What it means to be a thought leader
My family and friends often ask me to explain what it means to work as an investment analyst in the Investment Strategy Group at Vanguard. I answer by saying that my job is to develop thought leadership. Now, if you’re not sure what the phrase thought leadership means, you’re not alone. When I first joined Vanguard, I didn’t understand what it meant either. Essentially, within my role, thought leadership means investment research that aims to go beyond what’s already been published within the industry or showcases a differentiated opinion. This research helps Vanguard answer key topical questions: What is the value of financial advice? How should investors be thinking through decision-making in retirement? What is Vanguard’s outlook for the economy and the capital markets? Answering these questions by way of research helps Vanguard continue to educate our clients and crew—and helps further establish Vanguard as a leading investment management firm.
A vertical learning curve
When I began my rotation in the Investment Strategy Group through Vanguard’s leadership development program, I felt fairly intimidated by how much I didn’t know. The group was full of subject-matter-experts who not only conducted research, but frequently acted as ambassadors, discussing and delivering our group’s research in crew trainings, client meetings, and at industry conferences. While I had a background in economics and was passionate about investing, I was unsure about being able to contribute as a new team member within such a tenured department.
What I realized was that being surrounded by such knowledgeable leaders and analysts ensured that my learning curve was essentially vertical. The culture was so collaborative and grounded in intellectual curiosity that I quickly began to build both investment and technical acumen. Throughout various projects, I was able to leverage and maximize my own unique skillset while partnering with other analysts to bring my analytical skills and systems knowledge up to par. I loved the fact that there truly were no bad questions, and everyone was eager to share their experience and knowledge, whether it was over a casual coffee or in the midst of a department-wide town hall.
The content creation process
Shortly after completing my rotation and joining the group permanently, I was aligned to the Advisor’s Alpha research team, which focuses on investor behavior and the value of financial advice. When I began working on my first whitepaper, I collaborated with members of my team and partnered with leaders and practitioners in Vanguard’s client-facing divisions. Our goals were to create differentiated content that would shape the industry conversation and to outline best practices that would give institutional clients the best chance of achieving their mission (i.e. charity, education, retirement).
Creating thought leadership, no matter the topic, often happens in phases. We started off by doing deep dive research, poring through academic studies, industry intelligence, and previously published whitepapers. I really enjoyed the “get smart” phase because it allowed me to get a feel for the broader conversation happening in the industry around institutional advice. Then, we began outlining our approach, performing analysis, and drafting the paper. The writing phase was challenging but rewarding as we iterated through a number of versions and honed in on our structure, language, and visualization. Though it was a long journey, the skills I gained by working through the research process were invaluable.
A foundational skill set
My favorite aspect of working as an investment analyst in this group is that it’s given me broad exposure to numerous investment disciplines across the globe. While I work in Vanguard’s Scottsdale, Arizona office, the Investment Strategy Group is spread across our headquarters in Pennsylvania as well as a number of international offices, allowing us to conduct thought leadership on a global scale. By avidly reading and organically learning from experts in the department, I’ve built a base of knowledge across all of our research specialties including portfolio construction, retirement, and the economy and markets.
In addition to that wide-ranging foundation, I’ve delved deeply into my own research specialty. I realized that a challenging first step to being a thought leader and influencing industry conversation is being well-versed in what’s already been said. By leaning on my team’s experience and conducting research alongside our business partners, I’ve educated myself on the existing dialogue around investor behavior and the value of advice. In the future, I aspire to continue contributing to this dialogue as a developing thought leader (and proudly explaining my job to my friends and family when they ask!)
-Sneha K.
More careers blogs you may have missed
4 Hacks for Your Best Social Brand Ever
In this step by step series on creating your brand, you’ll learn how to get started, glean tips from branding experts, and discover what really hooks an audience.
My Story: Vanguard’s Chief Investment Officer Greg Davis
Chief Investment Officer Greg Davis looks back at his upbringing, his early job history, and why he ultimately came to–and stayed at–Vanguard.
4 Unexpected Things I Love about Working in Investment Management
Vanguard Trader Molly reveals the reasons why she loves her job in investment management.
4 Tips for a More Inclusive Environment
Vanguard’s Chief Human Resources Officer John James shares four tips to promote a more inclusive environment in this blog.
Day in the life of a Vanguard Trader
What’s it actually like to do the investing for a firm the size of Vanguard? We talked to two experts to find out.
Acceleration into Financial Professional Program: My first two months
Starting a new job is tough. Starting a new job as a college graduate is even tougher. Moving from one coast to the other with nothing more than what you can fit into your car to start a new job right out of college is REALLY tough. I moved 2,700 miles from San Diego to Philadelphia to participate in Vanguard’s Acceleration into Financial Professional program and couldn’t be more proud of my decision. My journey to Vanguard began as a community college transfer student at San Diego State University. I was passionate, excited, and inquisitive, but wasn’t sure how those characteristics would translate into a job. Rather than getting caught up in making every step a calculated one, I focused on doing what I knew I should. I attended the first career fair on campus and spoke to various firms. Vanguard’s booth was the one I was most excited to find. My conversation with the recruiters in attendance must have went well because the next morning, I was scheduled to interview for Vanguard’s College to Corporate internship in Scottsdale, Arizona. Fast forward almost a year and I had just concluded a challenging, fun, insightful internship with Vanguard. During my ten week internship I fell in love with the financial services industry and Vanguard’s unique values so much so that I knew it was a company I wanted to begin a long career with. Fortunately, I was offered a position in the Acceleration into Financial Professional Program. After two months as a program participant, I’d like to share what I appreciate about it and provide some additional insight into the program focusing on three themes: community, flexibility, and impact.
Community
Moving here wasn’t easy and it’s taken me a few months to truly feel settled. I’ve had to adjust to a new environment and develop a new routine. I’ve even had to come to terms with the following critically important facts; in Philadelphia, there are people that choose to eat pizza without cheese (Tomato Pie), subs are actually called “hoagies,” and saying anything bad about the Eagles is very much frowned upon. Adjusting to a new place is tough but working for a company that promotes and encourages a strong sense of community has made the transition much easier.
For example, Vanguard hosted a day in the city for our group on the Friday of our first week. That day we toured Reading Terminal Market (where I ate way too many samples), we did an escape room challenge and finished with lunch at Mission Taqueria. It was a great time for us to get to know each other and have fun outside of the confines of our cubicles. I had a blast.
Flexibility
The program has structure. You will complete four six-month rotations within various departments in Finance. You will participate in soft-skill and technical-skill trainings. You will have responsibilities and deliverables during your rotations. But beyond these, you will be heavily encouraged to drive your own unique experience. If you want to attend a Vanguard event discussing innovation and emerging trends in FinTech, you can. If you want to join a book club to build your investment acumen, you can. The leadership team acknowledges the value in developmental opportunities outside of your day-to-day responsibilities. I’ve fallen in love with this aspect of the program, as it fulfills my intellectual curiosity —and also opens doors to explore future opportunities.
Impact
For my first rotation, I was placed on the Financial Planning & Analysis team that supports the Institutional Investor Group. Our team provides business clients and senior management with strategic decision support, operational and capital planning, financial reporting, and performance measurement. In support of these functions, I’ve been able to explore fundamental analysis, process automation, forecasting techniques, and fund cash flow analysis.
From day one, the skillsets, knowledge, and drive I came to the program with have been valued by my colleagues and managers. I’ve been given projects that enable me to both showcase my strengths and also stretch my conceptual understanding of the business segments we support. Recently, the results from one of my projects helped improve a section of the insight we provide to our Finance and Institutional Investor Group leadership!
Joining a team I knew little about has been difficult. I still have a lot to learn. But knowing that the work I bring to the table is valued has made this rotation a rewarding experience. I’m new to the program and still relatively new to Vanguard and the Philadelphia area. However, after two months I am even more excited than when I began. I come to work every day with the confidence that I’ll be challenged, the peace of mind that I’ll be supported, and the excitement that I’ll have the opportunity to make meaningful contributions.
-Terrell V.
More careers blogs you may have missed
Preparing For a Vanguard Interview – Be a STAR
Do you have an interview coming up soon? Read this blog to prepare for the STAR format questions and nail your interview!
Vanguard Women Break Down Investment Acumen Myths And Perceptions
In this blog, we recap an event hosted by Vanguard’s crew resource group Women’s Initiative for Leadership Success (WILS) where they had a panel discussion with three female leaders in Investment Management to break down investment acumen myths.
4 Hacks for Your Best Social Brand Ever
In this step by step series on creating your brand, you’ll learn how to get started, glean tips from branding experts, and discover what really hooks an audience.
Building a network on the softball field
Read how Vanguard Analyst Jenna M. found friendship and career guidance through a company softball league in this careers blog.
My Story: Vanguard’s Chief Investment Officer Greg Davis
Chief Investment Officer Greg Davis looks back at his upbringing, his early job history, and why he ultimately came to–and stayed at–Vanguard.
The journey continues
With the free time to observe other departments combined with seeing how my team leader has helped me on my journey, I’ve figured out that I want to pursue either a financial advisor or leadership role. I’ve enjoyed seeing the way our leaders develop crew members through coaching and mentoring, and watching how our advisors add value to our clients’ lives by helping them accomplish their goals. It is my hope to continue to build even deeper and more meaningful relationships with my colleagues and our clients, as well as to further develop my skills in my career. Whether it be in leadership or as an advisor, I will continue to be a steward of Vanguard’s mission to take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success, all while fostering this same passion with the crew and clients I work with.
With Vanguard’s flexibility and support, I have full faith that I’ll be able to succeed and in a timely manner. As my journey continues, I’m excited to know I have Vanguard’s support and would encourage others to be unafraid of using all of the wonderful resources available to you. I know that I will be able to attain the career I want at Vanguard.
-Rod M.
More careers blogs you may have missed
Preparing For a Vanguard Interview – Be a STAR
Do you have an interview coming up soon? Read this blog to prepare for the STAR format questions and nail your interview!
Three Experiences That Paved My Path to Vanguard
In this blog, Team Leader Rachel shares three experiences along her path to Vanguard and why she loves being a leader.
Why I Got Rid Of My Five Year Plan
Vanguard crew member Lauren reflects on why she tossed out her five year plan and instead focused on building a career within a company and industry she grew to love.
Exploring Careers in Client Services – Retail Services
Crew member David shares his perspective on career choices, teamwork, and how he contributes to Vanguard’s mission in Retail Services.
Inclusion – It’s More Than a Policy
Hear from crew about their thoughts on LGBTQ+ inclusion at Vanguard, and learn about the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index—and how we stacked up.
Solving problems and innovating through data science
I graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology in 2002 with a Computer Engineering degree. The Institute was very close to Wall Street, and upon graduation, many of my classmates received offers from top Wall Street firms and investment banks. I too fell into the allure of working on Wall Street. I received a few offers from some of the top firms in New York—and I also received one from Vanguard, who was making it a priority to recruit from my school at the time. However, this was when the dot-com bubble burst and most of the Wall Street firms rescinded their offers for all of my classmates including me. Vanguard was the only firm that honored their commitment and did not rescind their offer. I am thankful to this day. At Vanguard, I have the opportunity to do what I always dreamt of doing and much, much more at a firm where doing right by clients and crew is the guiding principle. I joined Vanguard as a software engineer and never looked back. At the time, all I wanted to do was to apply what I had learned in school to real life problems, but didn’t have much thought about where I applied them. As time went on, I realized how fortunate I was to be at Vanguard, whose main mission was to help people all over the world reach their financial dreams. Knowing you’re doing well for others is incredibly rewarding. I got the best of both worlds: I could apply my passion in technology and apply it at a company whose mission is to lift people up. I also got to work on our trading systems, sales systems, mobility (iOS) systems, customer relationship management systems and so on, all while learning about and applying analytics to everything we did.
From a career perspective, Vanguard invested in my professional development. Today, I’m a Senior Manager focused on artificial intelligence and data science. About four years ago, with the advent of big data technology and infrastructure, I started to focus on advanced analytics and data science exclusively. I saw an opportunity to use data science and artificial intelligence to provide better, more personalized, and smarter services to our investors.
Vanguard now wants to do for financial advice what we did for Exchange Traded Funds and mutual funds: make top notch, holistic advice accessible to anyone who needs it at an incredibly low price. That’s where my team comes in. I now help lead our advanced analytics and artificial intelligence team for Vanguard’s advice program. My team is comprised of data engineers, data scientists and artificial intelligence engineers in collaboration with investment experts and economists. And they come from diverse educational backgrounds—some have computer science or engineering backgrounds, while others studied physics or statistics.
In order to create highly personalized advice experiences, we seek to incorporate behavioral economics to better personalize the advice needed. To that end we are utilizing artificial intelligence and other data science techniques on a variety of financial advice projects. Our goal is to create experiences and services that will help more people than ever before reach their financial goals. My team is directly empowering Vanguard’s mission and I personally feel inspired every day to come to work. Being able to learn about cutting edge technology in artificial intelligence and data science and use it to help as many people as possible is extremely rewarding.
Investing is complex, and sometimes, it’s a challenge for people to know how to make wise investment and financial decisions. Vanguard is committed to giving investors all over the world a fair shake, and is investing in services—such as advice—to do so. I am passionate about trail blazing artificial intelligence and machine learning at Vanguard, which is enabling us to fulfill our mission and help millions of people all over the world reach financial independence.
Now, who will join us on this noble mission?
-Amir A.
If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our Data & Analytics and Information Technology & Security career opportunities.
Everyday innovation from client-facing crew at Vanguard
If you were to ask most people to think of an innovative company, they would probably picture a tech start-up in Silicon Valley. That’s certainly what I used to imagine. But when I joined Vanguard, I learned that it doesn’t get much more innovative than our founder, Jack Bogle, creating the index mutual fund, resulting in the disruption of the financial services industry. A disruption that has continued over the last forty years. Vanguard has continued to invest heavily in innovation through investments in technology, a relentless search for process improvement methodologies, and the opening of the Innovation Studio in Philadelphia. But I would say the biggest commitment Vanguard has made towards innovation has been through its crew. One of the things I love most about working at Vanguard is that it recognizes the skills and abilities of its employees and empowers them to help promote meaningful change within their departments. Vanguard offers its crew multiple channels to brainstorm, share ideas, and innovate. For example, it sponsors hackathon events, which give crew a setting in which to present creative well-planned ideas to some of our most influential leaders. Vanguard has even created innovation teams to pilot new ideas and technology throughout various levels and departments.
Innovation Team
I am privileged to have the opportunity to lead one of those innovation teams. I lead a team of engaged client-facing sales crew who also specialize in driving change and innovation within their organization. Members of my team utilize their client interactions and work to create new processes to help improve the experience for clients and crew.
When a member of my team comes up with an idea or proposal, we work together to determine if it is something we can implement immediately, or if there is an opportunity to pilot the idea to see if the process or technology would benefit everyone at a broader level.
Crew that are a part of the innovation team have the opportunity to learn and develop unique skills that aren’t always as prevalent in other roles. These include conceptual thinking, project management, and presentation skills.
Culture of Innovation
I believe the key to fostering a culture of innovation relies heavily on mindset. The concept of innovation can seem ambiguous, scary, and out of reach. As a leader, I turn innovation into something that is a part of my team’s everyday norms and expectations.
Here are three main ways my crew are afforded the ability to be more innovative:
- Crew on the innovation team are provided an hour of “innovation time” each week to focus on brainstorming and developing their ideas.
- Crew are encouraged to utilize our newly established “Ideation Room”, a space constructed to maximize creative thinking and collaboration.
- Our leadership team sponsors quarterly “Pitch Day” competitions that empower our crew to team up and present their ideas. The winning team gets to see their idea come to life as it is piloted and potentially implemented across the organization.
While each member of my team takes advantage of the opportunities listed above, it is important to note that this mindset of being a positive change advocate isn’t unusual for Vanguard crew. I would argue it is an instinct most crew have. Then again, why wouldn’t it be? We work at a company founded on innovation.
-Jeff 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 opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
My dad sparked my investment passion; Vanguard fueled it
My father was a payroll clerk by trade, but his true passion was investing. When I was growing up in the 1980s, every weeknight at 6 o’clock my dad watched The Nightly Business Report on PBS on our only TV. Needless to say, this was before the internet and CNBC (I know, I’m dating myself), so it was really the only way you could find out what happened in the markets before you read it in the newspapers the next day. I vividly recall how my dad used to hoot and holler whenever good news boosted one of the stocks he owned, even though he regularly invested through up and down markets, reinvested the dividends, and held his stocks for decades. His passion sparked my interest in pursuing an investment career, which began at another investment firm performing research and oversight of institutional money managers. While I was aware of Vanguard and even owned some Vanguard mutual funds, at the time I had the impression that Vanguard was “just” an index shop, and not a “real” investment firm. Boy, was I wrong. My introduction to Vanguard About nine years ago, I began to pursue an opening in Vanguard’s Oversight and Manager Search team. The more research I did on Vanguard, the more I realized that it was truly a world-class investment firm – active and passive, equity and fixed income. The crew I met with were smart yet humble, and the investment research was insightful and balanced. I joined Vanguard in 2009 as a Senior Investment Analyst in the Portfolio Review Department, on the team that provides oversight of Vanguard’s investment managers and funds. I was able to learn about a lot of different investment approaches from not only Vanguard internal managers, but from the roughly 30 other world-class investment firms Vanguard partners with like Wellington, PRIMECAP, and Ballie Gifford.
Vanguard around the globe
One day in 2013, I was on my way to the Galley (the on-campus cafeteria) when my department head pulled me into his office and said, “We’re thinking of sending you to Hong Kong.” My reply was, “I was thinking of getting a sandwich.”
Ten months after that conversation, my wife, three kids, and I moved to Hong Kong where I was tasked with building Vanguard’s investment product function for Asia—designing and launching Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and mutual funds, and educating clients about them. It’s where I learned about the ETF ecosystem and retirement systems for Asian countries.
Asia Product and Investment Team 2017
After three years in Asia, I returned to our headquarters in 2017 to lead Vanguard’s Defined Contribution Advisory Services (DCAS) team. Ever wonder how a company decides which funds to offer its employees in their 401(k) plan? And how they oversee those funds? Well, our team of investment professionals delivers investment perspectives, evaluations, and custom portfolios to help those companies and their consultants do just that.
DCAS- ugly sweaters and curling!
A common thread
My three roles at Vanguard are very different and none of them are in the Investment Management division, but the one common thread was each requires a strong degree of investment acumen for success. Fortunately, Vanguard provides a ton of resources and support for crew to develop and deepen their investment acumen, from paid support for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) and Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) programs, free mobile access to the Wall Street Journal and other industry news sources, numerous internal investment training sessions, and more. As long as you bring a “growth mindset” and an intellectual curiosity, there’s no limit to your development.
I’ve seen Vanguard’s investment research, analysis, and portfolio management become more sophisticated and global over the years. But our investment philosophy has remained steadfast since our founding more than 40 years ago: set an investment goal, diversify your portfolio, keep your costs low, and stick to a plan —strikingly similar to my dad’s approach.
-James M.
If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our career our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
National Intern Day: how Vanguard’s internships help you test the waters
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!
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.
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.
Celebrating one year of #LifeatVanguard stories
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.
From preschool teacher to program officer
“Vanguard?! You mean the company that manages my retirement savings?” This is the usual response I hear when I tell people where I work now. I have to admit, starting my career as a preschool teacher and social worker seems like a long way from being a crew member at Vanguard. However it’s exactly the base of knowledge and skills I need to serve in my current role as a Program Officer, co-leading the Vanguard Strong Start for Kids™ grant making portfolio.
Where I Started
It was 1996, and I was entering the fall semester of my junior year in college. I’d spent the summer before as a camp counselor at a local child care center in my hometown, and I was just entering my major in early childhood education. I’d gotten a job as a preschool assistant teacher at a child care center not far from my college campus, and I LOVED it. I loved working with the lead teacher to plan lessons that used play as a learning tool, working with families to understand their child’s progress and development, and using what I was learning in my teacher training program to guide how I interacted with the children in my care. I didn’t know then, but those first days in that classroom would set the foundation for my professional career across multiple settings.
After graduating and teaching pre-kindergarten for a while, I moved into one-on-one case management helping low-income families’ access public dollars for child care. From there, I spent several years working at child advocacy organizations helping to shape public policies that benefitted young children and families at the state and federal level. While not exactly the same as a teacher-student relationship, these positions continued to build the foundation of understanding that’s needed to steward philanthropic dollars into the early learning sector.
Vanguard Strong Start for Kids Program
While it seems like my experiences might be far from the core business of Vanguard, they’re actually quite similar. Vanguard’s crew are charged with acting as stewards of our clients’ hopes and dreams through smart, sensible, and aligned investment management. And we also are encouraged to be stewards within our communities, so it made sense that the signature crew and corporate philanthropic program would employ Vanguard’s long-held strategy: investing early pays off later. The Strong Start for Kids mission is to boost kindergarten-readiness for low income young children, primarily within Philadelphia, PA, Charlotte, NC, and Phoenix, AZ (our biggest U.S. sites). Empirical evidence shows that investing in high-quality programs for young children and families in the 0-5 years is necessary for developing educated, healthy, productive citizens that thrive in a global economy.
Equally as important as a long-term societal benefit is the fact that high quality early learning opportunities change the trajectory of individual lives and families. I have seen the impact of high-quality opportunities as an early learning professional and I also see it every day as the parent of two young daughters. Children develop the foundation of their cognitive abilities and character during their first five years. Their brains are literally being built by all of the experiences happening in their lives – good or bad! Nurturing relationships that make children feel safe and loved, while enabling them to experience the world around them, builds stronger brains. By supporting organizations and projects that enhance parent/caregiver skills, improve learning opportunities outside of homes, and coordinate services so that families have easier access, the Strong Start for Kids program works to help young children build the foundation for learning they need to thrive.
I always knew that my life’s calling had to do with educating, empowering, and uplifting young children and their families. I didn’t know that calling would play out like it has and, ultimately, lead me to Vanguard. I’m lucky to work at an organization where my passion for building community aligns with company values.
-Rashanda P.
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.
What differentiates us from other data science teams?
“Data scientist” has become a top career choice, but with all the buzz surrounding this term, lots of questions arise such as: Who are they? What do they do? Well, here’s your opportunity to hear my perspective as a Data Science Manager at Vanguard! To me, a Data Scientist is anyone who can solve business problems by: You may have already done those tasks, but what differentiates a modern Data Scientist from a more traditional one? Increasingly, we seek candidates who can manage large volumes of unstructured data and navigate sophisticated mathematical structures while taking advantage of powerful technology.
Here are some common questions we’ve received from candidates:
1. What’s it like to work at Vanguard? Vanguard is an investment management company and our core purpose is “To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success”. Vanguard’s unique ownership structure — the company is owned by its funds — means there are no conflicts of interest. So we always ask: “Are we doing the right thing for our investors?” whenever we make any decision, whether it’s about a product launch, sales, or marketing. Working at Vanguard is great because crew alignment to the mission naturally leads not only to success for our clients, but also to a great work culture.
2. What kind of problems do you usually solve? I work in the Center for Analytics and Insights at Vanguard. We help our internal business partners serve their clients better by providing analytics-driven insights to support the client life journey. This includes winning new clients, onboarding them, and deepening engagement in the relationship to retirement and beyond. My data science team uses mathematical, statistical, and machine learning approaches to answer business questions related to financial professionals, institutional investors, retirement plan participants, and investment products.
3. Will I have an opportunity to grow my career? I’ve been at Vanguard for 10 years, and I can confidently say that I have grown professionally as well as personally during my tenure. I didn’t start my career as a Data Scientist, yet many growth opportunities were given to me to be prepared for my current role. Vanguard provides various opportunities to grow professionally, with a range of Data Science roles at different levels, support for ongoing learning, and opportunities to rotate to different teams. Vanguard can help you reach your goals. You should continuously push your own limit — individuals who have growth mind-sets will thrive at Vanguard.
So, what differentiates us from others? The entire company works toward one simple and clear goal of doing what’s best for our clients. We solve some of the company’s most complex and challenging problems using a mix of math, stats, and computer science skills. We bring diverse and innovative ideas and share them in a fun and collaborative environment. What else could you ask for as a talented Data Scientist?
-Mirim L.
If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our Data & Analytics career our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
A different kind of investment
For context, I’m a software developer. We learn and utilize programming languages to create applications. With technology forever changing, it can be extremely hard to keep up – there’s a new Javascript framework just about every week. For Javascript users, that’s great, but it also means that there’s so much to learn and so little time to do it. Luckily, Vanguard helps me accelerate my learning through a variety of methods: Trying new things Some days, I get to act as a mad scientist – piecing together a Frankenstein-like application with new technologies and programming languages. What I’m creating may not always go into production, but the time and freedom to spend a few paid hours to get my feet wet on something new is a beautiful thing. It helps me learn and is just one of the ways Vanguard has invested in me! Virtual training Virtual training usually comes by way of a website. Most of these trainings aren’t free, and Vanguard acquires subscriptions for crew so we have the resources to keep learning. These trainings are helpful because more often than not in technology trying to learn a new programming language or Application Programming Interface (API) can be quite cryptic when text documents are all you have to go by. Personally having a video example has always helped me go the extra mile while learning. I gained the majority of my Angular, JavaScript, HTML and CSS knowledge through this avenue. Ironically, I learned web development on the web! I’ve gained a few soft skills this way too. E-learnings on things like persuasion and influence or project management serve me well when I combine them with in-person trainings. The data is always there to review when I feel I’m getting a bit rusty. 
At Vanguard, we do our best to live up to our mission of “taking a stand for all investors”. Between our carefully chosen products, services, and hard-working crew, our clients have the best chance for success with their investments! But during my time here, I’ve seen Vanguard support a different type of investing – investing in their crew. At Vanguard, you can be part of an environment that inspires continual learning–and not just with encouraging words. There is action behind those words!
For more physical interactions, Vanguard also brings in vendors who spend a few days with groups to teach a desired skill. The invitation for these trainings are spread far and wide. It’s similar to having a college professor and study group. The great thing about this is you’re given time during the week or throughout the day to participate in these trainings. You don’t have to stay an extra 40 hours to get your day-to-day duties complete, which helps maintain work/life balance.
Conferences
Another major opportunity I received with Vanguard is the chance to go to conferences. Our peers and leaders make sure our work is covered so we as employees have the opportunity to learn and grow during a fun experience.
Vanguard understands that educating and giving opportunities to employees helps us create the best products for our clients. Learning new skills also keeps crew engaged, which makes us want to do more for clients. I knew coming out of college that information technology was a glorious yet dangerous field to be in. This field is forever changing. So what is now desired in IT may not be in the next 2 years. Lucky for me, the resources and time that are required and desired for me to flourish in IT are easily accessible at Vanguard.
-Elijah A.
If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.