Grasping the language of finance can be quite challenging, as the industry is filled with jargon, unwritten rules, and job descriptions that may sound similar yet are vastly different. During Apex’s Career Connection Night, three finance leaders met with our youth to clarify the industry’s intricacies. They shared their secrets on how to not only get noticed but also how to secure a seat at the table.
The panel, moderated by Aaron, Apex for Youth Alumni, included Alex Chi, Deputy Chief Investment Officer at Carlyle; Bich-Nga Nguyen, Wealth and Estate Planning Strategist at Morgan Stanley; and Chris Paik, Co-founder and General Partner at Pace Capital.
Finance 101
To understand the complexities of finance, it’s essential to break down the roles within the industry. Alex Chi provided clarity on the fundamental functions of investment banking, private equity, and venture capital.
Alex: “What investment bankers do is advise companies, governments, and large institutions on things like raising capital so they can buy other companies, build factories, or acquire other businesses.” And, when private companies, like SpaceX or Anthropic, want to sell shares to the public, they do an IPO, and investment banks help do that.”
Private equity and venture capital operate differently, he said: “We raise money from other big funds, like sovereign wealth funds… you basically put in a fund and give it to other people to invest it for you and make money.” The ultimate goal in private equity is to “buy a company, and then you essentially sell it to another company or take it public,” whereas venture capital funds “make equity investments into companies that are a bit smaller but earlier-stage” and “can grow and become these huge companies, like an Anthropic or an Uber.”
Skills That Make You Stand Out
Having the ability to read, code, and solve advanced math problems is valuable; these skills can certainly help you succeed in life. However, the ability to communicate effectively can take you even further. While quantifiable technical skills, often referred to as hard skills, are typically developed through hands-on experience and formal education, it’s important to remember that anyone can learn and master these skills to achieve their career goals. So what sets you apart from your peers? Soft skills. Your personality, your charisma, your affect. These things aren’t taught; they are built on years of life experiences, habits, and upbringing– they are nuances that make you unique. Your soft skills can open doors that training alone cannot.
Q: What would you guys say is one skill you wish you had learned at your first job?
Bich-Nga: “I think I was incredibly nervous about talking to all of these strangers, but it is a skill that I got more comfortable with, and it is a skill that I continue to use today.
It’s all about talking with people and collaborating with them. So listening to people, hearing them out, helping them to be comfortable while also developing that relationship where you can be candid with each other; say hard things to each other if they need to be said”
Own Your Success: Storytelling, Confidence, and Finding Your “North Star”
Doing great work is only half the battle; the other half involves effectively communicating your successes to advance your academic and professional career. By showcasing your value, you do more than just list achievements—you illustrate your personal narrative. It takes confidence to share your story and identify your “North Star”—the intrinsic interests and curiosities that drive you. Our panelists will discuss how to do this confidently and correctly, helping you to put your best foot forward during promotion cycles and in everyday conversations.
Q: How would storytelling show: this is my value, this is my work. And put yourself up for something like a promotion or an internship. How do you approach that in terms of storytelling?
Chris: “Storytelling is super, super, super important. “Rizz” is super important. The ability to integrate with other people seamlessly, to convince someone of something that salesmanship is critical in being able to communicate well, and for other people to give you the benefit of the doubt, for better or for worse”
Bich-Nga: “Storytelling doesn’t have to be it doesn’t have to be a super complicated thing. You know why you are drawn towards certain things and not toward others; that’s sort of your North Star. You’re you. I think every one of us has a natural inclination to pursue the things that we are most interested in. Storytelling is about articulating to yourself why you’re drawn toward those things.”
No Risk, No Reward
Taking risks can be scary, but staying exactly where you are is scarier. Embracing new challenges and stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to personal and professional development. To successfully take that leap into the unknown, you must trust yourself, your training, and your intelligence. Alex shared the story of one of the greatest calculated risks in his career– they were competing to win Lululemon’s IPO at Goldman Sachs, where he made the unconventional call to have the entire team, including the firm’s current CEO, show up to the pitch in the company’s own yoga apparel. It was a bold move that could easily have backfired on Alex and the career he had built for himself. Instead, they won, and he had a new mentorship that changed the trajectory of his career, proving that thoughtful
Q: What’s the biggest risk you think you’ve taken throughout your career? (23:10)
Alex: “We were competing to win the IPO of Lululemon. And I was thinking to myself, how do we differentiate ourselves? I thought, wait, this is a yoga apparel company, we should go in all dressed up in Lululemon gear. And then, because it was such an important IPO, I asked our head of investment banking at Goldman, who’s now the CEO of Goldman Sachs, to join this pitch because we wanted to show the company how important it was to us.
I didn’t want him to come in a suit while the rest of us were wearing Lululemon gear, so I took a risk by asking him to put on the Lululemon gear. They’re all wearing the suits, and they look at us, and they immediately knew they lost. We did the pitch. We won. Goldman Sachs took Lululemon public. That was just an example of a risk that I took because I thought that would help us win, but it also would help me get noticed because he always tells that story about how you just have to sometimes use real out-of-the-box thinking and creativity in order to just get noticed.”
Being the Only One in the Room
Throughout much of her early career, Bich-Nga was the only woman in the boardroom. This reality doesn’t change simply because you have earned your seat at the table. While it may feel uncomfortable initially, taking that first step makes every subsequent step easier. She emphasizes that although she cannot eliminate fear completely, she practices until speaking up becomes second nature.
Q: As someone who’s a minority in the field in two ways: being Asian and being a woman, how do you find the confidence to share your story and speak up in these highly professional environments?”
Bich-Nga: “You just have to. Having the skill set is just a given– It has to be a given. But that’s part, I feel confident speaking up when I know my stuff. When I don’t, I study up a ton so I have something to say.
Early in my career, I oftentimes was the only woman in a boardroom. I know what my job is, I know what my function is, I know what my skills are. I knew that I know how to do what I’m there to do, and you just have to go and do it, right? Like, I think at some point you just have to go and do it, and you have to get over that inner fear. It takes practice. I tell people a lot… sometimes you gotta gear yourself up and just go and do it.”
Success Means Nothing if You’re Not Enjoying the Journey
When asked what they wished more people would inquire about, the panelists emphasized that their responses were not focused on salary, job titles, or career advancement. Instead, they stressed the importance of joy. All three panelists returned to a central theme: joy is more than just a fleeting emotion; it is an essential part of professional fulfillment and personal satisfaction. Experiencing joy in life motivates one to go the extra mile and put in additional effort, ultimately enhancing one’s professional development.
Q: What would you say is the one question you wish more people asked you, from now all the way to the start of your career?
Alex: Is what you’re doing giving you enough joy? Because a lot of us do things because we have to. Because we have to make money, or we’re trying to achieve some status. We’re getting pressured by our parents, whatever it may be. But ultimately, I think what you do has to give you joy, because if it doesn’t, I truly believe you will never be exceptional at it because you won’t work that extra hour, you won’t ask that extra question, you won’t go do that one uncomfortable thing. But if you really enjoy what you do, you’re going to do it anyway. And then over time, I think you will excel.
Chris: There’s this concept in Japanese called ikigai. It’s this intersection between what am I good at? What can I get paid for? What does the world need, and what do I love doing? If you can find something that’s in the middle of all of those things, that’s the dream. I would say 90% of people never find it.
Bich-Nga: Give yourself the opportunity to pursue things that you are interested in. When you’re allocating your time, make sure to nurture whatever’s innate in you.
Key Takeaways
- Humanity drives financial success. While quantifiable abilities are essential to your resume, your soft skills—personality, presence, and charisma are the unique nuances that build trust and set you apart, opening career doors that education and training alone cannot.
- Knowing a guy who knows a guy. Success on Wall Street relies heavily on networking and building personable relationships. Learning to have candid, authentic conversations, even when it’s uncomfortable at first, is vital for sustainable, long-term career growth.
- Calculated risks lead to career-defining moments. To truly stand out, you need to step outside your comfort zone and think unconventionally. Making bold, calculated decisions can attract the attention of senior leadership, potentially pivoting your career and opening new opportunities and relationships.
- It’s okay to brag about yourself. Knowing how to advocate for yourself and your achievements is a valuable skill in everyday conversation and when seeking a promotion, raise, or internship. Embracing your achievements and sharing your journey without shame are vital to your personal and professional growth.
- With great joy comes great success. While pursuing career growth is important, it should never come at the expense of your happiness. Many think that they will be happy after they make a certain amount of money or after they hold a specific job title, but our expert panelists strongly disagree there is joy in the journey– and if you can’t find it, you may be on the wrong path. When you approach your professional development with enthusiasm and genuine positivity, the rest will follow, and success will ensue.
Stay Connected with Apex for Youth For More Events
This panel was part of Apex for Youth’s Career Exploration Panel.
Watch the full series on YouTube:
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