me to choose the road less traveled and ultimately to choose the road back home.

-Chris E.

If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our career opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.

National Intern Day spotlights the impacts of hard-working, smart interns at companies around the country. Our College to Corporate (C2C) interns from our three US sites share how they spend their days and what they get from their time at Vanguard:

Stephanie M.:

This week I had the privilege of volunteering alongside my Vanguard intern cadre at the Share Food Program of Philadelphia. Together we packaged almost 700 boxes that will be delivered to seniors in need living in the area. Afterward we headed to the Sports Complex for a fun afternoon touring Citizens Bank Park. Just another reminder of how lucky I am to be spending my summer with a company that places such high value on their crew and their company.

Erin M.:

Being a #VanguardIntern has meant getting to know other college students who come from different universities, experiences, areas of interest and career aspirations. This diversity of thought brings about great #teamwork capabilities and also a ton of fun, in and out of the office!

Corbin B.:

This past week I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer at Feed My Starving Children. This experience was amazing! As Vanguard C2C Interns, we worked alongside volunteers to make 55,080 meals for starving children around the world! Working at Vanguard has shown me what a team of like-minded people can do to help others!

Leah B.:

I had a great time strengthening our teamwork skills at Vanguard’s Corporate Challenge Day! I love the work that Vanguard does to ensure a healthy culture for its crew.

Pravadh S.:

Vanguard gave me the opportunity to attend a buy-side client intern day hosted by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. I was able to hear from the heads of several divisions, such as US ETF Distribution and Equity Sales, as well as network with peers across the industry. Thanks to this event, I better understand how the two sides of the business are interconnected. Loving the experience that being a #VanguardIntern in the Quantitative Equity Group is giving me!

If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, learn more about our internship opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.

To celebrate the one year anniversary of our careers blog, we share this collection of 5 popular blogs since we began publishing. Join us for this look back at lessons learned, eye-opening advice, surprising career moments and powerful journeys.

New to the blog? Welcome! The careers blog gives you a glimpse into what it’s like to work at Vanguard. Our crew members share their experiences on topics that are important to them: our mission & purpose, career journeys, a day in the life, and more.

Follow us on LinkedIn to get updates on the latest blog posts!

1.   A lifetime of opportunities to lead, grow, and impact others

It was 1999. I was just finishing up my college degree, and was stuck at a crossroad, trying to decide where I wanted my career to go. I knew I wanted to be involved in a company with a rich culture, strong leaders, sound values, and growth opportunities galore – easy enough, right? When I came up dry with opportunities, my mentor recommended I look into Vanguard.

2.   A conversation with a Vanguard Sales Executive

We recently sat down with Anthony W., a Sales Executive in Vanguard’s Financial Advisor Services. Anthony’s role is unique in that he spends his time “in the field” with advisors, and does not work in a Vanguard office. Anthony shares his thoughts on why he loves sales, how he makes a difference, and how football prepared him for his role at Vanguard.

3.   So what is Vanguard’s campus like

Rounding out our seventh week in the internship, a quick step back allowed us to realize how Vanguard’s campus is unique. With a list of amenities that make Malvern, PA feel like home, each of our blog members selected his or her favorite location on campus. Read on to find out more.

4.  Achieving success at Vanguard, regardless of obstacles

From as far back as I can remember, I was warned about growing up and facing the “real world.” As if it were a scary mythical place one could never be fully prepared for. The two things I did know about this so-called “real world” was I needed to earn an income and create a life for myself.  Now, let me tell you my Vanguard story.

5.   Why I started a book club with my daughter

Has the universe ever given you a sign?  An unmistakable, it’s-time-to-act type of signal?  Well, as I was sitting at Vanguard’s Leadership Symposium in Philadelphia last fall, a topic hit my radar for the third time in the span of a few months.  And since good things come in threes (right?), I committed then and there to take action – and my kids and I are glad I did.  Yup, in this Vanguard blog, I’m talking about my kids.  Let me explain…

If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our career opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.

“Do the Right Thing.” It’s a family motto. When I was growing up, my father used many opportunities to instill those words in my being. I have a vivid memory from when I was about eight years old of my mother running across traffic on route 80 back to the tollbooth because the worker gave her a nickel too much change. ‘Honesty at all costs’ was all she knew. At a young age, integrity and reputation were everything, and my moral compass was set. So as I began my professional career and was looking for a long-term ‘home’, not only did I find that Vanguard’s culture and values aligned with my own, but “Do the Right Thing” is actually a message that can be found and heard here often.

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a Financial Planner. Many kids want to be doctors, teachers, athletes, or singers. Thanks to my grandparents, I was exposed to the world of finance at a very young age, and I wanted to couple that with my innate desire to help people. The cherry on top: The idea of being a Financial Planner seemed fun. And, if I was going to spend a large portion of my life doing something, I better enjoy it, and it certainly can’t feel like ‘work’.

When you look into the core of your being, what is your calling? What kind of impact do you want to make? What are you going to have the most fun doing? Well, if you made it this far in my blog entry, chances are you’re interested in a Financial Planning career at Vanguard. And as you’ll read below, if your desires align with mine, this might be the place for you too.

Stop Selling, Start Helping

At Vanguard, prospective clients I speak with are connected with me either because they asked to speak to an Advisor, or a potential need was identified in a conversation they had with a representative. That means there’s no cold-calling involved. So, from the beginning of the discussion, the goal is to determine whether the client’s needs align with our managed advice offer. Some call this soft consultative sales, I call it helping someone who needs help.

Advice I Truly Believe In

Since I don’t have a crystal ball that tells me the future, I’m not trying to time or beat the market. Rather, my focus is on developing an investment portfolio that is appropriate for the client based on their goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, and other variables through a consistent advice methodology. This allows me to be fully confident in the advice I’m providing, knowing I have only the client’s best interests in mind.

Do You Love People?

I absolutely love people, which is a primary reason why my wife and I have five kids! Vanguard’s consistent advice methodology allows me to spend time getting to know my clients better, understand what is important to them, and look for ways to bring additional value over the course of the relationship. This is where I have the most fun. I yearn to know what they’re passionate about and what worries them. I want to celebrate the fun life events with them, and mourn with them during the difficult ones. I want to think of my clients over the weekend because something I saw or heard reminded me of who they are. Becoming part of their lives is the goal, and for no motive other than I simply care about people.

So, how about you? What are you looking for?

If you’re like me (you want to do the right thing and have fun doing it) then this place called Vanguard just might be for you.

-Matthew B.

If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, learn about our careers in advice at www.vanguardjobs.com.

June has always been one of my favorite times of the year.  Spring has brought an annual feeling of renewal and the excitement of summer is peeking around the corner.  One of my favorite sights is that of hopeful graduates in caps and gowns walking through the Philadelphia streets full of pride and promise for the future.  Seeing them takes me back to my own graduation, when I was preparing to leave the relative comfort of my MBA program to embark on a new adventure with Vanguard.  I still remember the unique blend of nervousness and excitement as I left the graduation ceremony knowing that everything was about to change.

I grew up in the Midwest, specifically Detroit, Michigan.  Until I accepted the offer to join Vanguard, I had never lived anywhere else.  I always had the benefit of a big, close-knit network of family and dear friends, who supported me during my academic and professional journeys.  When moving day arrived, I remember backing my car out of my mom’s driveway, tearfully waving good-bye, and thinking, “Who in the world is going to help me unpack all of this stuff?”  It was my first realization that I was on my own.

My first few days at Vanguard were so wonderful, that I had little time to spend on my anxieties about the transition.  Everyone was so welcoming and willing to answer absolutely any question.  My new leader took great care to encourage me to take my time learning the ropes.  Regarding her expectations of me as a new manager in her organization, she said, “Just go out there and be yourself.  People will see what I see and they’ll know you’re here to make things better.  You’ll figure out the rest.”  It was in that moment, when I was encouraged to just be me, that knew I had made the right decision.

In the weeks to come, things continued to go well.  I had found my stride with my new team, and I was starting to speak the language in this vast new place.  Though I was finding my footing, something was still missing.  I had been in Philadelphia for a couple of months, and I was really longing for family.  The absence of their special kind of support was tough at times.  It was the only thing that stopped me from feeling I’d found the absolute perfect place for me.  But then something happened to change everything.  Another African-American woman in my department suggested I sign up for the Vanguard Black Professional Network (VBPN).  In what seemed like no time at all, my inbox was flooded with invitations for coffee, lunch, and dinner.  I saw an email from the head of VBPN asking about a dozen leaders to all please reach out and make sure I had everything I needed.  Once these offers started flying in, I realized what had been missing during my transition.  There were things unique to my experience as a black woman new to the Philadelphia area that I hadn’t even thought to ask for help with up to that point.  I suddenly had recommendations for where to live, where to socialize, and where to have my hair done. It was like I stumbled upon 20 long-lost cousins with all sorts of advice!  Slowly the gap I felt started to close.

In addition to leveraging my new family to get myself acclimated to Philadelphia, I found incredible value in the new professional relationships that I forged.  Within 6 months I had a handful of mentors who served as sounding boards on professional matters large and small.  Over time I solicited their feedback on presentations, asked for opinions on jobs I considered pursuing, and sought encouragement when I knew I’d made mistakes.  It was the same support I’d found from friends and family back home.  I came to realize that I had indeed found family at Vanguard.  As time marched on, I joined the VBPN leadership team and have made it my priority to expand this feeling of “family” to our diverse and ever growing membership.

Years after I first arrived at Vanguard, I now look at the work that VBPN and our other Crew Resource Groups are doing in the name of inclusion for everyone: professional development programs, networking opportunities, cultural celebrations, and much more. I’m filled with pride to think of all that Vanguard leaders and crew are investing to make our company welcoming and supportive to all. I only hope that everyone involved fully appreciates the impact their work has on people like me. They really did help me find a new family. I’ll forever be grateful.

-Tiffany H.

If you enjoyed this post, check out more from our #LifeatVanguard Blog. And if you’re ready for a more rewarding, engaging, meaningful career, search our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.

Has the universe ever given you a sign?  An unmistakable, it’s-time-to-act type of signal?  Well, as I was sitting at Vanguard’s Leadership Symposium in Philadelphia last fall, a topic hit my radar for the third time in the span of a few months.  And since good things come in threes (right?), I committed then and there to take action – and my kids and I are glad I did.  Yup, in this Vanguard blog, I’m talking about my kids.  Let me explain…

I started my Vanguard career in April 2001 working in our Legal department in Malvern, PA.  A lawyer by training, I was initially our “intellectual property guy,” though over the course of 9 years, my responsibilities grew and evolved until I was leading our Corporate Legal Services group and reporting to our General Counsel.

Because Vanguard encourages its crew to have a breadth of experiences, I had begun exploring leadership opportunities outside of our Legal department and outside of our PA campus.  So in 2010, I moved to Vanguard’s Institutional business and, at the same time, my family and I (wife, four kids, one dog) moved to Scottsdale, Arizona.  I’m very grateful to Vanguard for the fantastic opportunity to grow!  Moving outside of my comfort zone work-wise and moving across the country were huge changes for us as a family.  In many ways, these shared experiences of change brought us closer together.

Of course, I’ve always been involved in my kids’ lives – reading to them, playing games, doing yard work together, teaching them to drive (two so far!), etc.  And I’ve coached all four of them on various youth soccer teams – I’ve lost count, but something like 18 teams overall.  My work at Vanguard was always flexible enough that I could do these.  But as the kids were growing older, I was getting worried that I was missing something.  Enter Stew Friedman…

Stewart Friedman is a professor at Wharton and author of several books on the topic of having a richer life by integrating elements of home and work.  I’m summarizing, but his view is that you can do real-world exercises that improve performance and increase your leadership capacity by better integrating all parts of your life. It’s a powerful and motivating message.  I knew Vanguard wanted me (and all its leaders and crew) to have a richer life. I remember receiving this message three distinct times – at a Vanguard executive development program, during a conversation with other Vanguard leaders, and at the Leadership Symposium (where Professor Friedman himself presented!).  It was time to act.

One of the things I did was ask each of my children to write down a handful of things they would like to do with me, just the two of us.  They all came up with fantastic ideas, fun and interesting things – why hadn’t I done this sooner?!?  My 17 year-old daughter, Maddie, had a few ideas – among them were to learn about money and investing, and for the two of us to read a book together and then discuss, like a book club.  So with Stew Friedman’s guidance, we “integrated” these two ideas and decided to read a book together about money and investing!

Maddie and I read The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko.  Though written in the mid-1990s, its core lessons still ring true – the keys to financial independence involve living within your means, being frugal, and spending time on budgeting and planning, among others.  They were great lessons for Maddie and helpful reminders for me.  And wonderfully aligned to Vanguard’s investment philosophy and mission as an organization.

Here’s what Maddie had to say about the experience:  “I’ve had a lot of fun doing the book club with Dad.  When he asked what we could do together, I thought of books because we both like to read, and thought about financial things because I don’t know a lot about it and he works at Vanguard.  Now, not only has he taught me about managing money, but we’ve had some meaningful and grown-up conversations beyond that, too.  It brought us closer together and, to me, reinforced the value of reaching out to those you love.”

It worked so well that Maddie and I are now on our 3^rd book, Mindset by Carol S. Dweck.  We are having a wonderful time exploring and connecting over these books – and discussing life in general.  I’m a lucky and super-proud dad, and I’m glad for the opportunity to reflect on that with Father’s Day just around the corner.  Thank you universe (okay, really thank you Stew Friedman and Vanguard) for giving me that unmistakable sign!

-Matt W.

If you enjoyed this post, check out more from our #LifeatVanguard Blog. And if you’re ready for a more rewarding, engaging, meaningful career, search our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.

My parents emigrated from the Philippines to the United States before I was born.  My siblings and I are the lucky recipients of their courageous American dream – for their future children to become the first generation of American-born children in the family.  They settled down in New York City, in Stuyvesant Town, on New York’s Lower East Side.  As a young girl, I always knew I wanted to work amidst the hustle and bustle of NYC.  But limited income, spread across a growing family, meant my parents had little savings for me to attend undergrad without incurring significant debt.  I buckled down and was fortunate to earn a full-ride scholarship towards an undergraduate degree that allowed me to achieve my dream – and experiences across a variety of different NYC institutions: a Japanese investment firm, a publicly-traded global investment bank, and UK-based index company.

Needing a career move
My life transitioned when I gave birth to my daughter. She made me pause and look at everything in a new way. Unfortunately, my time with her was limited – this time in my career often had me traveling cross country, entertaining client relationships or commuting over one and a half hours to-and-from the office.

Then along came Vanguard. Now, I had been an investor in Vanguard funds for years.  And I was Vanguard’s key account manager while at my last firm. But I never truly got to know the culture until getting to know the crew. Could it be true – a company that cared as much for its people as it did its clients? It was refreshing to hear that employees would be empowered to make decisions with a different core mission in mind, one which had a sense of purpose, of thinking beyond short term gains.

So we took the leap.  I joined Vanguard and relocated my family to the Philly suburbs. It wasn’t easy. I didn’t foresee how much I would miss my family, how much my daughter, and only child, would miss her weekend play dates with cousins.  I found it hard to network with crew whose relationships spanned over the course of years of family ties, neighborhood block parties, and high school relationships. I didn’t follow the Phillies or the Eagles, and I didn’t know what a tomato pie was! Only with the support of my husband could I have ever made the move. For the first time, I was out of my comfort zone – the figurative and literal new kid in the neighborhood.

Finding my Vanguard family
By chance, shortly after joining Vanguard, I attended a full-day conference sponsored by the Crew Resource Group “Leadership and Engagement for Asian Professionals” (LEAP).  The inaugural event – focused on connecting, inspiring, and elevating crew of Asian descent – was motivating to see. Hundreds of crew members who, like myself, were transplants from different cities worldwide gathered together to celebrate our shared culture.  The energy and the vibe of foreign-born or second-generation immigrants who work hard to embrace the opportunities they’ve been given is palpable if you’re familiar with it – I was inspired and reminded of the resilience my parents faced as transplants into NYC.  But hearing leaders speak to the value of inclusion, of diversity of cultures, and of thought, I knew I made the right choice coming to Vanguard.  I reached out to the LEAP leadership team after the conference to volunteer my time – and give back the sense of community and inclusion LEAP gave to me.

As we look back on Asian/Pacific American Heritage month, three years after being an audience member, I am proud to be one of a 100-crew member volunteer group that dedicated over six months of their hard work, creativity, and time to put on our third, now global LEAP conference.  I am proud of working for compassionate leaders who genuinely support crew in their desires to give back, through Vanguard’s Crew Resource Groups (CRGs) or community-based programs.  And I am proud to call Vanguard home.

If you enjoyed this post, check out more from our #LifeatVanguard Blog. And if you’re ready for a more rewarding, engaging, meaningful career, search our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.

Krista, a Fund Financial Services (FFS) Senior Financial Analyst, approached her team’s networking event with a clear purpose, “We want to educate crew on what we do and the many crucial processes we touch every day.” At a company like Vanguard, there are so many options for career development and, at times, it can be a little overwhelming. That’s why more and more teams like FFS are hosting networking events for crew throughout the organization to learn more about the department, the teams, and open roles. This event was set in the style of “speed dating” – a format where crew meet with team representatives for 10 minutes, then switch tables throughout the event. Those interested in pursuing careers in FFS got information about critical functions and groups, key initiatives, and how to build financial acumen. Attendees even got to learn more about competencies and skills needed to excel in these roles.

“The interesting thing about our team is that there is a transparent career path. You can go from an entry level position all the way to manager with a clear roadmap. The job is primarily project based, not day-to-day versus a typical daily operational role,” described Brad, a Supervisor in Fund Reporting. Krista added, “Attention to detail is important. We are constantly interacting with teams both internally and externally. Relationship management is also a key component.”

Brad shared with the attendees, “We see the full lifecycle of our reports (annual, semi-annual, quarterly) and they have to be diligently reviewed and ready to send to shareholders in strict adherence to the production schedule. You need to possess great time management skills to manage the entire process. I like that aspect – you finish with a tangible product at the end of the day. You get to hold it and touch it. When people ask me what I do, I can hand them a finished product.”

Jake said, “I joined our team over two years ago when there were nine analysts plus managers. Now we’re over 20. It’s an explosive period for our group and we’re looking for new talent. We hope to find people who are genuinely interested.

Critical thinking is an important part of the job. We may get a week notification that we’ll be trading a new product. We have to get ready for new processes quickly.”

Kelsey, who coordinated the event, said, “FFS has previously hosted speed networking events to provide an opportunity for crew throughout Vanguard to learn more about how we support Vanguard’s funds and clients, while building relationships and networking. We expanded the event and gave different groups from the Finance division a chance to represent their teams. Overall we had 28 different teams represented and over 95 crew attending!”

If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our career opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.

If you had asked me 5 years ago where I would be today, trading derivatives at one of the world’s biggest asset management firms would probably not have been my first response. In college I was studying international business and politics, and headstrong on becoming a diplomat at the United Nations. My summer going into my senior year of college, I worked an internship at the UN. This experience motivated me to follow a path where I could influence positive changes in the world. I also loved understanding how economies operated around the world. In finding Vanguard, not only was I excited about the possibility to work at one of the biggest asset managers in the world, but also a company that had a philanthropic vibe. I felt that the overlap between values at the United Nations and Vanguard was pleasantly similar.

Learning a “trade”

I applied to the Vanguard Accelerated Development Program (VADP), not knowing where in the organization I wanted to be, but excited about the opportunity to explore different areas of the company. The first step was tackling the Series 7 exam – which helped me gain solid investment knowledge and a better understanding of how our funds and ETFs operate. It was soon after that I realized I wanted to learn more about the investment arm of the organization. After spending a few days shadowing on the trading floor, I knew the fast paced, high impact environment was perfect for me.

My first rotation was on the ETF Capital Markets team, a very male dominated area where there had never been a female on the team before. They covered both fixed income and equity, and spoke to clients about trading – this required deep training and hard work to understand the complex technical knowledge. I spent my days shadowing others on the desk and learning about equity, fixed income, market structure, market participants, and ETFs. I kept a spiral notebook with long lists of questions of the current day’s happenings, and Tom (my first manager on the team) would spend time post market hours explaining the plumbing of the market and theoretical reasoning behind the day’s trades. Although this group required a thorough understanding of many different aspects of investment management, I found I was able to learn these technical skills by partnering with a mentor, and consistently asking questions, finding articles, and taking time to self-study. That included starting the Chartered Financial Analyst^® (CFA) exam, which although challenging and time consuming, has been instrumental in helping me with my investment education. As time went on I felt confident in my ETF knowledge and my day-to-day now consisted of taking on my own trades and speaking with clients directly, rather than just shadowing another expert.

Creating the right environment

One thing to note is that there is a lack of females in the investment space, and they have historically shied away from more technical areas. Being the first female to join the Capital Markets team, I worked with my current mentors in deciphering why that is and how we could encourage other females to enter the space. The main themes I came away with were mentorship and confidence. It’s up to females currently in these roles to encourage, mentor, and lead other females and males entering the space. The confidence piece is tough, however, it helped me learn that it’s rare that someone walks into a trading or portfolio management job knowing the right way to hedge a trade. Knowing that I started at the same level as many of my peers reaffirmed that I too was capable and smart.

After I became involved in the ETF industry, I also joined a nonprofit group in the industry called Women in ETFs (WE). In this group, I got to know other women in the industry and attended numerous panels and discussions. Personally I have gained so much from being involved in this organization – the network I developed has helped me to not only understand the ETF ecosystem, but has also provided me with a network to lean on. After going back and forth to the New York chapter many times, I decided to explore developing a Philadelphia chapter. I felt strongly that I could cultivate the same experience for professionals here that I was getting in New York. Many months, discussions, and persuasions later we were able to move forward with the chapter launch in August of 2017. Over the past year I have attended events with experts in the local ETF industry that discussed trading, regulation, and market making. The WE Philadelphia chapter has big plans for incorporating formal mentorship programs, webinars, and more educational events this year.

No longer a shadow

After spending two years on the ETF Desk, I was approached about taking a trading role on the derivatives desk in Fixed Income. I was honored by the opportunity to take a step deeper into the heart of our funds and the daily happenings of politics, the fed, and market movements. It’s exciting to work on a desk that has direct impact and trades large amount of notional values. Thinking through trades and risk, staying on top of the markets, and learning how thoughtful decisions can positively impact shareholders has kept me so excited to come into work every day and allowed me to continue to grow as an investment professional.

It has been Vanguard’s openness to teach and mentor that has given me the opportunity to work in such technically challenging roles. If I could say one thing to women and men exploring a career in investments, it’s not to allow what you don’t know to intimidate you. If you are willing to work towards a goal, you can achieve it. You just need the right mentors, the right mindset, and the right company.

-Alyssa S.

If you’re seeking and environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out or career opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.