I spent years working towards my dream job at JPMorgan in Singapore. But 2 years after I got it, I quit — here's why.

• Xaviera Ho, 29, spent years working towards her dream job at JPMorgan.
• But two years after landing her dream job as an investment analyst, she quit.
• A combination of push and pull factors ultimately led her to the decision.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Xaviera Ho, a 29-year-old investment professional who previously worked at JPMorgan. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified her employment history.

I became interested in the financial markets when I was 16 years old.

I was at a bookstore when I chanced upon Robert Kiyosaki's "Rich Dad Poor Dad." Reading Kiyosaki's book got me hooked on the concept of investing and compounding one's wealth.

That was when I realized that I wanted to go to business school and pursue a career in finance.

Going all in on internships and co-curricular activities at business school

After graduating high school, I went on to study at the National University of Singapore Business School, where I was awarded a scholarship that covered my college tuition.

During my four years in business school, I did several finance-related internships, including stints with an investment bank and a hedge fund.

Besides internships, I participated in stock pitching competitions and joined investment-related student clubs.

Being a part of those clubs expanded my financial investment knowledge while allowing me to network with seniors and alumni in the banking industry.

Living the dream at JPMorgan

I was so excited when I got my offer at JPMorgan. It was my dream firm, and I thought I would stay there until I became a managing director.

My first year with JPMorgan was a honeymoon period. The exposure to the markets was fantastic. I got to learn about all sorts of asset classes while being a part of a very encouraging, high-caliber team.

I remembered telling myself then, "Oh my gosh, I'm living my life as a first-year analyst at JPMorgan."

Feeling the pull toward impact investing

During my second year, I started volunteering at the bank's client events.

I remember touring Tencent's headquarters in Shenzhen as part of the JPMorgan Tech Exchange, an annual event where the bank brings together thought leaders and investors to discuss investment opportunities in tech.

One thing that stuck with me until today was a demonstration of Tencent's facial recognition technology and how it can be used to locate missing people in China.

Later, I helped out at the bank's impact investing event in Kuala Lumpur, where I learned how investors were making attractive returns while investing in mission-driven businesses.

Volunteering for those events gave me a broader perspective on the markets and showed me what new trends were going to impact our lives.

I decided then that if I wanted to build my career, I needed to be in a growth sector.

There is no such thing as work-life balance in banking

There were two main things that pushed me out of banking.

For one, the banking work culture didn't gel with my outlook on life. There's no such thing as work-life balance or work-life integration.

Because I was so involved with the markets and making trades, I had to be on top of the financial market news. I also had to be constantly available to respond to senior bankers and clients, even after hours and on weekends.

Getting lost in the web of bureaucracy

Working in a large organization like JPMorgan, whose headquarters are located in the US, can feel like being a cog in the wheel at times.

Many initiatives or positive changes that you want to implement can get lost in a web of bureaucracy.

I realized that I prefer to have the autonomy to start projects. I wanted to be closer to the key decision-makers.

Leaping into private investing

I went on to join a private investment firm. I enjoy working at my current company and have taken up secondments in Vietnam and Seattle.

Compared to JPMorgan, where the impact of my work wasn't so tangible, I feel a sense of ownership over the portfolio companies that I help manage.

That said, I have no regrets about starting off my career at JPMorgan.

I often tell my juniors at the National University of Singapore that they should start out at a bulge bracket bank if they want a career in finance.

The branding, exposure, and networking opportunities that you get from working at a top bank like JPMorgan can be a great booster to your career.

Once you have that on your resume, you can branch out and do whatever you want.