How I started my career in Investment Management

When I first started undergrad at NYU, I was so excited to explore a career close to the financial markets but was unsure where to start. Exploring diverse opportunities and being part of the Girls Who Invest program kickstarted my journey towards the exciting and ever-evolving field of investment management, ultimately leading me to Vanguard’s Investment Management Development Program (IMDP).

Throughout my four years at NYU, I loved having the opportunity to explore various student organizations and internships. As a first-year student, I was uncertain on which career path felt “right” but found that keeping an open mind to new experiences would help me in finding the answer. My experience with Girls Who Invest, a non-profit dedicated to increasing the number of women in portfolio management and executive leadership, inspired me to pursue opportunities in investment management. I was fascinated by the idea that my research and expertise could one day influence investment decisions, and thereby shape the world around me.

By the time my senior year of college rolled around, I knew that I wanted to stay within investment management full time, but I also wanted to dive deeper into where I “fit in” best within the industry. Would I thrive in a fast-paced, frontline markets role similar to my GWI summer internship or would I love a research role that allowed me to hone my fundamental analysis skills? Making that decision as a rising college senior felt mind boggling.

That’s where Vanguard’s Investment Management Development Program (IMDP) came into the picture! IMDP is a two-year rotational program, aimed at developing crew members with a strong, diverse skillset across all varied roles in Vanguard’s Investment Management Group. In the program, crew members have four 6-month rotations across different groups, before “launching” into a permanent full-time role. Crew members, or “IMDPers”, work together closely with program managers to craft a unique two-year experience, based on participant interest. Every rotation allows you the opportunity to challenge yourself, develop new skills, and add value to teams across Vanguard’s Investment Management Group.

Once I learned about IMDP, I had a gut feeling that Vanguard was the right place for me. Through networking with IMDP’s program managers and recent program alumni, I grew increasingly excited to explore different divisions within investment management, step outside of my comfort zone, and learn more about myself and my interests along the way. Moreover, I admired how Vanguard was committed to developing early career professionals and I knew that I wanted to start my career at a place that would allow me to find my niche in the industry.

After being accepted into IMDP, I moved to Philadelphia and began my journey at Vanguard in 2022. My favorite aspect of IMDP was the level of mentorship, friendship, and confidence the program empowered me with. Before I even set foot on Vanguard’s Malvern campus, I was paired with an alumni buddy, who thoughtfully helped me prep for starting my career at Vanguard and supported me throughout my time in IMDP. My support network here grew on the job too! At the beginning of each rotation, I was always given space to learn the ropes of a brand-new division in investment management from all levels of crewmembers. I was also encouraged to share my perspective and ask questions (no matter how small), which helped me quickly scale the learning curve and add value.

I also enjoyed navigating these four rotations with my “cadre”, or group of fellow analysts in the rotational IMDP experience with me. My cadre was more than just my first professional network peers of Vanguard, but also my first set of friends and community in Philadelphia.

Throughout IMDP, I rotated across various roles in manager selection research, fixed income trading, active investing research, and municipal credit research. Every six months, I found myself in a new seat, developing new skillsets that taught me more about my strengths and interests.

As I reflected on my four rotations at the end of the program, I realized that I felt most excited about research projects that allowed me to dive deep into a sector and develop expertise. At the same time, I grew to love the quantitative nature of fixed income and wanted to stay close to the action of the markets. My final rotation in municipal credit research was the perfect blend of these two interests and where I ultimately launched as a full-time research associate!

In my current role as a Municipal Credit Research Associate, I enjoy assessing the macroeconomic drivers that impact the credit strength of municipal issuers, and I work closely with credit analysts, portfolio managers, and traders to craft investment strategies for our portfolios. I love being able to analyze real-world projects and work with a collaborative team, full of diverse perspectives.

Coming full-circle, I also now co-lead Vanguard’s Leadership Circle Partnership with Girls Who Invest, as part of Vanguard’s Junior Talent Fund. Most recently, I helped plan Girls Who Invest’s Summer Intensive Program Capstone & Graduation Day, hosted at Vanguard’s main campus in Malvern, PA.

The IMDP program and my involvement in GWI provided me with an incredible foundation to kickstart my journey in investment management. As I chart my course in this next chapter of my career, I am passionate about bringing more women into the industry as well – you belong here, too!

-Nisha H.

Learn more about our Investment Management Development Program.