Asahi Pompey, Managing Director, Compliance, Investment Banking, Goldman Sachs
The aphorism “know thyself” has been attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates (and many others), but according to Asahi Pompey, Managing Director, Compliance, Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs, the advice is still critical today, over twenty-five hundred years later.
“Know yourself – know your strengths and weaknesses,” she advised. “Do a realistic appraisal of yourself – almost a gap analysis. Where could you develop greater expertise? What is your comfort zone?”
Beginning a career in law, and them moving into corporate counsel roles, and then compliance, Pompey is enthusiastic about striving for excellence in all she does. She advocated passionately about the importance of understanding the business objectives and the objectives of those around you. She said, “Understanding who you are in an unadulterated way is really going to help in your career.”
Forging a Career in Compliance
“I’m from Guyana originally and we moved to the States when I was in elementary school, after high school, I studied in Japan for a year,” began Pompey. After returning from Japan, she attended Swarthmore College, and then went straight to Columbia Law School.
She continued, “I have a somewhat nontraditional path for a compliance officer – and I think that shows that the firm thinks expansively about talent. After law school, I started my career at Cleary Gottleib, and worked in New York and Frankfurt. Upon returning I worked at The Economist as its US Counsel and then at Pfizer as Senior Corporate Counsel. But I was thrilled to get the opportunity to work here at Goldman Sachs.”
“I came to an event at the firm called Careers for Attorneys at Goldman Sachs,” she said. “I didn’t come with any expectations – I was just interested to know about the culture of the firm.”
Shortly thereafter, Pompey said, she was contacted about an opportunity as the Director of Compliance Training for Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Private Wealth Management. She was thrilled – and she took the job.
“I had the opportunity to learn two businesses. And from a compliance standpoint, you’ve got to operate from a fundamental understanding of the businesses. It gives you credibility, and I feel it makes you a better officer.”
Pompey said she was impressed by the culture of the firm from the very beginning. She explained, “This is a true story. On my third morning at Goldman – I was still figuring out what subway to take, and my phone number, and the elevators – I was sitting in a meeting and I was asked about my thoughts on our strategy moving forward. I thought, ‘I’m still learning my phone number!’ That experience was an early lesson on the culture of the firm. It truly values your ideas – people and clients come first here –and at that moment I thought, ‘well the bell has rung.’ So I gave them my thoughts.”
Pompey said she continues to be proud to be a part of the risk management infrastructure of the firm. “The standard of excellence at the firm makes me better. Working in compliance, I think about risk management all the time and I really find it electrifying. But in the past few of years, people have really come to understand the importance of risk management.”
Lessons Learned
Pompey said that one of the most valuable lessons she has learned since starting her career has been the importance of “owning the issue.”
She explained, “You have to own the issue. You have to take full responsibility of an issue – as complex as it may be. Think expansively about what you are going to do.” That means thinking about all of the impacts it may have on the firm and other individuals involved. “Owning the issue is not only about how it may affect my project, but how it will affect everyone else, how it affects the franchise or organization.”
“I have found this helpful, and, frankly, more interesting,” she added.
She continued, “Having a good network is also very important – especially across gender lines. It can be complicated to build that network, it’s challenging to find cross gender mentors and sponsors, but it’s important.”
Regarding work/life balance she said, “I am a believer that it exists. I think you have to make it exist though. It’s a choice you have to make every day. And it’s a series of choices that we make. We have to ask, ‘am I happy with this, or could I have done this a little different?’ The steps or choices we make in our day, every day make a big difference.”
Advice for Women
Pompey had several pieces of advice for women at different stages of their career. She advised young women to build strong client relationships. She said, “Client relationships are key – and for me they are internal clients. You have to think about what’s most important to them, and what’s most important for the firm. How do they define success? Understanding that is key to your success.”
And second, she said, “There’s no substitution for excellence. Be a subject matter expert – it differentiates you – and having that expertise the business is going to need. You have to set priorities.”
For women moving up the ladder, she said, “I think as people get more senior, they think they need to have all of the answers. But it’s important to also ask questions – thoughtful questions that probe for risk or identify gaps. This is a huge value-add. Be a thoughtful voice.”
Pompey has found great value in the firm’s Multicultural Women’s Loft Series – a program created to provide an intimate forum for informal conversations around career development with senior leaders of color at the firm. “I feel like we’re having a fireside chat with a bunch of friends,” she said with a laugh. “Except they’re super senior women and we’re having an open and casual conversation about their career. I always go; it’s a wonderful opportunity to hear about their experience.”
Outside the Office
Pompey said she enjoys spending time with her family when she is outside the office. “I am super passionate about my little boys,” she said, who are one and two and half years old. “I go home, and get in the floor, and crawl around with them.”
“My life away from work is really focused on my two boys – they’re my biggest hobby right now!” she said, laughing.
By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)
