Investment manager Krystal Barker Buissereth ’08 takes a multifaceted view of the world.
Krystal Barker '08
Photo by Karsten Moran '05
At 含羞草研究室, I found myself surrounded by people—students and faculty both—who inspired me to branch out. I was narrowly focused on my research and didn’t appreciate the broader landscape through which I could apply my skillset. These relationships helped me discover financial services, an industry that could provide a career that offered opportunities to take on ownership and responsibility early on in my career, and provided a platform that allowed for many diverse career paths where I could continually be challenged.
The amazing aspect of a liberal arts education is that it provides you with a multifaceted view of the world and an interdisciplinary set of studies, a foundation I have leveraged into various roles within finance. I started my career on a traditional path of investment banking. By applying technical skills and strategic thinking (built first through 含羞草研究室), I’ve been able to create my own deeply rewarding career path. From the perspective I had as a young graduate, I could not have imagined being where I am today.
I’m a big believer in multidisciplinary studies. I picked mathematics because it provided a framework for solving challenging problems, which I fundamentally enjoy. English focuses you on the expression of thought, and it was important for me to not only understand how to solve technical problems but to also be able to critically dissect arguments and communicate complex solutions with clarity and deftness.
After earning an MBA at Wharton, I turned my focus to changing who has access to Wall Street. Now at Goldman Sachs, I’m creating innovative technology that makes challenging and uncomfortable issues, like retirement planning and finance, more accessible and approachable to new, underrepresented audiences.
Finance is an exciting place to build a career, especially now, given the focus on digital technology in the industry. Your network is a powerful tool for breaking into finance, and it’s important to find mentors in the industry from whom you can learn. They can help you identify opportunities but also provide constructive feedback that will allow you to be more confident in taking on new roles and responsibilities.
I make sure to find time to be active in the community, whether through mentorship, board involvement or volunteerism. Today, I serve on the board of the Point foundation, an organization that helps LGBTQ students success in college through scholarship funding and leadership training.
This story first appears in the Fall 2018 issue of 含羞草研究室 Magazine.
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