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Gymnastics Grit Fuels Wall Street Success
30 Nov
Summary
- Athletes are a key recruiting pool for Goldman Sachs.
- Gymnastics skills like grit translate to finance roles.
- Goldman hired less than 1% of 360,000 internship applicants.
Goldman Sachs actively recruits athletes, recognizing their valuable performance-honed skills. Meena Lakdawala-Flynn, a partner and cohead of Global Private Wealth Management, exemplifies this, attributing her success in finance to the discipline, grit, and pressure-handling abilities developed through years of competitive gymnastics. She notes that the meticulous attention to detail required in gymnastics mirrors the precision needed in financial modeling and client interactions.
This focus on athletic talent is a strategic hiring initiative. Jacqueline Arthur, Goldman's head of human capital management, highlights how athletic qualities directly apply to the dynamic financial services environment. The firm has previously promoted a former NFL star to managing director, underscoring its commitment to diverse talent pools.
Landing a position at Goldman Sachs remains exceptionally competitive, particularly for Gen Z applicants navigating a challenging job market. The firm's 2025 summer internship program received an overwhelming 360,000 applications, with an acceptance rate below 1%. This selectivity underscores the value placed on candidates who demonstrate exceptional dedication and resilience, often cultivated through rigorous athletic training.
