
Stephanie Cohen's family has a long history of involvement in the financial industry, with her father being a prominent figure at Goldman Sachs.
Her father's influence likely had a significant impact on her career path, as she followed in his footsteps to join the prestigious investment bank.
Growing up with a family member in such a high-profile position would have provided Stephanie with valuable insights and opportunities, shaping her future career goals.
This exposure likely helped her develop a strong network and understanding of the industry, setting her up for success in her own career.
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Stephanie Cohen's Career
Stephanie Cohen has had a long and successful career at Goldman Sachs, spanning 25 years. She has been learning and growing throughout her time at the company.
She has been encouraged by others to consider whether she's happy in her job and still learning, with Cohen herself saying "If you decide to be here, and decide to do what you're doing, you own it."
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Cohen's Advice to Leaders
Stephanie Cohen's advice to leaders on bringing more women into senior ranks is to "just keep going" and "keep trying new things." She learned this herself while navigating a major pivot for Goldman Sachs, which had already been in motion by the time she became involved.
This pivot, which included entering the retail business, ultimately led to a restructuring in 2022. Cohen acknowledged that the bank did "too much too quickly" and that they entered the business when she was already in the investment bank, making it difficult to figure out what to undo and focus on growing.
To create a more inclusive work environment, Cohen emphasizes the importance of discussing diversity and inclusion as a "strategic imperative" in the same meetings where leaders talk about revenue growth and margins. This approach has helped Goldman Sachs recognize that having inclusive teams will make them a better company.
Cohen's own career path is an example of perseverance and trying new things. After being named cohead of the consumer and wealth-management business, she went on to become the head of platform solutions overseeing transaction banking, credit cards, and enterprise partnerships.
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Running Toward Her Destiny
Stephanie Cohen's career is a testament to the power of running toward her destiny, rather than running away from it. She has encouraged people to consider whether they're happy in their jobs and whether they're still learning.
After 25 years at Goldman Sachs, Cohen could have gone anywhere, but she chose to join a new company as their first-ever chief strategy officer. This move is "really more running towards than running away from something", she said.
Cohen's passion for technology and client-facing solutions was a key driver in her career move. She said, "As you think about my career at Goldman, I was inching towards this whole idea of how do you take technology platforms and use them as client-facing solutions."
Goldman Sachs is not a technology firm, but Cohen saw an opportunity to leverage their world-class technology platforms to drive innovation. She added, "Anyone who has worked with her can attest she operates at a different clock speed", and that's exactly what her new company needs.
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Cohen's decision to join the new company was met with enthusiasm from her colleagues, including Goldman's chief information officer, Marco Argenti. He told her, "This is exactly what you should do", and she agreed, saying, "This is exactly the right company."
The sector, company, and team all aligned for Cohen, making her decision to join the new company a natural one. She said, "I think it's just one of those things where it all lines up."
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Goldman Sachs Departure
Stephanie Cohen, a top Goldman exec, has gone on "leave" that may be permanent, according to sources.
Cohen, the global co-head of the bank's consumer and wealth-management business, has been on temporary leave, supposedly to focus on her family.
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and COO John Waldron said in a memo that they look forward to welcoming Stephanie back when she's ready.
However, multiple sources close to Cohen believe she could be gone for good, citing her desire for a more nimble and entrepreneurial work environment.
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Cohen has reportedly felt mired in red tape at Goldman, which is scaling back its consumer bank operations due to regulatory oversight.
This is not the first time Cohen has gone on leave; during the pandemic, she was holed up in Utah for an extended period with long COVID.
If Cohen doesn't return, it would be the latest in a series of departures that has plagued the bank over the last few years, including several high-profile exits.
Goldman Sachs has lost several key executives, including Omer Ismail, Katie Koch, Harvey Schwartz, Gregg Lemkau, Eric Lane, Stephen Scherr, and Dina Powell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Stephanie Cohen leave Goldman Sachs?
Stephanie Cohen took a temporary leave from Goldman Sachs to focus on her family, with the company's full support. She planned to return to her role at Goldman Sachs.
How much money does a partner at Goldman Sachs make?
A Partner at Goldman Sachs can expect an estimated total pay range of $414K-$702K per year, including base salary and additional pay. The average base salary for a Partner at Goldman Sachs is $295K per year.
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