A career change from ballet to finance doesn’t seem like a natural progression but it is in my experience. When I share my background with people, I’m often asked, “How did you end up at Vanguard?”. The truth is, after I stopped dancing, I had no idea what I wanted to do. The only thing I knew was I wanted to try something completely new and with a company that valued passion and hard work.

During a career fair at the University of Utah, I spoke with a recruiter who shared that Vanguard appreciates candidates with diverse backgrounds who are willing to take on fresh and challenging opportunities. Even though I was scared, I took a chance and passed along my resume. The rest is history.

In February, I will celebrate my six-year work anniversary with Vanguard and I couldn’t be more proud. This company has allowed me to develop myself professionally in ways I could have never imagined. For instance, I have served our clients on the front lines, taking calls and guiding them through investment decisions. Further, I led a team in our Client Care group and most recently, I joined the recruiting team in our Human Resources division. My position as a recruiter has truly brought me full circle, as I always hoped I would have the chance to serve in a role that is so integral in many people’s careers.

How ballet helped me in my professional career

Ballet taught me many things, but I have highlighted a few that have particularly helped me flourish:

• Resilience– In ballet, you hear the word “No” a lot. Maybe I didn’t nail my audition that day or get the part I wanted. Did I let it get to me? Sure, a little, but what really mattered to me was how I was going to move forward. I let each failure become motivation for me to get better. How can I practice harder, get stronger, make sure I’m always at my best? If I wasn’t learning, I wasn’t growing. The same has applied to my time at Vanguard. Sometimes I don’t get the promotion or perhaps a meeting didn’t go quite how I planned. Because of my background, I am always able to pick myself up and reflect. Asking for feedback is also key. Sometimes others observe something you don’t and it’s important to me to have the humility to ask so I can continually improve.
• Creativity– As a dancer and a lover of the arts, I have always had a creative mind. When I started at Vanguard, I was unsure how that would translate. It became very apparent early on that it would prove to be extremely helpful in my career. Since I didn’t have a traditional background, I asked different questions and saw things through a unique perspective. Every day in my role I’m asked to solve complex issues and I rely on my creative thinking to help come up with solutions.
• Discipline– As a dancer, and especially one that studied classical ballet, discipline is engrained in you. From the way you present yourself, to timeliness, and organization. Throughout my career that discipline has helped me to stay focused when I was studying for my licensing exams, remain patient while navigating my career path, and even stay organized when managing multiple competing priorities.

How I’ve used my story to help others

The most rewarding part of my role as a recruiter is connecting with people who are thinking about a career at Vanguard. I want every potential candidate to know that we value their unique background. I love being able to share my own experience with others in hopes that it might inspire them or give them the confidence to take a leap.

-Allison G.

Note: Photo courtesy of Nathan Sweet photography

I joined Vanguard a year ago and while my path to this organization was not the traditional one, my career has been guided by many of the same values that Vanguard was built on, including taking a stand for the people you serve. With a desire to serve our country, I launched my career as an officer in the US Navy after graduate school. It was here where I learned many lessons and had experiences that shaped my leadership beliefs today.

Lesson One: There are no shortcuts

During the first week on board my submarine, I had to climb into one of the smallest spaces to check the boat’s battery. It was a simple but challenging task, but if you approached the task half-heartedly, others would follow suit. At times, I observed others completing improper checks, even after they had been caught slacking in the past. I learned quickly, if I wanted others to take their roles and work seriously–whether it was checking the boat’s battery or inspecting the nuclear power plant–I would have to demonstrate how important each task was to me. No matter how tired I might feel or cumbersome a task might be, I realized that someone would always be watching, and it was critical that I lead by example. When I look back, what comes to mind is not the sleepless nights and hard work, but rather the pride of doing things the right way and inspiring others to follow suit.

Lesson Two: Be the change you want to inspire

My experiences in the military taught me many things, including the impact of artificial fear, the need for psychological safety, and the importance of surfacing problems and getting to the truth, and I’ve brought these learnings with me into the corporate world. I learned to “be the change” I wanted to inspire in others, and to empower and engage others by serving rather than directing. These lessons helped me become a much better leader and are a big part of any of the successes I have had in my career.

More importantly, these experiences give me confidence. They give me confidence to stay true to my leadership beliefs when challenging situations invite me to stray. They give me the confidence to stay calm in challenging situations and to focus on the problems that really matter. They give me the confidence to open myself up to be truly curious and to grow as a result.

Lesson Three: Real joy comes out of service to others

While I have had many experiences in my career, the greatest ones were not for personal gain but for the greater good. Serving my country and crew in the military was rewarding in ways that I never expected. After my time in the US Navy and before coming to Vanguard, I worked as a management consultant for several years and I was able to see that many organizations aren’t built to serve others. That’s what makes Vanguard a special place. I am grateful to be working for an organization that not only values our clients the way we do, but also puts our crew at the forefront of our decisions.

-Dalton L.

A photo of me during my time in the Navy.

When reflecting on my career aspirations, I’ve always known I wanted to have a positive impact on people and improve the lives of others. I’ve also always had a fascination with numbers and finance. In school, I found a cross-section between these two passions: financial planning! It was through my financial planning program that I learned how much of a difference sound and caring financial advice can make on peoples’ lives. It was also through this program that I learned about Vanguard: an industry leader whose mission is to take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success.

My passions and Vanguard’s mission led me to an interview for their College to Corporate internship. I was grateful to join the first class of interns in Vanguard’s Personal Advisor Services, where I quickly found that all crew share a similar passion for improving clients’ financial circumstances. Through this experience, I was able to see Vanguard’s approach to financial planning first-hand by working with advisors as well as sharpen my acumen skills by preparing a capstone project with colleagues throughout the duration of the internship. Upon graduating from my financial planning program in university, I was glad to join Vanguard as a member of the Financial Advisor Development Program (FADP). I wanted to make a conscious decision as to the best place to start my financial career, and Vanguard certainly supplied everything I needed, including resources and support to pass crucial industry certifications as well as beneficial hands-on experience working with clients. Vanguard was integral to my success in passing the Certified Financial Planner™ exam and truly helped to jump started my financial advising career.

Now, as a high-net-worth financial advisor, I am able to fully immerse myself in the passion that led me to this position. Every day, I positively impact clients’ lives and partner with them with the goal of financial success. When I talk to college students and recent graduates early in their careers, I always encourage them to find a firm that places an emphasis on early development of skills and gaining as much tangible experience as possible. I am appreciative to have found this program early in my financial planning career. The combination of my education, exam preparation, experience, and familiarity with internal processes makes me better positioned to give my clients the best financial planning experience possible, and I am grateful to Vanguard for giving me the tools and resources to deliver that to our clients.

-Mack G.

Tips to prepare you for the Certified Financial Planner™ exam

In studying for the exam, the best advice I can give is to acknowledge the breadth of the test, but don’t let it get to your head. I was overwhelmed the first time I received my study resources and realized just how much material I had to get through. “Focus on foundations,” as a colleague of mine would say during testing. The rest will fall into place over time. Trust the study path laid out to you by your testing provider, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different forms of studying. Some concepts are best retained through quick flashcards, others by drawing out diagrams on a board or walking through a case study. Reviewing alone will not carry you to the finish line. Studying in a group was key for my development and preparation. I am grateful to Vanguard for providing the opportunity to study as a group, as we all benefitted from each other’s strong areas and expertise.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

Advice services are provided by Vanguard Advisers, Inc., a registered investment advisor, or by Vanguard National Trust Company, a federally chartered, limited-purpose trust company.

Tech Elevator is an intensive coding bootcamp which teaches students from diverse backgrounds to become software developers and build necessary career-readiness skills. Vanguard is a corporate partner to Tech Elevator, and together, we are working to create greater access to careers in tech. Through our partnership, we have been able to attract, engage with and hire candidates who have excelled in the program. In this blog, you will hear from two crew members who completed Tech Elevator’s coding bootcamp and are now developers here at Vanguard.

How did you learn about Tech Elevator?

In the fall of 2019, I started to explore options to quickly change my career after feeling unfulfilled in my profession. I had always been interested in software development, and an acquaintance suggested I look at coding bootcamps, a concept completely foreign to me at the time. After researching a number of programs, Tech Elevator really stood out to me because of their transparency, commitment to their students, and their high alumni employment rate. They also had a matchmaking program that helped job candidates network with other companies — this in itself was an intriguing quality as someone who would be looking for a job in the near future. Luckily, Tech Elevator was opening its first cohort in Philadelphia in January of 2020, and after some conversations with the campus director and staff, I chose to enroll.
– Kevin M.

I joined Tech Elevator because of their astonishingly high placement rates for students after graduation, their curriculum, and continued support after graduation.
– Dennis P.

What ultimately led you to decide to pursue an opportunity with Vanguard?

During Tech Elevator’s Matchmaking program, I learned that Vanguard was one of Tech Elevator’s hiring partners. While I knew Vanguard was one of the largest financial institutions in the world, I didn’t realize what they had to offer in terms of culture and sense of community. There appeared to be a great balance between professionalism while still being your authentic self, which was exactly what I was looking for. I also wanted opportunities to learn and grow as a developer, which Vanguard has certainly provided.
– Kevin M.

Prior to interviewing at Vanguard, I researched the organization extensively. Vanguard emphasizes three core values: integrity, focus, and stewardship, all of which are important to me as a military veteran. The interviewing process at Vanguard was very relaxed conversational. I had an opportunity to speak with managers and senior leaders, all of whom were polite and informative. I could see why Vanguard has such a high retention rate. I left the interviews feeling positive and hopeful for an offer to accept.
– Dennis P.

What does your day to day look like since joining Vanguard? What are the most rewarding aspects of your role?

I work on a team of five developers, and we work in two-week sprints. At the beginning of a sprint, each developer is assigned one or more tasks, or “stories,” to complete–this could include research for a future story or coding a piece of functionality for the application we are working on. Every morning we have our daily standup meeting, which is a report on your progress from the previous day and what you plan to work on for the rest of the day. Additionally, we have sprint refinement sessions twice per sprint, and a sprint review at the end of the sprint where we can showcase the work we’ve done.

The most rewarding aspect of my role is the opportunity to increase my knowledge as a developer. Vanguard offers a number of professional development opportunities for those in tech, including certifications and ongoing education. So far in my role, I became an AWS Certified Developer, which was both challenging and rewarding, and have attended a number of Vanguard sponsored courses through PluralSight, an online learning and development platform for those interested in technology. I’m confident this ongoing education will only open doors for further opportunity within the company and my career as a developer.
– Kevin M.

Upon joining Vanguard, I was placed on a new team that was tasked with building an internal application that supports Vanguard advisors. It’s been a pleasurable experience working with crewmembers from my team and collaborating with colleagues across the organization. On average I spend a third of my day in meetings. Outside of those meetings I’m either working on stories for a current sprint, researching, collaborating with others, or learning. Vanguard has provided me with ample learning opportunities. For example, I was recently selected to participate in a pilot for Vanguard’s new IT Divisional Learning Journey Program. And, if a training that would be beneficial to my growth becomes available, all I have to do is request permission to attend.
– Dennis P.

What advice would you share with prospective candidates who are interested in a career in IT?

I would say be prepared to put a lot of time and effort into the learning process and minimize distractions while you are learning to code. In addition to coding bootcamps like Tech Elevator, there are a ton of free resources you can find online, including Free Code Camp and Codecademy. YouTube is an excellent resource as well, as you can find a great explanation for almost any concept. Also, be patient, as there is a lot to learn.
– Kevin M.

If you are interested in pursuing a career in Software Engineering, understand that companies use different tech stacks, but the general idea is the same. Pick a stack and familiarize yourself well enough that if you were hired by a company using a different stack and/or framework(s), you would be more up-to-speed and faster to contribute. Don’t compare yourself to others and remain tenacious. Whether you’re experiencing challenges learning something new or difficulties in the hiring process, it’s important to never give up.
– Dennis P.

Each year we’re amazed by the tremendous contributions of our College to Corporate interns. Our goal is to provide extensive training, real-world experience, hands-on opportunities, and mentorship from professionals. In this video, you can hear directly from the interns about their summer of learning, teamwork, camaraderie, and volunteering.

Interested in exploring our internship opportunities? Click here.

The Vanguard 2021 College to Corporate Interns have nearly finished their virtual time at Vanguard this summer. They’ve brought fresh ideas to the table while living #LifeatVanguard through teamwork, volunteering, camaraderie, and learning. In this blog, our interns provide advice for candidates and discuss their journey to Vanguard.

What advice do you have for students or entry-level candidates who are interested in Vanguard?

Make connections as often as you can. You never know when someone will be able to help you in the future, and hopefully you will be able to do the same for them. Making a positive impact on your peers goes a long way! – Christopher L.

Connect and message recruiters on LinkedIn! When I discovered the Emerging Leader Development Program (ELDP), I messaged the current ELDP cadre and nearly every recruiter on LinkedIn. Not all of them saw my message—but many did. They were so helpful and even recommended the College to Corporate Internship that I hadn’t known about. – Ryan M.

Be interested, be humble, and be authentic. – David D.

My favorite advice during my recruitment process with Vanguard was two-pronged. One was the fundamental principle of the fiduciary mission: It’s always all about the client. Our purpose is to help clients in any way they need. The second often goes hand in hand with the first: Absorb as much information as possible from as many resources as you can. A huge, unique part of Vanguard as an institution is the wealth of information available to this wonderful peer community of financial advisors. These resources are meant to help advisors help other advisors, and in turn, to help those advisors help clients. – Mattia A.

If you’re interested in Vanguard, I would definitely recommend reaching out to any of the crew! Everyone here is welcoming and willing to talk with you. They’re all super understanding and candid about their experiences, which is very beneficial when you are trying to find a firm out of college. – Rebecca C.

If you’re interested in Vanguard, reach out to crew members whose jobs you’re interested in! Almost everyone here will be eager to set time aside to tell you about their job and give you tips about working at Vanguard. – Ethan R.

Apply early! Reach out to Vanguard employees to build relationship and a network even before you need a job. – Julia K.

Summarize your journey to Vanguard.

The main thing that attracted me to Vanguard is the culture. The idea of putting others first is present both internally and externally—making sure that our clients as well as our colleagues are provided with the resources they need to be successful. – Christopher L.

I was attracted to Vanguard because of how my family and I have been treated as clients. I want to work for a company that cares for the people it serves and has a strong sense of obligation to those it serves. – Ryan M.

I was primarily drawn to Vanguard because its reputation and mission are unmatched within the financial services industry. Since 1975, our leaders have made every major and minor decision with the best interests of our investors at the forefront. – David D.

For as long as I’ve envisioned my career path, I’ve been passionate about people and about investments. Vanguard has gifted me the opportunity to learn to help the average investor figure out how to send their kids to college, to retire, and to achieve their personal idea of optimal return on life —with a minor in portfolio implementation. 🙂 – Mattia A.

Vanguard came to an event at my school, and the people were so kind and welcoming. They talked about the positive culture and inclusivity at the firm as well as the focus on community, so I knew I had to apply. – Rebecca C.

In my freshman year of college, I met a crew member and he spoke so highly of Vanguard that I scheduled a visit to the Malvern campus for a career trip. That day I learned all about Vanguard’s culture and people and concluded that I wanted to work there. – Ethan R.

During my freshman year of college, I was given the opportunity to attend an Explore Day. During that experience I met with so many wonderful crew who had only good things to say about Vanguard. – Julia K.

Applications are now open for next summer!

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.

Before beginning my technology career at Vanguard, I attended my first immersive conference that celebrated women in technology. The Grace Hopper Celebration is a tribute to Grace Hopper, the aptly named ‘Grandmother of Cobol’, for her pioneering work in the computer programming field. She was truly an inspiration to women and scientists for her innovations and contributions.

I was accustomed to attending lectures at the University of Wisconsin where the number of females in the room, even in a class of two-hundred-fifty, could often be counted on two hands. My university had over forty-five-thousand students and computer science was the largest major, of which women made up only 13% of the total. Women were even less represented in my computer engineering courses. I was excited to make valuable connections with women at the conference in Orlando, Florida.

Surprisingly, my first connection happened on my flight in. I sat next to a woman from Australia who was also attending the conference. After talking with her for a while I discovered she had been a software engineer for over ten years! It was a great start. When I arrived, I was surprised to see that the conference was the exact opposite of my college experience. I was in awe of the sheer number of women who filled up the seven-million square foot conference center. The conference had events for everyone including a three-day career fair, keynote speakers, and breakout sessions to learn about specific technologies. During the career fair portion, I met Vanguard and immediately felt the enthusiasm from the women at the table. This ultimately led to me accepting an offer to join the firm.

Here are my key takeaways from the conference:

1. Empowerment from women supporting women
Before attending this event, I couldn’t imagine the concept of more than twenty-thousand like-minded women coming together to celebrate technology. I hadn’t met such a strong support group since my undergraduate studies, when I joined a computer science club for women. I learned a lot from the women I met in those safe and supportive environments. It feels empowering to hear about both the positive and negative experiences of women navigating their own careers in the technology industry.

2. Taking chances can pay off
Talking to a new company can be daunting, especially when walking into a session where unfamiliar people are discussing foreign concepts. It can even be scary to try and get tickets for the Grace Hopper Celebration! Although it can be unnerving, it is important to take chances and learn as much as possible in those busy three days. I have found that some of the most uncomfortable moments I put myself in were rewarded through the people I met and the opportunities I received.

3. There is a lot of room to have fun in computer science
It’s called the Grace Hopper Celebration, after all! The three day event was truly festive and left me with a smile across my face the entire time. I was surrounded by friendly people, fun events and exclusive, company-hosted social gatherings. Some of my favorite parts worth noting include eating crepes under a Ferris wheel, testing out virtual reality games, and printing out my Snapchat bitmoji on a tote bag. There are many chances to connect with others and share experiences.

I am proud to work at a company that prioritizes diversity and inclusion in their recruitment strategy. Vanguard’s commitment to maintaining a diverse and competent team of engineers is apparent in the environment I’ve worked in since joining the staff one year ago. Not only are women accepted here, they are given an opportunity to excel and drive others to succeed as well. I have been fortunate to be led and challenged by two female technical managers during my tenure.

Being a visible female role model in the technology field is a very important aspect of my career. I find so much meaning in establishing relationships that empower other young women to pursue the field of their choice. I think it is invaluable to have someone to look up to who was once on the same path that you are paving. Vanguard has really motivated me by giving me the opportunity to serve as a role model to other women in the industry. I am very excited to attend the Grace Hopper Celebration again this year, to represent all the women in Vanguard technology and to meet other talented women, as well.

-Jessica T.

Accepting a job offer can be a time of excitement, confusion, and anticipation. When you add in an environment of uncertainty, you may be questioning your decision. We spoke with three crew members who recently joined Vanguard and went through the onboarding process. They explain what to expect and how to ease your transition into a new job.

Valerie F. attended our standard Vanguard orientation, but was transitioned to remote work after just two days in the office.

My manager told me, “I need you to be prepared to work at home.” A big aspect that really helped was being able to understand how to get the appropriate technology access needed for me to do my job virtually. I was able to get everything set up on my mobile device and for this reason, I was able to work from home immediately.

A few other items are worth noting. My manager was already prepared for the situation and had everything ready for me. All department resources were available online, which put me at ease. I was also able to network with my team and others, while they showed me the ropes virtually. I can call anyone, anytime on my laptop.

The situation was a little different for Mike M., who was one of the first crew members to go through a new onboarding process. He had originally received the typical new hire information, but instructions changed along with our new ways of working.

About a week after I received my job offer from Vanguard, the global environment changed. I was wondering what the impact would be and whether or not I would still be able to onboard as planned. I continued to receive normal communications and completed all steps in the pre-hire process.

I did, however, participate in a unique onboarding experience, where new crew came onto campus in small groups at designated times, and practiced social distancing throughout their two-hour orientation. We were provided with the equipment and information needed for a virtual set-up, and then returned home.

As a member of the IT department, Mike went through an IT-specific onboarding program the following day—all virtual.

Hiring manager Nima P. also felt that the onboarding experience was seamless.

Vanguard made it easy for me and my peers. Although I was unable to be on campus to welcome my new crew member, I talked to him the day before orientation. I told him once he was set up, to make sure everything worked before leaving campus. The day of, we spoke on the phone once he had all he needed before heading home. It was perfect.

Valerie and Mike feel integrated into their new teams and have been able to work productively from home.

Mike M.: From my experience, with the level of collaboration and inclusion, this new way of working does not appear to be an issue for crew. Vanguard places a real emphasis on ensuring employees feel connected.

Valerie F.: The team I’m working with has been very accommodating. They regularly check in on me. It’s really great. We meet virtually often and look for ways to drive engagement, collaboration and business results. To me, it doesn’t seem virtual because we see each other regularly. It feels normal.

Valerie also had some advice for those who are encountering this new work environment.

Keep actively learning. Broaden your network. Just because we’re virtual doesn’t mean you can’t talk to people on your floor. I had a video conference with someone that sits two desks over from me, and I’m looking forward to meeting him/her in person. To anyone looking to work at Vanguard, the company goes so far to make sure its clients are taken care of, but also does this with their crew. It’s amazing how much work we’ve been able to accomplish. I’ll look back years from now and think that it was pretty amazing.

Since interviewing these individuals, Vanguard has moved to a 100% virtual onboarding model for the foreseeable future.

In the spirit of celebrating International Women’s Day, we partnered with women across Vanguard’s Investment Management Group (IMG) to hear their #LifeatVanguard stories. In this series, crew and leaders touch on a variety of meaningful topics, including what drew them to Vanguard, resources used for learning, company culture and advice for women looking to join IMG.

Voyage to Vanguard and first impressions

Agnes H.
Senior Portfolio Manager in the Equity Investment Group

I was attracted to Vanguard as one of the largest asset managers in the industry, as well as its mission-based corporate objective. One of the biggest differences that stands out from where I’ve previously worked is the fact that we are owned by our shareholders, so every decision made at Vanguard is based on aligning with the best interest of our clients.[1]

Tracy R.-W.
Global Portfolio Risk Manager in the Fixed Income Group

When I first became a crew member, I was most surprised by the level to which collaboration and team work was both encouraged and valued. People are genuinely helpful and dedicated to delivering the best possible products and services to our clients. We are mission driven. We are client focused. We are a team.

Learning and development

Peilei C.
Investment Risk Manager in the Risk Management Group

I’m always looking to seek out and utilize every possible resource I can. For example, on market and asset class specific topics, I will read the news and academic papers, but I also like to learn from experts such as our credit analysts, portfolio managers, and traders. On risk topics, tools, and models, I like to keep up with new developments via hands-on application, conferences, and seminars. I also enjoy discussions with my fellow colleagues to shares best practices.

Kelly F.
Investment Analyst in the Investment Strategy Group

I’ve been working on building out my machine learning acumen to supplement my more traditional econometric models. I’ve also been increasing my financial acumen through the pursuit of my Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation, which will help better frame my research questions. Moving into 2020, I want to improve my presentation skills so I can share my ideas with a variety of audiences to get feedback and new ideas to build the best investment solutions.

Living my best

Samantha C.
Regulatory and Policy Risk Lead in the Risk Management Group

A personal passion for me throughout my Vanguard career has been contributing to our corporate inclusion and diversity efforts. I was a member of the core team that developed, piloted, and scaled the Women’s Initiative into Leadership Success: Invest in Yourself (WILS IIY), which is a monthly educational series for women focused on providing an enterprise-wide perspective on core investment topics. It was a special experience for me to participate as a panelist earlier this year during our first global session with the United Kingdom office.

Ashley W.
Investment Analyst in the Fixed Income Group

I plan ahead as much as possible, especially now that I am a part-time grad student. I map out my days, weeks, and months to ensure I have time for everything that’s important to me, including going to the gym, having dinner with friends and family—and rest! It’s essential to prioritize time to recharge as you can’t go the distance on an empty tank.

Career advice

Adrienne B.
Head of U.S. Equity Investment Risk in the Risk Management Group

My advice to individuals starting their careers is to ask a lot of questions and try to learn as much about the company’s business model as possible. No matter what role you’re in and what your level, being able to connect what you do and its significance to the overall success of the business will help you do a better job and align your contributions to the objectives of the company.

Vernita E.
Head of Equity Index-Europe in the Equity Investment Group

For women looking to join the Investment Management Group, a career in trading and investing is not easy, but nothing worth having generally is. A high level of commitment, patience, resilience, and passion is required . . . have more confidence in yourself, you are that good!

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.
[1] Vanguard is client-owned. As a client owner, you own the funds that own Vanguard.