From Business Insider · Alice Tecotzky · · 2m
Jake Woodson becomes Goldman partner at 34
A trader from outside Vancouver gets the call on the market's worst day, with his mom watching from New York.
In brief
A trader from outside Vancouver gets the call on the market's worst day, with his mom watching from New York. Jake Woodson, thirty four, was promoted to Goldman Sachs partner on November fifth during a market sell-off, becoming the second youngest of one hundred nine new partners this year. Originally reported by…
The call comes during chaos
On Thursday, November 5, Jake Woodson, thirty four, was trading at Goldman Sachs when firm president John Waldron called to congratulate him on promotion to partner.
Second youngest of one hundred nine
Woodson oversees trading in leveraged corporate debt and loans. He is the second youngest among the one hundred nine executives who earned the partner promotion this year.
Back to trading after the news
Woodson said colleagues on the leveraged finance credit desk applauded when he took the call. He returned to trading for the rest of the day, though his memory of the moment is foggy.
“It was high-fives and hugs, and then right back to trading for the rest of the day.”
His mom flew in from Canada
Woodson had flown his mom to New York from his hometown outside Vancouver, Canada. He called her first during the work day, and she was teary eyed when he told her the news.
“I flew my mom out because I figured either I'm not going to make it and I could use a shoulder to cry on, or I really want her there to be a part of it.”
Celebration at Monk McGinn's pub
That evening, Woodson's mom joined him and Goldman's credit business in a private room at Monk McGinn's, a pub near the office. Around fifty internal colleagues and twenty clients attended the celebration.
From outside the Ivy League path
Woodson grew up in a suburb forty five minutes outside Vancouver and attended the University of British Columbia rather than Ivy League schools. He was accepted into UBC's Portfolio Management Foundation, which changed his life.
“If you were a betting person, you probably wouldn't bet that there would be a Goldman partner coming from that suburb.”
Twelve years away from family
Woodson joined Goldman in two thousand fourteen, starting in investment grade private credit. He has lived a six hour flight from his family for twelve years, working through the pandemic and the two thousand twenty…
The beginning, not the end
Woodson said making partner feels like the beginning of growing into the role, not a final accomplishment. He expects balancing the daily demands of trading and managing people will become a bigger challenge.
“It's almost the opposite. It's just the beginning of growing into this role and continuing to operate at a high level.”
Treating people the right way
Woodson said treating people kindly and well, whether colleagues or clients, is both morally right and leads to better outcomes. His mom instilled this in him, and he credits Canadian culture for the value.
“It's the right thing to do morally, but it also tends to lead to better outcomes.”
The takeaway
Jake Woodson, thirty four, was promoted to Goldman Sachs partner on November fifth during a market sell-off, becoming the second youngest of one hundred nine new partners this year.
