After college, I was not sure what my career path might be or even what I wanted it to be. I knew what I did not want but figuring out what I did was far less clear. I started as an engineering major but graduated with a degree in sociology. My extracurriculars in college were theater and math modeling competitions. I had an analytical nature and a deep desire to make a positive impact, but I couldn’t yet see how to combine those traits into a meaningful direction.
That changed when I walked through the doors of a financial advisory firm, now referred to as a municipal advisory firm, to begin an administrative role. I had never heard of public finance or municipal bonds, but I quickly discovered a field that aligned with both my values and my strengths. Public finance combines public service with problem-solving. Municipal advisors serve as fiduciaries while assisting issuers with funding infrastructure and driving economic development. Today, I can look out my office window and see a bridge I helped an issuer fund, then walk to the kitchen to fill my glass with water made potable in part through projects financed by a subsidized funding program we advise. The problems we help solve are tangible, and the impact is real, whether it’s clean water, affordable housing, safe roads, or schools.
More than twenty-five years later, I have held various roles but never switched careers. The map would have been unreadable to me when I first started, and I’m grateful for where it has led. Public finance and specifically advocating for municipal clients and not-for-profits has brought me a world of adventures, visits to many state capitals, and the deep satisfaction of knowing our work improves the communities we serve.
