2025-10-08T09:15:02Z Share Facebook Email X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky WhatsApp Copy link lightning bolt icon An icon resembling a stylized lightning bolt symbolizes energy, speed, and insight. Impact Link Save Saved Read in app This story is an exclusive feature accessible only to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider today and start reading immediately. Already have an account? Log in. Business Insider’s annual Rising Stars of Wall Street compilation celebrates a select group of emerging professionals who hold positions of considerable importance and sophistication within the financial sector. Their work frequently involves intricate analysis, multifaceted deal structures, and decisions that influence entire markets. To demystify these high-level roles, Business Insider invited the honorees to describe their day-to-day responsibilities and professional missions in ways comprehensible to anyone, even those unfamiliar with industry jargon. The responses are drawn from exceptional professionals working at pivotal firms such as Blackstone, Moelis, and Goldman Sachs—leading institutions shaping the landscape of modern finance. These Rising Stars specialize in areas including credit solutions, secondary markets, and private capital advisory—segments that often sound opaque to outsiders but are vital to the functioning of global markets. Represented disciplines span from private lending to mergers involving data centers, capturing some of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving corners of finance today. We sought to answer a timeless question: what exactly do these brilliant professionals do each day, and how would they explain their roles when conversing with friends or acquaintances at a dinner party far removed from Wall Street? Below are nine especially illuminating explanations—each revised for clarity and conciseness yet rich with insight. Together, they reveal the breadth and creativity driving the next generation of financiers. Lamar Cardinez, Blue Owl Courtesy of Blue Owl Title: Principal, HomeCourt Partners Fund at Blue Owl Cardinez explained: “My primary mission is to identify compelling investment opportunities across the vibrant worlds of sports, media, and entertainment.” He elaborated that once such an investment has been executed, his responsibility extends to maintaining transparent communication with investors regarding performance and strategic progress. Ultimately, after a designated investment period, his role includes ensuring that investors not only recover their initial capital—the principal—but ideally receive returns surpassing expectations, cultivating long-term relationships built on trust and success. Jackie Shepherd, Morgan Stanley Courtesy of Morgan Stanley Title: Vice President, Separations and Structured Solutions Shepherd candidly noted, “Because my partner is a physician, I constantly find myself rephrasing complex financial concepts into plain language. Otherwise, I can see people’s eyes glaze over.” Simplifying further, she explained that her team assists corporate clients in addressing their most consequential strategic dilemmas—those defining what kind of enterprise they aspire to become. This involves identifying which businesses align with long-term ambitions and determining the most efficient approach to divest or restructure divisions that no longer fit strategically. Benson Kane, TPG Angelo Gordon Courtesy of TPG Angelo Gordon Title: Vice President, Credit Solutions Group Kane drew an analogy readily understandable to any listener: “We operate similarly to a bank, except we do not rely on depositors’ funds.” He added that his group often deals with more intricate or challenging financial situations—what he called “hairier” deals—requiring creative structures. They make loans to companies aiming to expand, refinance, or pursue investment opportunities, effectively enabling growth where traditional banking paths might fall short. Patrick Kearney, Apollo Courtesy of Apollo Title: Principal, Private Equity Kearney distilled his multifaceted profession into clear terms: “In essence, our work revolves around acquiring excellent companies and working to elevate them—from good to great, or from great to even greater.” He emphasized that success hinges on rigorous critical thinking that encompasses not only the firm’s internal capabilities but also external factors such as macroeconomic trends, shifting industry dynamics, and the implementation of targeted initiatives. At its heart, his job requires strategic problem-solving amid the ever-evolving complexity of global markets. Aman Mittal, Moelis & Co. Courtesy of Moelis & Co. Title: Managing Director, Advisory Mittal shared that he typically keeps explanations concise: “I usually just say I work in finance—investment banking specifically—and that’s sufficient.” However, he elaborated that in today’s landscape, much of his work focuses on the booming data center sector, a timely and prominent topic. Broadly speaking, he helps companies navigate critical financial journeys—whether that means selling an enterprise, acquiring another business, or identifying new capital partners to ensure continued growth and stability. Josef Menasche, Goldman Sachs Courtesy of Goldman Sachs Title: Managing Director, Global Co-Head of Secondaries Advisory Menasche described a scenario frequently faced by private equity investors: “Sometimes, you hold a company you believe in deeply—one with tremendous potential that you are not ready to sell because you foresee greater upside ahead. Yet, there remains an obligation to return capital to your investors.” His team offers a sophisticated solution by facilitating agreements where new investors purchase the positions of departing investors, allowing original managers to retain control and continue developing the enterprise. He noted that motivations vary—perhaps admiration for the management team or confidence in an impending industry inflection point—but transparency remains paramount, ensuring that prior investors can choose whether to reinvest alongside the ongoing managers. Mohini Chakravorty, Blackstone Courtesy of Blackstone Title: Principal, Blackstone Infrastructure Chakravorty remarked that she frequently socializes with individuals outside of Wall Street and finds her work relatively easy to explain. “We raise substantial capital from institutional investors and deploy it to acquire operational businesses in the infrastructure sector,” she said. These businesses include digital infrastructure and data centers, transportation networks like airports or toll roads, and energy ventures—particularly those linked to the transition toward sustainable energy. Beyond acquisition, the goal is to enhance these businesses, injecting capital and strategic improvements to drive growth and generate returns for investors. She also highlighted that many would be surprised by how relationship-driven her work truly is: successful deals require building trust and strong partnerships rather than merely offering the highest price. Florian Plath, JPMorgan Chase Courtesy of JPMorgan Chase Title: Executive Director, Mergers & Acquisitions Plath summarized his role as one centered on partnership and strategic alignment: “We assist companies in identifying and connecting with the right partners. Whether owners are contemplating buying, selling, or merging, my team provides comprehensive guidance throughout each stage of the process.” He emphasized that decision-making involves far more than quantitative analysis; cultural compatibility, long-term strategy, and organizational identity all factor into determining whether a merger or sale is truly beneficial. “It’s a bit of detective work,” he said. “In the end, success means both sides walk away feeling confident and genuinely enthusiastic about what comes next.” Joe Slevin, Jefferies Courtesy of Jefferies Title: Managing Director, Private Capital Advisory Slevin approached the explanation with succinct elegance, particularly given the complex nature of secondary markets. “In simple terms,” he said, “we locate patient new shareholders for outstanding private companies.” His work involves connecting long-term investors with high-quality private enterprises seeking stable capital partners, thereby sustaining growth and momentum without the pressures of short-term exits. These cumulative insights collectively underscore how today’s rising financial leaders are redefining not only the business itself but also how it is communicated to the broader public—transparent, approachable, and rooted in genuine human understanding.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-rising-stars-explain-their-jobs-2025-10
