Career Advice from Asian American Finance Leaders: Building Intergenerational Success

Finance leaders, mentors, and aspiring youth gathered for our annual Asians in Finance event, co-hosted by Apex for Youth and the Association of Asian American Investment Managers (AAAIM). The evening celebrated the shared missions of both organizations: transformative mentorship, community building, and investing in the next generation of Asian American leaders.

From growing up in immigrant households to building start-ups and leading top firms like Goldman Sachs and Anchorage Capital, their journeys reflected the many paths success can take and the shared determination that drives them forward.

For many students, seeing Asian Americans represented in high-level finance roles made the experience particularly meaningful. Apex for Youth High School student, Anna L reflected:

“Seeing representation from Asian American professionals in finance allowed me to feel warm knowing that there is success within my community. It made me feel more connected to my heritage, knowing that people who came from upbringings similar to mine are able to succeed as big names in finance.” 

Moderated by Jim Park, Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Asian American Investment Managers (AAAIM), the panel explored what it means to navigate the finance industry as Asian Americans, the power of mentorship, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

Jim Park opened the discussion by recalling his early career in Washington, D.C., over 35 years ago, a time when Asian American faces were rarely seen in the halls of power. “We were sort of invisible in those environments,” he said. “I told myself that anytime I could do something to support the community or bring people together, I would.”

Career Advice from Asian American Finance Leaders

1. The Power of Saying Yes

Akila Raman, Partner and Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer of Transaction Banking at Goldman Sachs Group, described herself as an “accidental banker.” Raised in Missouri, she initially saw Wall Street as a place where meritocracy ruled.

“It didn’t matter what you looked like,” Raman shared. “If you were really smart, you had the best idea, that got you reps.”

Her most transformative career lesson was simple but high-stakes: Say Yes. She recounted a pivotal, high-pressure moment right after having her first child, when she was called on to save a pitch for the massive Saudi Aramco IPO. With her mother urging her, “Just say yes, that’s your thing,” Raman accepted the challenge, a decision that fundamentally altered her career trajectory.

2. Change in Mindset and Be Kind To Yourself

Soo Kim, Partner and Global Head of Performing Credit Research at Anchorage Capital Advisors, L.P., reflected on how her drive for perfection early in her career often led to self-criticism when things went wrong.

“Wall Street is a tough place,” she shared. “Earlier in my career, every time an investment went wrong, I would just beat myself up. But over time, I realized not everything is as huge as it may seem in the moment. Even some of the smartest people in the world get it wrong all the time.”

Through that period, including while balancing a demanding career and family life, Kim learned to shift her mindset. “I actually really love what I do – learning, making investment decisions, and growing through it. In order to keep doing that, I needed to be a little bit kinder to myself,” she said.

Her story underscored a lesson that resonated throughout the night: success in finance isn’t just about endurance, it’s about evolving with compassion for yourself.

3. Make Your Own Luck: Ask, Leverage, and Advance

Offering a “more rugged” perspective, Johnny Wu, Founder and CEO of WallStreet X ETFs, Inc., shared his origin story of growing up in low-income housing in Boston’s Chinatown, a reality far removed from the boardrooms he now commands.

Wu, a Wall Street veteran of over 25 years, delivered three non-negotiable rules for rising above the ceiling:

1. Don’t Ask, Don’t Get: Advocate fiercely for yourself.
2. Put Yourself in the Position to Be Lucky: You must actively create opportunities.
3. Don’t Assume Your Seat is Enough: Play the game, ask for help,and build that network. 

Wu pointed out that while merit is often rewarded in finance, “the numbers don’t lie,” it only gets you so far. To reach the highest levels, one must “figure out like how to play the game, ask for help, leverage your network, and build that network work even before you need it.”

Anna was particularly inspired by Johnny Wu’s story of growing up in Boston’s Chinatown, emphasizing education as a pathway to opportunity. 

Anna shared, “It made me hopeful for my own future to see people who look like me succeed through dedication and hard work. Their achievements felt tangible, and their humility genuinely instilled pride in my community.”

Investing in the Future of Finance

For emerging professionals, the panel offered both practical insights and inspiration. Anna reflected on the experience:

“My biggest takeaway from this panel is that there truly is representation from Asian-American individuals in high finance roles. Seeing two out of three panelists were women helped me realize that success is possible, and they carried themselves with such humility and grace that I hope to embody one day.”

Anna highlighted the importance of standing up for oneself and exploring multiple career paths within finance:
“One thing I learned that I would share with my friends is the importance of standing up for ourselves in environments where we’re overshadowed. This was inspired by Akila Raman-Vaseghi’s story of asserting herself in a challenging situation.”

The event connected seasoned finance professionals with the next generation of leaders, emphasizing not only career strategies but also resilience, self-care, and community. Our deepest gratitude goes to panelists Akila Raman, Soo Kim, and Johnny Wu, as well as our co-sponsors, Blue Owl Capital and Ares Management, and the Asians in Finance Planning Committee – AAAIM, Allister Chan, Ray Chan, and Gilbert Liu – for making this event possible.

For students and young professionals inspired to explore finance and mentorship, or to get involved with our Asians in Finance community, please email development@apexforyouth.org.