From screenwriting to stand-up: How 6 Goldman Sachs managing directors turned personal experiences into career success

Sun, 11/16/2025 - 07:02

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From left: Newly promoted Goldman Sachs managing directors Myriam Coulibaly and Joe Hall. They're two of the MDs who say passions outside of work have benefited their professional pursuits.
Courtesy of Goldman Sachs

Six new Goldman Sachs MDs share how passions outside finance shape their work and leadership.
From filmmaking to the Marines, their paths reveal unexpected lessons for Wall Street success.
The 2025 MD class shows how life beyond the desk can enhance their insight at work.

They've made films, performed stand-up, run races, and served in the Marines. For some of the members of Goldman Sachs' newest class of managing directors, these pursuits aren't just hobbies — they've shaped how they lead, think, and confront the stress of the job.

So how did they get here? These new leaders at the Wall Street bank say that experiences away from the desk help them stay grounded under pressure, forge deeper connections with clients, and find fresh perspectives in an industry that rarely pauses.

Business Insider spoke with six members of the 2025 MD class — some of the 638 people the firm elevated to the title, which sits one rung below its partnership — about how their lives outside finance have shaped the way they work.

Wall Street is often seen as a world of uniform resumes, but these unexpected backgrounds show that the people who work in the industry aren't a monolith from the same schools with the same interests or the same Patagonia vests.

Indeed, Goldman's new MD class counts among its ranks a filmmaker, a former Marine, an ex-stand-up comic, and a pediatric cancer survivor who's fighting childhood cancer on behalf of others now. Their experiences outside finance, they say, augment the work they do inside the bank.

Here's what they told us about how those experiences have shaped them.

Surviving pediatric cancer instilled a drive to give back

Michael Brill, head of capital formation for hybrid capital in the asset and wealth management division, said that philanthropy is a key pillar in his life. It hits home for personal reasons: He's a pediatric cancer survivor who's been healthy for the last 25 years, but is committed to helping others who are diagnosed at a young age in the consequential fight.

To that end, he serves as the chair of the Board of Associates for the Ronald McDonald House New York, which he said "provides a seamless circle of support for families with a child battling pediatric cancer or other serious illnesses."

He leads a 30-member board at the organization and manages a fundraising budget, efforts to expand awareness for the charitable organization, and continually ensures that the board and community remain committed and engaged.

"My past experiences and work with the RMH-NY have shaped who I am and how I operate — not only personally, but also professionally," Brill told Business Insider. "I believe in paying forward the mentorship and opportunities I've been given — focusing on developing people, creating accountability, and leading by example. It's also a reminder of the importance of maintaining perspective and staying resilient in the day-to-day."

Running serves as a reminder that 'discomfort is temporary'

Myriam Coulibaly, a Goldman managing director, enjoys running. — Goldman Sachs managing director Myriam Coulibaly enjoys running, which she says has taught her that discomfort is only temporary and she can push through.
Courtesy of Goldman Sachs

For Myriam Coulibaly, the answers often become clear when the rubber hits the road — literally.

"Running has shown me that there will always be someone faster than you and someone slower than you (hopefully). All you can control is how you show up," the newly promoted managing director on the Americas equity research management team and global head of client engagement for equity research told Business Insider.

"It has also taught me to 'fall in love with the process,'" she said. "While a win or personal best is always the goal, the work it takes to get there provides great satisfaction. As it relates to work, it has helped me reinforce mental toughness and build resiliency."

Coulibaly added that she isn't wearing headphones or listening to music when running; instead, she embraces the quiet.

"I don't listen to music when I run, forcing me to be fully present in the moment," she said. "When I'm struggling in a workout or race, I remind myself that it is just a moment in time, and the discomfort is temporary."

Landing the punchline helps even when writing reports

Lizzie Dove is no stranger to the microphone. And knowing how to land the joke, she says, pays dividends even when working on cut-and-dried tasks where being funny isn't the goal — like writing a research report.

"I have sadly hung up my hat, but I used to do stand-up comedy and am still a huge fan of seeing comedians perform live whenever I can," Dove, a senior gaming, lodging, and leisure analyst in the global investment research division, said. "Landing a joke with confidence in a concise way and communicating with ease in front of a crowd were invaluable lessons that I use every day."

She added that "the ability to connect with an audience and deliver a message with impact" were skills she forged while on stage but are advantageous today, "whether I'm talking to investors or writing reports."

Perfecting the craft of storytelling

Joe Hall, Goldman Sachs — Goldman Sachs private wealth advisor and managing director Joe Hall has written and directed several feature films, some of which have garnered awards at international film festivals.
Courtesy of Goldman Sachs

Joe Hall, a private wealth advisor in the asset and wealth management division, is a legit filmmaker, writing and directing multiple projects.

His first feature film, "The Road to Galena", which was released in 2022, has won awards at international film festivals, including in Prague and Montreal. In Prague, the movie was honored with the Grand Prix award, the festival's equivalent to best feature film; and in both Prague and Montreal, it was recognized in the best director category.

"I have two new features in various stages of development," he told Business Insider. "Storytelling has been a valuable skill in my Goldman work, helping to deliver complex financial data in terms and with context that is meaningful to clients."

The power of a well-rounded background

Jim Schneider, a senior semiconductor analyst in global investment research, didn't just learn about the sector he covers on the job. He holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering with a focus on semiconductor device and manufacturing technology.

Schneider said that he's "learned many lessons from one world that can be applied to the other," given that he's steeped in both technology and financial services. "Having a well-rounded educational background — not just in science and engineering but also in humanities — has been incredibly helpful," he explained, "in being able to 'context switch,' navigate career transitions, and bring a broader perspective to my work."

Serving in the Marines revealed what really matters

Bering Tsang, a new managing director on the healthcare mergers and acquisitions team within the global banking and markets division, served in the Marine Corps, which he said "provided me with a really good foundation for what's most important day to day."

The investment banker pointed to "core values" that military service instilled in him, including "integrity, empathy, and resiliency." Teamwork, he said, is equally essential. These values have "helped me build trust with my team and clients, navigate and bounce back from complex situations, and adapt to fast-paced environments," he added.

Plus, he said the Marines showed him how to put a team together and keep it together when the times get tough.

"It's about investing in them and going through shared experiences to sharpen individuals into a team focused on a shared objective," he continued. "Great teams consist of great individuals who act as if they have to shoulder more than their own weight. If everyone believes that, the team becomes pretty powerful."

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From screenwriting to stand-up: How 6 Goldman Sachs managing directors turned p…