Jordan Alexander

Class Of 2018

Alumna Jordan Alexander’s decision to pursue higher education in the United States was influenced by a range of experiences she encountered during high school. From the age of 15, Jordan had been travelling to America to represent Australia in competitions in the Hereford beef cattle industry. This allowed her to gain exposure in agriculture and genetics while witnessing the cutting-edge research and technology the industry was using. Although her initial intention was to study genomics, Jordan’s academic focus shifted towards economics.

Thanks to the support of her godparents, Jordan had the incredible opportunity to study at James Madison University (JMU), a research university in Virginia. However, her plans to move to the US in 2020 were put on hold due to the pandemic, and Jordan spent a year completing online coursework remotely instead. Eager to seize every opportunity once in Virginia in 2021, Jordan discovered the Madison Investment Fund (MIF), a student-led equity fund managing $500,000 of the JMU Endowment. After a rigorous recruitment process, Jordan secured a full-time offer as an analyst, eventually becoming the portfolio manager for the healthcare sector. The educational opportunities and exceptional alumni network at MIF played a crucial role in Jordan’s success.

“Everyone knows how difficult it is to crack into the finance industry, so we all have each other’s back,” said Jordan. “I have met so many people in the fund who are so important to me that MIF is my home away from home.”

Recognising the need to gain more experience in finance, Jordan decided to come home to shadow a foreign exchange trading desk in Sydney in 2022. Balancing this internship with finding employment for the following year proved challenging, but Jordan’s experience caught the attention of some of the largest and most profitable investment banks and opened doors to new possibilities.

“I was trying to prove myself as an intern, complete summer subjects to increase my grades, and build connections with people in New York,” said Jordan. “I went from late nights in the office, to calls with managing directors at 2am AEST, [and returning] to early mornings at the office. This experience, however, proved to be pivotal in my career path.”

Through hard work and good fortune, Jordan secured a dream job in the Investment Banking Division at Goldman Sachs in New York City, covering the Corporate Derivatives Desk. Now living in a small apartment in downtown Manhattan with a friend working at Morgan Stanley, Jordan is focused on establishing a strong foundation in the American market. However, her long-term aspirations include exploring the European market and eventually returning home.

With an open mindset and optimism for the future, Jordan remains prepared for unforeseeable twists and turns in her career trajectory.