Our Female Founders Reflect on What Inspired Them to Start BT

The Inspo Behind wanting to help children better understand money and finance

Beginning In Finance

Benjamin Talks Co-Founders and Co-CEOs, Nikki Boulukos & Carissa Jordan, both began their careers as women on Wall Street. After interning in the summers of 2006 and 2007, Carissa hit the corporate bond trading desk during the summer of 2008. It was trial by fire as she witnessed firsthand the unraveling of the banking and financial markets with the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the Great Recession.

That same summer of 2008, Nikki was also interning at Goldman in Sales & Trading. As the financial crisis unfolded, Nikki returned to the trading floor in Equity Research Sales upon graduation from Harvard in 2009. In the years following, she was a part of a number of deals including Facebook, General Motors, Michael Kors and Tesla.

Career Q&A

Nikki and Carissa reflect on their tenures as women in finance and how their experience has inspired a mission to pursue financial literacy for girls and boys, alike.

What made you decide to pursue a career in finance?

Carissa: “Since I came from a middle class family that struggled with money, I wanted to pursue a career that allowed me to feel financially secure. In my 8th grade yearbook I put down that I wanted to be a ‘stockbroker’ and a ‘mom’ when I grew up. To be honest, I am not entirely certain I really understood what a stockbroker did back then! In high school, I changed my mind about my future plans a dozen times, and I actually entered college with every intention of going to law school and becoming a lawyer. After interning at a law firm freshman year, I quickly realized that law was not for me. I craved a fast-paced environment, and I wanted a career where every day was different. I also wanted to be where the action was. I started taking finance classes and interning at a fund of funds…it was there that I had my ‘aha moment’ and decided to be a trader.”

What was your highest moment as a woman on Wall Street?

Nikki: “Shortly after my summer internship at Goldman Sachs in 2008, the financial crisis hit. It was a time of uncertainty as I headed back to campus…and receiving the call to be offered a full-time position is something I will certainly never forget. Only a fraction of our internship class was hired given the environment, so I felt extremely grateful and proud to have the opportunity to start after graduation. Another highlight during my tenure was when I was one of the only analysts selected to serve on the Women’s Steering Committee. I was thrilled to be chosen to help advance the professional interests of all the women at Goldman globally.”

How did your time on Wall Street influence your mission to pursue financial literacy?

Carissa: “One of my favorite parts of my job was getting the chance to sit with the interns and explain the products I traded. I loved teaching them about high yield bonds and credit default swaps. I quickly realized how much I enjoyed sharing my knowledge with others. I noticed on the trading floor that even if you make a lot of money, it doesn’t necessarily mean you know how to spend it wisely. Additionally, just because you make a lot of money and invest/save, it doesn’t mean you know how to be generous and help others. It became pretty clear to me that I wanted my kids to know how to spend their money wisely, and also practice giving from a very young age.”

What advice would you give to your daughters, or any young girl, who is interested in a career in finance?

Nikki: “Sometimes if you really want something you need to go outside of your comfort zone. When I was pursuing an internship on Wall Street, I actually walked into an all-male recruiting event on campus because that was the firm I wanted to work at - it was there I met the head of a trading desk who would ultimately become one of my most valuable mentors. The point being, if you want something, go for it! And as for finance specifically, as soon as you realize you want to pursue a career on Wall Street, start following the markets and always have an opinion. Whether you are interested in a career in finance or otherwise, I would say there is no replacement for hard work and preparation!”