Saya Bliss
Ares Management
New York, NY USA
"Taking the time to reflect and listen to yourself as you go through different experiences...will help you get further in your career where you feel more of a sense of alignment with the work you’re doing and the environment in which you’re working."
Career Roadmap
Saya's work combines: Business, Numbers, and Working with Others
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
There isn't one path into finance. I studied sociology and started my career at a small hedge fund without knowing where it would lead. Look for opportunities that expose you to different parts of the industry and give you the chance to learn. Internships can be valuable, but so can working at smaller organizations and wearing many hats. Stay curious, say yes, and pay attention to the work that energizes you. You don't need to have the entire path figured out before you take the first step.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Sociology
Colgate University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I grew up in New York City, curious about people and cultures, without knowing exactly where that curiosity would lead.
2.
I studied sociology and Asian studies at Colgate University and also studied abroad in Tokyo, experiences that fueled my curiosity about people, cultures and perspectives different from my own.
3.
I said yes to a job at a small hedge fund after college, stepping outside my comfort zone and into an industry I barely knew.
4.
Living through the 2008 financial crisis opened my eyes to uncertainty and taught me the value of diversification in investing and in my career.
5.
I joined a hedge fund consulting firm, where working across clients, products, and strategies widened my perspective on alternative investments.
6.
After eight years at an asset management firm where I wore many hats, I stopped asking what I should do and started asking what gave me energy and alignment.
7.
Following that sense of alignment led me to Ares, where I now help lead investor strategy and solutions while helping clients, my team, and our organization move forward.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
Something is missing in my career and I'm behind in life.
How I responded:
Early in my career journey, I felt like I was behind because I didn't have a lightbulb moment about what I was meant to be doing. I saw all my friends committing to paths pretty early in their journeys. I realized I was looking externally for that lightbulb but slowly began to realize that the light was there for me too...I just had to look internally at what really aligned with me. It takes time but each opportunity and experience will help you learn more about yourself and where you belong.