Goldman Sachs CEO urges interns to embrace challenging tasks for growth

In July 2025, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon addressed the company's summer interns, sharing valuable insights from his extensive career in the finance industry. He emphasized that accepting roles they may initially find unappealing can lead to substantial personal and professional development. Solomon recalled his own experiences and how tasks he was hesitant to accept ultimately facilitated his rise to leadership positions, including running investment banking at Goldman Sachs. This perspective is particularly crucial for the approximately 2,600 interns selected from a record 360,000 applicants worldwide. Solomon encouraged the interns to be patient in their career pursuits and to remain open to unexpected opportunities. He advised them to value the relationships they build, both with colleagues and supervisors, highlighting the importance of working with those who genuinely care about their growth and offer support. According to Solomon, the alignment of personal values and professional goals significantly enhances job satisfaction. Furthermore, he pointed out that the influx of applications for the internship program has increased by over 300% since he became CEO in 2018, reflecting a growing interest in careers within the financial sector. Solomon underscored that while the competition is fierce, the quality of training and opportunities provided to interns at Goldman Sachs can set a strong foundation for their future careers. In closing, Solomon reiterated that the journey of a career is a long one filled with twists and turns, advising interns to approach it with curiosity and an eagerness to learn. Each experience, even those that seem less desirable, contributes to an intern's overall journey in their professional life.