Goldman Sachs CEO to graduates: 'Best day ever to build a career'

Business school graduates are entering the job market at a time of tremendous opportunity, says David Solomon, head of Goldman Sachs, one of the largest banks in the United States. When he started his career, to analyze stocks, he had to go to the library, pick up old issues of The Wall Street Journal, manually write out the historical value of a stock, and draw out a chart on millimeters - all of which took about six hours. "Today, if you want to compare a stock's performance to its competitors, all you have to do is say ten words to your phone and it will produce results faster than you can get a drink at Bonners Bar," he says.

Recently, the head of Goldman Sachs spoke to MBA graduates of Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Oninvest publishes the main points from his speech.

- In my 42-year career, I have learned that there are certain core values that remain the same no matter how much technology and culture change. And if you are guided by them, they will not only help you strive for excellence and realize your potential, but also give you a great chance to look back in adulthood, as I do now, and feel genuinely satisfied with how you managed your time.

- The first value is growth. Accept criticism. Be open to change. The ability to analyze your own shortcomings and adapt is an amazing life skill.

- One of the things that has helped me tremendously is the ability to find mentors I trust and to believe them when they tell me I can do better. I learned a lot of that from my father, who was the ultimate expert on exactly what I could get better at.

- The second value is commitment. Be there when you need to be there. A big part of success is built on understanding exactly what and who is important to you and being there for them over and over again.

- The third value is connections. Invest in people and relationships. Truth be told, you don't have to make an effort to find smart, fun, and interesting people in your life. You graduate in the company of more than 800 such people. And when you return to your career in all sorts of places around the world, do your best to keep those connections alive.

- There have been various times in my career where I would just pick up the phone every week and try to call three to five people. Without any business or reason, just, "Hey, was thinking about you. How are you?" Especially if they were going through a difficult phase in their life. I didn't pay much attention to it at the time, but years later people started telling me how much it meant to them. And in many cases, it has made our relationships much deeper.

- Whichever path you choose, invest in the relationship. It will help you succeed. It will make your journey more fulfilling. But to keep you energized for the long journey that lies ahead, you'll need the fourth and final value I want to talk about, which is passion. Develop something that energizes you and never let go.

- It's important to choose a career that you are truly passionate about - I did just that. I love finance and I'm thrilled with the career path I've been on. But at the same time, I think it's important to have a passion for something other than work.

- In July 2017, my hobby [DJing - Oninvest] was criticized and I was demanded to quit. Six months before that, I had become president of Goldman Sachs, and my life was in the crosshairs of the cameras. On that July day, the New York Times ran the headline, "At Goldman, He's David Solomon. At the club, he's DJ D-Sol." Music has always, absolutely always been my passion.

* In his speech, Solomon said he commissioned an artificial intelligence-powered app to write an anthem for graduates - "an upbeat, house-style composition that tells why Wharton School of Business graduates should be optimistic about the future." Here's what came of it:

- Each of you has an activity that brings you joy and drive. Don't let it get sidetracked. You have a long road ahead of you, full of setbacks and hard days. You'll find it much easier to get up and shake off each fall if you stay connected to what truly ignites you.

- It's an amazing time. You are starting your career path in an era where technology is once again completely reshaping our daily lives.

- This is not some distant future, this is happening right now. This is the world you are entering. And while you're at it: be open to change. Show up where it matters. Invest in your relationships. Develop your passions. Because today is the best day in the history of the world to be in your shoes, and the prospects before you are enormous.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor