Head of Research: My Ten-Year Roller Coaster Ride on Wall Street

BRIGHT LIGHTSAND SHATTERED DREAMS Yi Chen looked up at the bright lights and corner offices of Wall Street and wanted it all. And he nearly had it. After emigrating from China and earning his PhD in physics from the University of Pennsylvania, Yi landed at Goldman Sachs, a quantitative analyst on the rise. After leaving Goldman to seek his fortune as a trader, the roller-coaster ride began and Yi’s life became a nightmare of lighting-fast promotions and blowups, fueled by office politics. While working for one investment bank, Yi found himself in line for a million-dollar paycheck and a bulletproof, executive position. However, jealous traders and managers soon undermined his position and had him ousted. His was forced to start his career climb all over again. A story of perseverance, loss and redemption, Head of Research is a lesson in career ambition and personal fortitude. With the odds stacked against him, Yi Chen never gave up chasing his dream. He still hasn’t.