Voice of Experience: Susan Soh, Partner and Global Head of Marketing and Client Services, Perella Weinberg Partners

Someone once asked Susan Soh, a partner at Perella Weinberg Partners, what she would do if she was to retire today. Her response:

“I would choose to do exactly what I do now because I love it,” said Soh.

If there is one underlying theme that has followed Soh throughout her career, it is that you must be passionate about your work. She first discovered this valuable tenet early in her professional life.

Building a Rewarding Career

Soh, as it turns out, did not always think she would enter the world of financial services. In fact, after graduating from Harvard Law School, she had aspirations of moving to Asia to become a successful attorney. Her trajectory changed, however, when she realized that the corporate legal environment did not ignite a spark in her. “I knew very early on that I would not be happy in a career doing something for which I lacked passion,” said Soh.

Soh, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Yale University, recalled her interest in finance and decided to pursue a career in banking. “The M&A market was heating up at the time and many firms were in search of reformed lawyers to join their team,” explained Soh. She accepted a position as an M&A banker at Bear Stearns. “I worked long, hard hours,” said Soh, “but I loved every minute of it.”

While in this role, Soh expanded her interests and moved to the merchant banking business at Bear Stearns where she worked on private equity investments as well as marketing for the firm’s first institutional fund. That turned into a full-time marketing role, which launched her career in asset raising. When an opportunity presented itself to get in on the ground floor at Lightyear Capital, Soh jumped at the chance to join a venture that appealed to her entrepreneurial nature. It was at Lightyear Capital that she was exposed to the hedge fund industry, an emerging space at the time.

In 2003, Soh entered the hedge fund industry, which brought a whole new world of dynamic markets and different strategies than she had previously experienced in the private equity world. “Very few people make the transition from private equity to hedge funds, so this was definitely new ground for me, but I always found being open to change and new challenges was one of the best ways to advance in your career,” she explained.

During this period, Soh was responsible for hedge fund business development at Highbridge Capital Management. “It was extremely exciting and a great learning experience as I was responsible for marketing each sub-strategy in Highbridge’s multi-strategy fund as a new standalone funds. It was there that I had the opportunity to be mentored by Glenn Dubin, one of the great titans of the hedge fund industry.”

By the time Highbridge was fully-acquired by JP Morgan, Soh was prepared once again to take her career to another level. This is when she was approached by leaders at Perella Weinberg Partners to join their team and build a global distribution effort that would cover hedge funds, private equity, real estate and a multi-manager business. “It was a new firm with $1.2 billion in capital and a who’s who list of founding shareholders” explained Soh.

Excited for the opportunity to be a part of the company from the beginning, Soh accepted the position which would allow her to play a critical role in growing the asset management business at Perella Weinberg. “Having participated in the tremendous growth of Highbridge, it felt like it was the right time to move on to the next adventure. And the chance to work with Joe Perella, Peter Weinberg and Terry Meguid — leading Wall Street figures — from Day 1, was an opportunity I couldn’t pass-up,” she said.

Now, as a partner and global head of marketing and client services, Soh is proud of the role she has played and the influence she has had on the direction of the firm’s business.

Make Your Voice Heard

Growing up, Soh had a very quiet and shy disposition. “I am not that same person today,” said Soh. “I’ve grown tremendously since my childhood. My experience participating in debate clubs, attending Harvard law school and my training as an attorney on Wall Street and as a banker in financial services, taught me how to listen, the importance of having a voice and making sure my voice is heard. These have been invaluable lessons.”

Finding the Right Fit

The culture of a firm is a critical factor, according to Soh, who encourages women to consider how their firm’s culture impacts their life, both on a professional and personal level. “Find a place that allows you to do what you love in a role that can give you diverse experiences and broad exposure. And most importantly, find a firm that’s also supportive and that will challenge you – that’s the only way you’ll grow,” Soh advised.

Collaboration is Key

You can learn a lot from your network, said Soh, who believes in the power of teamwork and collaboration. “It has made a tremendous impact on my career to be able to collaborate with others,” said Soh. “My network acts as a wonderful support system.”

According to Soh, it is critical for senior women to not only support each other, but provide guidance to the next generation of women as they navigate their career path. This is one of the main reasons Soh leads the women’s initiative at Perella Weinberg Partners. “Our goal is to promote an environment that keeps women engaged and provide them with the tools and resources that help them think about their career advancement,” said Soh.

Outside the Office

In her spare time, Soh enjoys spending time with her family and traveling for leisure as often as she can. She also serves on the board of the Association of Asian American Investment Managers.

By Michelle Hendelman