• As a curious 9-year-old, I would sneak a peek from upstairs into our family dining room and saw a man who immediately commanded attention. He wore a suit, exuded importance, and carried an aura of success. This man was Kerry Givant, my parents' financial advisor. From that moment, I knew finance was my calling.

    Fast forward a decade, and there I was, interning under Kerry at Merrill Lynch. This internship was my gateway into the financial world, and it solidified my passion for the industry. With the summer behind me, I returned to school more determined than ever to pursue a career in finance.

    In college, I declared a business major with a concentration in finance. As graduation approached, I faced the daunting task of choosing a specific path within finance. Corporate finance, investment banking, management consulting, wealth management—the options seemed endless and overwhelming. After numerous info sessions and soul-searching, I set my sights on investment banking.

    Landing an internship wasn't easy. It took months of relentless cold-calling, LinkedIn messaging, and emailing. Finally, one firm took a chance on me. I secured a summer investment banking internship, not because of my extensive knowledge but because of my persistence and drive.

    Four weeks into the internship, I faced a harsh reality check. My manager criticized my work, saying it wasn't up to standard and that I needed to improve or risk an early termination. Sitting on my bed, heart sinking, I decided I wouldn't let this setback define me. The next day, I walked into my manager's office, and asked for guidance to ensure I never made the same mistakes again. Despite my efforts, the internship ended without a full-time offer.

    Entering my senior year without a job offer was tough, especially as many of my friends had secured positions. I dedicated myself to the job hunt, attending countless info sessions, studying for interviews, and applying to numerous positions. By graduation, I still hadn't found the right opportunity.

    Then, during a graduation trip to Hawaii, I received an email from Oaktree Capital Management. They wanted to conduct an initial screening call at 8am Pacific Standard Time—5am Hawaii time. I didn't hesitate and made myself available. The process didn't start smoothly; for my first in-person interview arrived 15 minutes late (due to road closures). When asked about my tardiness, I thought I had blown my chance. But I explained the situation and continued the interview.

    Reflecting on my previous ‘failed’ interviews, I realized they had prepared me for this moment. After multiple rounds of interviews and a super day, I landed the job at Oaktree, becoming one of the youngest employees at the firm. Staying in Los Angeles and working for a world-renowned institution felt like a dream come true. This was just the beginning, and the next 6 years would be filled with growth, learning, and new challenges.

  • When I first walked through the doors of Oaktree, I was fueled by ambition and ready to take on the world. The excitement was electric; this was the moment I had been preparing for my entire life. As an analyst, I was placed in the Special Situations, Power, and European Principal team—Oaktree’s version of private equity. This was it!

    But let me tell you, it wasn’t all smooth sailing from day one. The first 8 months were a steep learning curve. I had to master new processes, decode industry jargon, and navigate the diverse personalities within the team. Those early months demanded relentless patience and a work ethic that had me sacrificing happy hours for late nights at the office. What I learned during this time is that making your manager’s life easier is an optimal way to increase your chances at advancing in your career. What’s the best way to make your manager’s life easier: save them time!

    Once I had a firm grip on my responsibilities, I began identifying ways to streamline tasks and took the initiative to propose taking ownership of certain reports and analyses. This not only freed up my manager’s time but also showcased my readiness to take on more responsibility.

    However, technical skills alone weren’t enough to drive my growth. I quickly learned that attitude and relationship-building are equally important. The right connections within the company can serve as your biggest advocates, helping to propel your career forward. How you engage with your colleagues, handle stress, and maintain a positive work environment—these are all crucial factors that others notice and appreciate. The work you do beyond your desk is just as vital as the work you do at it.

    My biggest breakthrough at Oaktree came when I realized that the toughest challenges are often in your mind. Less than 2 years into my role, I found myself at a crossroads. My manager had just been promoted, and I was next in line to fill his role. The weight of stepping into a position that had been held by someone with 6 years of experience was overwhelming. Doubts swirled in my head—was I ready? Could I live up to the expectations?

    For a brief moment, I considered stepping back, maybe even looking for a new job to avoid the embarrassment of potential failure. But then, I remembered what had brought me to Oaktree in the first place: resilience, determination, and the ability to just figure it out. I flipped my mindset, recalling the countless hours I had put into getting to this point. This was my shot, and I wasn’t about to let it slip away.

    I threw myself into the role, blocking out distractions and focusing on delivering the highest quality of work possible. Ten months later, I was promoted to Associate. Less than 2 years after that, I was promoted to Assistant Vice President, leading and managing my own team.

    Throughout this journey, one thing has remained constant: accountability. I held myself responsible for everything that happened in my career. The hard truth is that you are exactly where you are supposed to be. Blaming others or indulging in self-doubt will only hold you back - be accountable for everything within your control. You can’t fail; you can only learn.

  • Navigating your career growth isn’t just about doing great work—it’s about strategically positioning yourself to be seen as invaluable. If you’re eyeing a promotion or raise, the process starts long before you ever set foot in a negotiation room. Here’s how to prepare, build leverage, and handle the inevitable “no” that can often come your way.

    The key to securing a promotion is to start planning well ahead of when you’re eligible. Six to eight months before your promotion window, schedule a meeting with your manager. But don’t ask, “What do I need to do to get promoted?” Instead, focus on growth: “What would it take for me to grow in this company?” This subtle shift takes the pressure off and opens a constructive dialogue.

    Together, agree on at least three milestones that, if achieved, would position you for more responsibility and autonomy. These should be tangible targets that clearly demonstrate your readiness to take on more.

    While you’re working towards those milestones, your mission is to make yourself indispensable. Own tasks that no one else is doing—or that no one else can do as well as you. Your goal is to make your manager feel like losing you would be a significant hit to the team’s efficiency and success.

    Your contributions should stand out not just because they’re good, but because they’re essential. This could mean taking on a unique project, streamlining a complicated process, or becoming the go-to expert in a critical area.

    Negotiations are all about leverage—the ability to influence decisions in your favor. Creating leverage starts with understanding where your power comes from. One source of leverage is the milestones you’ve been working on; if you’ve met and exceeded them, you’ve already proven your value.

    But leverage isn’t limited to your personal performance. It can also come from factors like team dynamics, company performance, timing, industry standards, or even competing offers. Ask yourself: “What is unique about the value I bring to the company? Do my contributions save time, reduce costs, or drive revenue?” The best leverage comes from being reliable and indispensable.

    Don’t fall into the “lucky to be here” syndrome. Think about this, companies aim to spend the least amount of money for the most amount of work, while employees want the most amount of money for the least amount of work. This natural disconnect means you should never feel guilty about asking for what you deserve.

    Negotiating your salary has a compound effect—it doesn’t just impact your current paycheck, but also your future raises and the market standards for others in your role. By advocating for yourself, you’re also setting a precedent that benefits those who come after you. Remember, you benefited from the negotiations of your predecessors, so pay it forward.

    Negotiations almost always start with a “no.” If the answer were “yes,” then you wouldn’t have a negotiation. A “no” often means “not right now,” and it’s your job to find out why. Ask what the concerns are, and let the other side explain the barriers. Understanding their reservations gives you a blueprint of what needs to change to turn that “no” into a “yes.”

    Embrace the “no” as part of the process and use it as an opportunity to address the challenges. Each setback is just a stepping-stone on the path to the career growth you’re working hard to achieve.

    Navigating your career growth and negotiating for what you deserve requires strategy, preparation, and resilience. By setting clear milestones, making yourself indispensable, building leverage, and skillfully handling setbacks, you can position yourself for success. Remember, the best negotiations begin with preparation.

  • The job interview is a unique moment to showcase your skills, demonstrate cultural fit, and, most importantly, show the interviewer that you’re the perfect candidate. To do this effectively, you need more than just a polished resume and practiced responses to typical questions. Standing out in today’s competitive job market requires a strategic, personal approach to connecting with interviewers on a deeper level. In this post, I’ll share three powerful tactics: storytelling, asking thought-provoking questions, and directly addressing any concerns the interviewer may have about your candidacy.

    1. Harness the Power of Storytelling

    Storytelling is one of the most effective ways to make your experience memorable and meaningful. People connect with stories because they make information more relatable and emotionally impactful. When you tell a well-crafted story about a relevant experience, you offer the interviewer a glimpse into how you think, solve problems, and work with others.

    Why Storytelling Works: The brain processes stories differently from raw data or facts. A story adds context and texture to your experience, helping the interviewer visualize you in action and see the value you bring to the table. When you share a story, focus on an example that demonstrates your skills in a way that aligns with the job requirements. This could be a time when you took initiative, solved a challenging problem, or achieved something significant.

    How to Craft a Story: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) as a framework. For example, if you’re applying for a role that values innovation, you could tell a story about a time you identified a gap in a process and took steps to improve it. Describe the situation, your role, the specific actions you took, and the outcome. Keep it brief yet detailed enough to show your thought process and commitment to excellence.

    2. Ask Thought-Provoking Questions

    Toward the end of an interview, you’ll likely be invited to ask questions. This is a golden opportunity to stand out by demonstrating genuine interest and strategic thinking. Avoid asking questions that can be easily answered through the company website or job description. Instead, aim to ask thoughtful questions that give you deeper insights into the company’s culture and the team’s values.

    Examples of Thought-Provoking Questions:

    “What does success look like for this role in the first six months to a year?”

    “What challenges has the team faced recently, and how can this role help address those?”

    “How does the company approach employee development and growth?”

    These questions show that you’re not only interested in the role but also in understanding how you can contribute meaningfully. Thoughtful questions often reveal a candidate’s curiosity, initiative, and strategic mindset, which are qualities that hiring managers value.

    3. Address Concerns Directly

    One of the most effective ways to demonstrate confidence and professionalism is to ask the interviewer if there are any concerns about your candidacy. This might seem risky, but addressing potential concerns head-on can help turn doubts into positives. By inviting constructive feedback, you show that you are open to growth and willing to tackle challenges. This also gives you a chance to clarify any points that may not have been fully covered or address perceived gaps in your experience.

    How to Ask and Address Concerns: Phrase the question in a way that invites open, honest feedback. You might say something like, “Are there any aspects of my experience or background that you have concerns about regarding this role?” Listen carefully to their response, and then respond thoughtfully. For example, if they’re concerned about your lack of experience in a particular software, you could highlight your quick learning skills, offer examples of times when you adapted to new tools, or emphasize any relevant transferable skills.

    Why This Approach Works: By proactively addressing potential concerns, you demonstrate resilience and adaptability. This strategy also gives you an opportunity to show that you are self-aware and willing to bridge any skill gaps to meet the role’s demands.

    Bringing It All Together

    Using storytelling, asking thought-provoking questions, and addressing concerns are powerful strategies to set yourself apart in an interview. Each of these tactics helps you build a connection with the interviewer, showcase your personality, and demonstrate that you’re not only qualified but also a dynamic and thoughtful candidate.

    Remember, standing out in an interview isn’t just about listing your achievements. It’s about showing the interviewer who you are, how you think, and why you’d be a valuable addition to their team. By implementing these strategies, you can confidently present yourself as a candidate who is well-prepared, self-aware, and genuinely interested in contributing to the company’s success. So, before your next interview, take time to prepare a few stories, craft thoughtful questions, and be ready to address any concerns. These steps will ensure that you leave a lasting impression—and increase your chances of landing the job.