A few years ago, if a financial professional said they were abandoning the world of money for the world of software, they might have been laughed out of the room. But recent examples (including a banker who went to work for Google, a Barclay’s exec who joined a tech firm, and an economist who launched a healthcare technology venture capital firm) illustrate that financial prowess is exactly the sort of expertise that tech companies desperately need.
Wall Streeter takes Google by storm
A recent Business Insider article described the journey of Sameer Syed, a JP Morgan investment banker who took a position working in strategic partnerships at Google. According to Syed, financial training requires the development of a tremendous work ethic, communication, and a fresh perspective that traditional technology workers sometimes don’t have.
Attention to detail and flexibility are two other traits that often aren’t represented as strongly in tech firms. For instance, Syed’s colleagues have commented on his emails and presentations. “They were like, ‘Oh wow, this is very clean and professional. It looks like we hired a bank to do it,'” he told Business Insider. “Working in banking, you can’t have mistakes or errors, and sharpening this skill is super valuable.”
Despite the stereotypes about stiff bankers, Syed said that financial professionals are taught to adapt to changes and learn on the job quickly. Tech startups want to know that a prospective employee can pick up a new concept and get it immediately. Financial pros can do this because they’ve been in the position of having to rapidly pick up new regulations and products.
For more on this intriguing career path, check out the full post on the QuickBase Fast Track blog.
Comments