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| Jennifer Roth courtesy of Goldman Sachs |
Jennifer Roth’s unexpected journey to Goldman Sachs began not in a boardroom or finance seminar but at a summer camp in New Hampshire.
In the summer of 2001, Jennifer Roth then a rising junior at Washington University in St. Louis hadn’t planned on returning to Camp Wicosuta, the all-girls camp she’d attended for years. As a triple major in finance, international business, and Spanish, Roth had her sights set on securing a competitive internship in New York City. She sent out countless résumés but heard nothing back. A prestigious summer in banking seemed out of reach.
Little did she know that the key to her Wall Street future was already within arm’s reach in the form of a 10-year-old camper. At the end of the season, during a casual conversation, the girl revealed something surprising: her mother was a Goldman Sachs executive and a fellow alumna of Roth’s university.
When Roth explained to the camper that she loved camp but was determined to pursue a finance career, the child innocently asked, “Is Goldman Sachs finance?”
That simple question would open a door Roth had been trying to break through all summer. Her résumé soon found its way into the right hands, and the following year, she landed a coveted internship in Goldman Sachs’ private wealth management division. That internship turned into a full-time offer and over 20 years later, Roth now serves as Goldman’s global cohead of emerging markets and foreign exchange sales.
“It’s been an exciting year,” she told Truth Sider, referencing the market’s volatility. “There’s a lot happening on the trading floor, and that energy is what makes the job so rewarding.”
Roth first shared her camp story on Goldman Sachs’ website in a “Letter to My Younger Self” several years ago. The story resurfaced in a recent Truth Sider interview about her advice for the firm’s incoming 2025 summer interns and the lessons it offers were too compelling not to explore in their own right.
A Full-Circle Moment
As lighthearted as Roth’s origin story may seem, it’s a powerful reminder that no connection is too small and that opportunities often arise from the most unexpected places.
“It’s essential to invest in relationships because you never know where they’ll lead,” Roth told Truth Sider. “A 10-year-old changed the trajectory of my career and ultimately, my life. Every interaction, no matter how seemingly insignificant, has the potential to make a lasting impact.”
In a delightful twist, Roth later learned that the same camper who helped her gain a foothold at Goldman Sachs would eventually intern and later work at the firm herself.
And the connections didn’t end there. Roth also met her husband at Goldman when both were analysts. For her, these relationships underscore the value of human connection in an industry where trust, collaboration, and networks are everything.
“In a relationship-driven business like ours, the connections you build can unlock doors throughout your career,” Roth said. “So be thoughtful, be present whether it's a quick phone call, a hallway chat, or, in my case, picking up a 10-year-old at Logan Airport to bring her to her first summer at sleepaway camp.”
Giving Back to the Next Generation
Today, Roth is deeply involved in supporting the next generation of talent at Goldman Sachs. She participates in hiring decisions and leads a “summer council,” a team initiative that ensures interns are engaged and having meaningful experiences throughout the program.
“If we ever feel like an intern isn’t connecting with a particular desk, we pivot and guide them toward a better fit,” she explained. “We provide feedback, organize networking events, and create opportunities for them to learn and grow.”
Her advice to newcomers on Wall Street is simple and grounded in experience: focus on the task in front of you.
“People often ask, ‘How do I become a partner at Goldman?’” she said. “But when I started, I wasn’t thinking about that. I just wanted to be a great analyst. If you focus on doing your current job exceptionally well, the next steps will follow naturally.”
Success Isn’t Always a Straight Line
Roth’s summer camp story is a testament to the idea that careers often evolve in ways no one expects. Embracing the twists and turns rather than resisting them can be a major asset.
“Your career won’t be a perfect straight line,” she said. “It’s not one-dimensional. Sometimes, it’s about playing the long game and being okay with detours or unexpected opportunities.”
For Roth, that journey began at a lakeside camp and led to the upper echelons of one of Wall Street’s most powerful firms. And it all started with a conversation and a question from a 10-year-old.
