Jun Oh’s perspective: Vanguard’s MBA Development Program

June 16, 2021/in Career opportunities, Day in the Life, Training & education specialty programs /by deepikasharma

Jun Oh’s perspective: Vanguard’s MBA Development Program

Recruiting for MBA students is an extremely competitive landscape. Decisions are based on prior work experience and role compatibility, geographic variances, industry preferences, total compensation, benefits, and more. So, what is it about Vanguard’s MBA Leadership Development Program that has both attracted and retained this high-potential talent?

We took a deeper dive into this question and asked Vanguard crew members who participated in the MBA Leadership Development Program to recap their experience and share what initially attracted them to Vanguard and what keeps them feeling fulfilled in their roles. In this second installment of a three-part series, we highlight the experience of Jun Oh Y.

What was the biggest thing that drew you to Vanguard as you were seeking full-time opportunities?

I knew that Vanguard was the right next step for my career when I saw how they treated their crew members. My previous work experience at large financial service firms prior to business school taught me that emphasizing the employee experience in writing and having it embedded in the organization are two different things. With Vanguard, I experienced first-hand the level of support and investment Vanguard was making toward its crew members during my internship, and when it came time to decide where to head after business school, the decision came easily.

Vanguard’s MBA Leadership Development Program is rotational in nature, and also unique in that they solicit the business to understand where the needs are for MBA talent. So one experience can be different from another. What teams were you able to support during your 15 month rotation?

My MBA rotation experience was broad, dynamic, and fulfilling. I couldn’t have asked for a better overall experience. My three rotations were with: Enterprise Advice, Corporate Strategy, and Investment Risk.

What were some roles/responsibilities that your day-to-day consisted of?

While rotating through Enterprise Advice, I worked in Advice Product Strategy and Management, in the financial planning product sleeve. This rotation focused on exploring the applicability of a new scenario planning tool and building a model to better estimate end client usage of our advice products. With a good mix of a broad new subject matter and quantitative analysis, my first rotation helped lay the groundwork for my Vanguard journey.

I further expanded my understanding of Vanguard in my second rotation in Corporate Strategy, where I worked with various teams across the enterprise and divisional level in Data and Analytics, International, our Institutional Investor Group, and Business Development. My second rotation was quite dynamic in coverage and helped me better understand the business, along with our biggest priorities.

To round out my experience, my third rotation was closer to investments in the Risk Management Group, where I was tasked with re-vamping our Reasonably Anticipated Trade Size methodology in our Liquidity Risk Management program.

What was the most significant project you worked on?

When I was working on re-vamping our Reasonably Anticipated Trade Size methodology in our Liquidity Risk Management program, the new methodology was to impact the liquidity classifications across our hundreds of funds and had downstream impact in regulatory reporting as well as how we would look at liquidity risk going forward. Having the chance to contribute to such a highly visible and impactful program was very fulfilling.

What was the most impactful takeaway from the rotational program?

The most impactful takeaway is that we are expected to ask a lot of questions and bring our diverse opinions to the table. The program was designed to bring outside talent in. I believe those in the program should consider the rotations as an opportunity to develop these skills and bring it to their launch roles.

What was the biggest challenge you faced?

Switching between different project methodologies by balancing execution and upfront planning were a challenge. Given the expedited timeline of the rotational program, I initially tried to define an exact scope and specific internal milestones for every engagement. However, with the iterative nature of the larger projects, I came to realize that the flexibility of an agile methodology with consistent involvement from cross functional teams would produce a better, more efficient outcome. Fortunately, the opportunities to practice this skill – identifying which types of projects would most benefit from these two opposing approaches— and becoming proficient in it, ultimately helped me secure my current launch role.

What is keeping you fulfilled in your current role at Vanguard?

The two things that keep me at Vanguard are the people and Vanguard’s attitude toward development. When I was rotating in Enterprise Advice, a fellow crew member mentioned how “unconditional positive regard” helps him work through differences of opinion in meetings. This concept of acceptance and support regardless of opinion, with the acknowledgement that we are all on the same team, neatly summarizes my interactions with my colleagues. It is so refreshing to see how everyone in the room is working toward the common goal, without pretext. Along with such an amiable work environment, Vanguard’s support for learning and development, both in and outside of work, sets it apart. The various support networks and resources we have available helped me further expand not only my subject matter expertise, but also made me feel more like a member of the broader Vanguard family.

What is one piece of advice that you would give to someone considering joining either our MBA internship or full-time rotational program?

Take full advantage of the MBA program network! We have quite a few folks that have gone through the program before us with wonderful nuggets of wisdom to share. I learned a tremendous amount from them and made some great friends in the process.

If you are interested in learning more or applying to our MBA Leadership Development – Internship opportunities, please visit our MBA page .

Please check out our first installment of this series to learn about Chantee’s experience with Vanguard’s MBA Internship Program.

« All News

Chantee’s perspective:
Vanguard’s MBA Internship Program

May 12, 2021/in Career opportunities, Day in the Life, Training & education /by jortega

Chantee’s perspective:
Vanguard’s MBA Internship Program

Recruiting for MBA students is an extremely competitive landscape. Decisions are based on prior work experience and role compatibility, geographic variances, industry preferences, total compensation, benefits, and more. So, what is it about Vanguard’s MBA Leadership Development Program that has both attracted and retained this high-potential talent?

We took a deeper dive into this question and asked Vanguard crew members who participated in the MBA Leadership Development – Internship Program to recap their experience and share what initially attracted them to Vanguard and what keeps them feeling fulfilled in their roles. In this first installment of a three-part series, we highlight the experience of Chantee B.

What was the biggest thing that drew you to Vanguard as you were seeking internship opportunities?

I went to undergraduate school in Philadelphia, so I heard a lot about Vanguard and its culture before pursuing my MBA. Coming from consulting, I had exposure to various financial institutions, but from everything I learned, Vanguard was just different in the way that they treat and care about their crew. I did a lot of research on the firm, and I was interested to find out for myself what life at Vanguard was all about, so I applied and interviewed for the internship. I was then given an offer and I accepted it!

Vanguard’s MBA internship program is unique in that they solicit the business to understand where the needs are for MBA talent, meaning one experience for a participant can be different from another. What team or department were you aligned to during your 10 weeks?

My internship was on the Marketing Solutions team in Vanguard’s Planning and Development division.

What were some roles/responsibilities that your day-to-day consisted of?

Coming into Vanguard, I knew that I wanted to work on a project that would be a stretch experience for me. I had no background in marketing and wanted to learn something new! The project I was assigned was a very strategic initiative for the firm, and it also gave me the opportunity to dive deep into data. Some of my daily roles and responsibilities consisted of engaging key stakeholders to gather information, finding and analyzing pertinent data, and documenting frameworks to create repeatable processes.

What was the most significant project you worked on?

The most significant project that I worked on was helping to achieve cost savings for clients using efficient processes and technology. Marketing is a technology driven function, and during my internship, I analyzed qualitative and quantitative data to make decisions on which marketing tools should be considered for widespread adoption and which should be retired.

What was the most impactful takeaway from the internship program?

Vanguard is a big place! There are a lot of functional areas and domains that you can dive into. On the flip side, it’s still easy to feel at home and part of the team because the firm takes a keen interest in its people.

What was the biggest challenge you faced?

Balancing learning all things Vanguard, while also performing well on my project, was my greatest challenge! After coming back full-time, I’m still learning about the organization! Prioritizing and pacing is key.

What brought you back to Vanguard to explore the full-time MBA Leadership Development Program?

The culture and the people are what brought me back to Vanguard full-time. I met so many amazing individuals over the summer who took the time to invest in me in some way, even though they didn’t know me. I’ve worked on many cool projects during my tenure that have helped with my development as I gain new skills, but it’s the people who helped along the way that matters the most.

What is one piece of advice that you would give to someone considering joining either our MBA internship or full-time rotational program?

Network! Talk to previous interns and MBA program participants to gain an understanding of their experiences. And once you come to Vanguard, don’t stop networking! During my summer internship I learned that crew love to participate in coffee chats, and that didn’t stop in the virtual environment! I have continued to network and schedule time with crew and leaders to learn about their journeys as well as different areas within Vanguard.

If you are interested in learning more or applying to our MBA Leadership Development – Internship opportunities, please visit our MBA page.

« All News

My experience presenting at re:Invent

April 7, 2021/in Day in the Life, Training & education Technology /by rumpamala

My experience presenting at re:Invent

I started my career at Vanguard as a software developer in Information Technology Systems supporting our Retail business just about ten years ago. Within the first few weeks, it was evident how authentically Vanguard holds to its mission, putting clients first in every aspect of the company. What has kept me at Vanguard for these ten years is the opportunity for growth. I am consistently learning new technologies to solve the latest challenges sharing what I have learned with crew members here, and I’ve even presented in various marquee conferences outside of Vanguard.

Within the past few years, Vanguard has started to transition most of our software development into the cloud. With that transition has come a wealth of fresh challenges and opportunities. My team was an early adopter of using data and analytics, speech to text, machine learning, and other cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) tools on Amazon Web Services (AWS) to pave the way for other programs here at Vanguard. Because our team was heavily involved with AWS, I was sent to their largest conference, re:Invent, in 2018 to learn from the brightest minds in the field. After a fully and busy week of panels, events, and discussions with new friends, I returned to my team eager to share my experience, but I had no idea what was in store in the years to come.

My colleague Jeff and I presenting at a conference.

Following re:Invent, my team found itself at the forefront of experimenting more of what AWS has to offer. We started to work directly with a Solutions Architect from AWS who helped us pilot two new services. Once we were successful, so, we shared our learnings with other teams, and strengthened our partnership with AWS. This led to my team being selected to present at re:Invent 2020 to showcase our journey and relationship with AWS.

Presenting at re:Invent was an invaluable experience. Our team planned, prepared, and practiced for several months leading up to the event with our AWS Solutions Architect. Ultimately, we were able to tell our story of how we were implementing new services from AWS to consistently meet the needs of our clients. It was a story that demonstrated the innovative efforts we strive to take while maintaining our client-centered focus.

Being able to represent Vanguard at one of the world’s largest conferences is an opportunity that I never imagined I would have in my career. It’s opportunities like these, and the partnerships I continue to develop, both inside and outside of Vanguard, that encourage me to bring my best and authentic self to work. The ability to innovate and explore ever evolving technology has made each day of my ten-year career as exciting as the first, and I look forward to the future challenges and opportunities that are in store over the next ten and beyond!

-Justin F.

« All News

The call that changed it all

February 10, 2021/in Culture, Training & education /by marcin

The call that changed it all

The call that changed it all
I can still picture the day in my mind:

The grocery-store parking lot in which I curbed my car on a brisk winter day so I could take the introductory call from my Vanguard recruiter. Curious and cautious, I wasn’t sure “the corporate life” was for me. But I’d heard Vanguard’s different—and has been since its inception by John Bogle as a Main Street soul in a Wall Street world.

As you can tell by my writing a #LifeatVanguard blog, the recruiter call that day in the parking lot went well (as did the subsequent phone calls and interviews). One of the main reasons that Vanguard was so attractive to me as a job candidate is that it seemed like a place where I could find the coveted combination of longevity and variety.

I liked that Vanguard seemed to be a company where—with some initiative—I could stay but not get stagnant. I liked that it seemed to be a place that provides the option to cultivate a career comprised of different roles, lasting working relationships, and a strong sense of community. I liked that it seemed to offer chances in the midst of changes.

Thankfully, when I needed all of those perceptions to be true in my debut role at Vanguard, and through some organizational changes, they all were.

The power to steer your career proved to be true
Naturally, organizational change can bring unknowns. Seeing some uncertainty on the horizon but still being certain I wanted a long, vibrant Vanguard career, I seized opportunities to diversify my skills in ways that 1) advanced the value I could add to my teams; and 2) aligned with Vanguard’s implementation of new ways of working in the future.

Thanks to leaders in my subdivision, one such opportunity for diversification was LUMA Institute® Facilitator training. It was increasingly clear in company communications that Vanguard was encouraging more (and better) collaboration and was equipping cohorts of employees to obtain LUMA’s facilitator certification.

With a simpler approach to Human-Centered Design, LUMA facilitator training provided me with powerful tools and proven techniques for fostering collaboration in ways that generate innovative solutions after helping to identify the right problem to solve for in the first place.

I continue to bring that enriched approach to problem-solving to my present role, in addition to ad hoc facilitation opportunities that Vanguard’s LUMA-certified crew can undertake in support of other teams, in or beyond our own divisions.

Considerations for charting your own life at Vanguard
Whether you’re reading this as a fellow crew member currently working at Vanguard, or you’re reading this as a potential hire who’s thinking about applying to Vanguard, I offer these considerations from my own revelations in my first year and a half:

Remember that you are the captain of your career.
Don’t let your excuses ruin your chances.
Challenge your own comfort zone.
Look for career advocates to help you navigate.

To be candid, no organization is perfect. But in my overall 15-year career, Vanguard is exceptional in many respects, both past and present. This also makes me hopeful for its future—and mine, too— and shows that a little initiative will continue to go a long way.

-Rebecca H.

More career blogs you may have missed

Vanguard’s annual Collaboration Summit

January 27, 2021/in Culture, Training & education /by marcin

Vanguard’s annual Collaboration Summit

At Vanguard, we host an annual event for all crew that focuses on the digital experience and promotes awareness of collaboration practices, tools, and experiences both inside and outside of the company. 2020 marked the fourth year that the Collaboration Summit was held. In prior years, the summit was a full day, in-person conference offering keynote presentations from external speakers, interactive technology-focused sessions and soft skills, an expo hall showcasing internal and external representatives, as well as networking opportunities. In 2020, we moved to a completely virtual event given the majority of crew were working from home. To reduce virtual meeting fatigue, the summit was split into two half days, with a morning agenda for day one and an afternoon agenda for day two.

What was presented at the 2020 event?

The theme of this year’s Collaboration Summit was “Working Together in Times of Uncertainty.” Keynote presentations were provided by executive leaders from Microsoft and Deloitte and focused on Microsoft’s PowerPlatform (low/no code technology) and working remotely in the ‘new normal,’ respectively. Various sessions were held during the two-day event. Topics included:

Back to basics using Microsoft Office 365
Using the accessibility options in Microsoft Office 365
Work-life balance during quarantine
Identifying your working style to work better with your team
Disconnecting from technology
Getting started with no code/low code solutions

Crew were provided with breaks throughout the day where they could participate in instructor-led chair yoga and/or browse our virtual 3D Expo Hall and speak to representatives via Microsoft Teams Meetings. If crew were not able to attend the event, all content and sessions were recorded and provided for them to view after the event was complete.

Crew feedback

Response to this year’s virtual event was overwhelmingly positive. Crew feedback was collected throughout the event for keynotes and sessions. Here are a few highlights:

“Great information, I LOVED the back and forth between the two presenters, as it showed connectedness and wisdom from both. I felt it was balanced in the time spent with the two people talking. The chat interaction was GREAT! I felt engaged and took a lot out of the presentation.”

“This was a great session to remind individuals they need to disconnect. The 100% remote working environment, coupled with the lessened number of activities makes it easy to forget to focus on work/life balance.”

“I thought this was a topic that isn’t covered very often (Accessibility as a Differentiator) and was thrilled to see it here. It was very informative, and I really enjoyed it.”

More career blogs you may have missed

#LifeAtVanguard

Culture, Diversity & inclusion all

Embracing and manifesting cultural differences in leadership

Culture, Diversity & inclusion Technology

Recognizing Autism Awareness Month in IT

Career opportunities, Culture Technology

How Vanguard supports long-term career growth

Culture, Diversity & inclusion all

Women’s History Month 2021

Culture, Diversity & inclusion all

Networking amidst a pandemic

Culture, Diversity & inclusion all

International Women’s Day: #ChoosetoChallenge

Diversity & inclusion

Black History Month: It’s a family affair

Culture, Diversity & inclusion

Crew review of Toigo Groundbreakers Women in Leadership Summit

Culture, Diversity & inclusion

Making virtual connections

Advice from crew, Career opportunities Mid-level specialist

Tips and advice when interviewing for User Experience jobs

Culture, Diversity & inclusion all

A look back on Hispanic Heritage Month

Diversity & inclusion

National Coming Out Day 2020

Career opportunities

Tips and advice when interviewing for MBA Program opportunities

Advice from crew, Career opportunities, Day in the Life

Solving problems and innovating through data science

Career opportunities, Day in the Life Mid-level specialist

Knowing your customers is the best way to serve them

« All News

Risk and reward down under

November 11, 2020/in Culture, Training & education, Voyage to Vanguard 2020, career, colleagues, crew, develop, experience, firm, joined, joined vanguard, know, looking, opportunity, risk, role, sense, started, team, time, vanguard, working /by jortega

Risk and reward down under

In late 2019, after working in a multitude of roles across a variety of financial services organizations, I felt it was time for a change and started exploring my next career move. First and foremost, I wanted to join a firm that ‘made sense’: I had to buy into its purpose, conviction and how it benefited society – all these things were vitally important to me. When I started looking a little deeper into Vanguard, its history, direction and people’s experience of working with and within the firm, things started stacking up. The interview process cemented my interest and upon being offered my role, I was excited at the prospect of working with such a highly respected and regarded organization. So, I took the plunge and in February 2020, I joined Vanguard Investments Australia’s Enterprise Risk Management Team.

Upon starting, I was regularly told to “take the opportunity to get to know Vanguard”. I took some time to really appreciate what was being said. Onboarding at Vanguard is more than simply turning up, being shown your seat, receiving a laptop and being told to ‘get on with it’. People are delighted to have you on the team, want to get to know you and help you find your place. From day one, you’re a valued member of the ‘crew’ and with that established, you can take the opportunity to lay the groundwork to build working relationships that are instrumental to your own and the firm’s success. I’d liken it to being welcomed into a family that incorporates Vanguard’s Clients, Community and Crew. It just makes sense.

One thing I wasn’t prepared for were the many challenges that 2020 was going to throw our way. While I’m as anxious as the next person trying to navigate the ‘new normal’, I’ve also been grateful for both the support and opportunities that Vanguard has provided during these times. For example, a little more than a month into my new role, a request came through to assist with our business’s operations dealing with social distancing and unprecedented market turbulence. I answered the call, and while it took me out of my comfort zone, the experience paid-back tenfold as it provided me with real hands-on insight into how Vanguard works.

I completed my LUMA Human-Centered Design practitioner certification, a course that I had commenced within a month of joining Vanguard. Learning new ways of working are now more important than ever and being provided the opportunity to gain and develop such skills, while getting to know my new colleagues was fantastic. It was a great way to introduce myself and learn about the people I’d be working with going forward.

More recently, I’ve stepped into a leadership role, providing me with a chance to manage a team of my risk colleagues. Again, being provided with another opportunity to develop and showcase my skills has been welcomed. My managers and other specialists have been supportive throughout the experience, and I’ve gained an opportunity to learn, influence and deliver upon Vanguard’s mission both here in Australian and abroad.

Presently, like many of my colleagues, I’ve been working remotely at home, away from the office for many months now. The Vanguard family has helped me and everyone else adapt to these necessary changes with a host of resources, including the provision of the latest collaborative technologies, ensuring that that our home office setup is suitable, and regular formal and informal check-ins with crew. Everyone’s looking out for each other and doing the best they can to pull through this period together. It’s during such challenging times that the true character of a firm becomes apparent, and I for one am glad that I’ve joined Vanguard.

– Jason B.

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.

« All News

National Intern Day 2020

July 30, 2020/in Culture, Day in the Life, Training & education Mid-level specialist able to connect, alex, camila, college to corporate, computer science, intern, interns, natasha, plan access, retirement plan, retirement plan access, rising junior, team, university of michigan, vanguard, vanguard retirement, vanguard retirement plan, vanguard retirement plan access, virtual intern, working /by kkilgarriff

National Intern Day 2020

College to Corporate internships looked different for students joining the crew at Vanguard this year– but the foundation remained the same. Whether it was teamwork, community outreach, or bonding with peers, interns were virtually welcomed into departments across the company, where they made lasting contributions. In this video, a few of our interns share insights from their experiences:

Camila: Hi everyone my name is Camila, I attend the University of Texas at El Paso. I am a College to Corporate Business Intern, and I am currently working with the Vanguard Retirement Plan Access Department this summer.

Alex: Hello everyone, my name is Alex I am a rising junior studying computer science engineering at the University of Michigan and I am a College to Corporate Application Development Intern, working with the Enterprise Advice division at Vanguard.

Natasha: Hi! My name is Natasha and I am C2C Investment Management intern this summer under the Transaction Cost Analysis team. I’m a rising junior at the University of Michigan, pursuing a dual degree in finance and computer science, with a minor in Music.

Camila: And I’m going to show you what a virtual intern does on a day-to-day basis. So since I am a virtual intern I am working remotely from my hometown and I basically made my kitchen into an office. This is my kitchen table.

Natasha: Welcome to my room converted into an office.

Alex: Due to the remote nature of our internship, we use Microsoft Team and Outlook mainly, to stay connected with each other.

Camila: I get to meet with leaders, I get to talk to my managers, really cool things that I didn’t know I was going to be able to do from home.

Natasha: I can still stay fully connected with rest of Vanguard. We have a lot of different events like game shows and community service.

Alex: Even though the internship is remote, the company has also done a great job to make sure we’re still able to network and connect with the other interns. Two weeks ago, we had a virtual team building session where we bonded with all the other interns remotely.

Camila: I have been able to participate in Vanguard events, and trainings, and so many things virtually.

Alex: Later today I have an intern project meeting around lunchtime, to update our technical leads on our progress. I am currently working on a project team with four other interns to develop an internal web application.

Natasha: For some of my project so far, I’ve been working mostly in the FX and Treasury Future space.

Camila: So for my project I am actually working in my department of Vanguard Retirement Plan Access. And I’m helping with the Sales Territory Map Analysis. As you can see I have a lot of meetings so I do my project work in between.

Alex: Vanguard also assigns each of us a buddy and a pod leader that acts as mentors, and we have regular meetings with them as well.

Natasha: As part of the internship, I get two buddies. One of them is on my team, and then the other one is in the rotational program. Having a buddy helps me to get acclimated to both the company as well as my team, and acts as a resource that I can just ask quick questions to.

Alex: Overall, the College to Corporate Internship gives us a view into how Vanguard uses technology to solve business problems, and to help people achieve their financial goals. Right now is also a very interesting time to work for Vanguard, because technology is a key strategic focus for the company. This provides ample opportunities for us to work on cool projects, which will be used by real customers and/or business functions.

Camila: My experience so far has been an amazing one. I have been able to connect with leadership, I’ve been able to connect with my interns that have really enhanced my experience here. I feel so fortunate to be a part of a company that really goes out of their way in making sure that their interns get an amazing virtual experience.

Natasha: As you can see, despite the virtual internship experience, everyone at Vanguard can still stay fully connected with each other. I hope you enjoy this little insight into a Vanguard intern’s life.

Alex: Thanks for watching.

Natasha: Don’t forget to follow @lifeatvanguard.

Camila: On Instagram and all other social media. Thank you.

Alex

Camila

Natasha

More career blogs you may have missed

#LifeAtVanguard

Culture, Diversity & inclusion all

Embracing and manifesting cultural differences in leadership

Culture, Diversity & inclusion Technology

Recognizing Autism Awareness Month in IT

Crew benefits, Culture all

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

Career opportunities, Culture Technology