Wall Street’s rising stars turn hobbies into connections and respite

Kate Casey, a 32-year-old principal and infrastructure investor at KKR, chose mahjong over golf at a work conference and became a regular player. “It’s become really important to relationship building,” she told Business Insider. Casey likes the game’s mix of strategy and luck and has persuaded her husband to play, too.

Blue Owl’s Diana Liu, 33, learned to ski as an adult and said the skill has helped on work trips to the slopes. She is also trying golf, though with less success. Mussie Tizazu, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation’s head of CLO origination and financing, has taken up padel and is planning client events around it. He said he is still adjusting habits from squash, but that the sport is enjoyable and many clients are getting into it.

For Evercore banker Jim Tilson, squash is easier to fit around family life than golf. With a one-year-old daughter at home, a round can be impractical; squash, he said, lets him “be in and out in an hour.” Goldman Sachs managing director Mike Washington, 32, has studied wine extensively and paired a wine tasting with a fireside chat. He said hobbies help him connect with clients and bring his “full self” to work. After tearing his shoulder while playing basketball with clients three years ago and needing surgery, he found golf as a less injury-prone pastime.

Others have folded existing interests into their jobs. Citadel Securities sales trader Allie Becher, 30, started a macro dinner series with portfolio managers and organized Barry’s Bootcamp workouts with clients, teammates and her business head.

Some rising stars use habits to step away from work. Evercore managing director David Oppenheim, 35, once a night owl, now gets up early to exercise and start his day; he has a home gym to keep the routine going in winter. Bank of America’s Cody Kiechle began running regularly during the pandemic and has continued as a way to escape work stress. Morgan Stanley managing director Maya Venkatraman, 34, said running helps her maintain perspective and often gives her room to solve problems.