From the Field to the Boardroom: Unlikely Journeys to Wall Street

Wall Street isn't just for finance graduates. Some of its rising stars come from unexpected backgrounds, blending diverse experiences into successful careers.

Lamar Cardinez

• Former Aspiration: Pro football player
• Experience: Interned at Madison Square Garden, worked with the NFL
• Current Role: HomeCourt Partners at Blue Owl
• Notable Deal: Phoenix Suns' $4 billion sale

Catherine Kress

• Education: Anthropology and Psychology
• Experience: Fieldwork in Sierra Leone, researched Angola's energy sector
• Current Role: Chief of Staff to the CEO at BlackRock
• Expertise: Global politics and business trends

Jack Levendoski

• Background: Grew up globally, started in engineering
• Experience: Managed offshore oil projects
• Current Role: Executive Director at JPMorgan
• Focus: Tech deals

Josef Menasche

• Education: Chemistry and Math
• Experience: Academic research
• Current Role: Managing Director at Goldman Sachs
• Focus: Real estate and private equity deals

Aman Mittal

• Background: Electronics Engineering
• Experience: Digital infrastructure advisory work
• Notable Deals: Over 15 data-center deals totaling more than $25 billion

Nikunj Jain

• Education: Machine Learning
• Experience: Taught math, interned at Apple, worked for the Department of Defense
• Current Role: Head of Asia Research at Bridgewater
• Focus: Turning regional activity into trading signals

Jackie Shepherd

• Background: Division I golfer
• Experience: Full-ride scholarship, captained university team, started in accounting
• Current Role: Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley
• Notable Deals: Worked on roughly $250 billion in transactions

These stories show that Wall Street values diverse experiences. Whether it's sports, science, or engineering, different backgrounds bring fresh perspectives to finance.