No matter the space, people of similar backgrounds often find community among each other. For people who are a part of historically underrepresented communities, a proverbial lunch table is a place of peace, solitude, and restoration. Simply put, the Black people will find a way to get together.
But, what happens when the attendees at that table begin to disappear? This seems to be a dilemma affecting the level of diversity at Goldman Sachs and challenging the spaces of community for other Black executives at the organization.
Darren Dixon became Goldman Sachs’ youngest Black partner at age 29. Now at age 35, he is leaving the financial institution to start his own fund.
As reported by Bloomberg, Dixon is working with investors to secure funding to launch an infrastructure-focused fund that would rival the group he was a part of at Goldman Sachs. The Forbes 30 Under 30 finance list alum was most recently the Head of Global Capital Solutions, “a group that structures complex deals and rescue financing for companies navigating trouble.”
Dixon’s journey at the Wall Street staple was similar to many young finance mavens. He started as a summer intern and committed to over 14 years at the firm. Quickly rising through the ranks, he found a niche in managing assets for toll roads, film libraries, television shows, and physical gold.
Notably, Dixon was promoted to managing director before entering the “30s club” and secured a 50 percent interest in the popular television franchise “CSI,” Bloomberg reported.
The Truth In Numbers
While Dixon’s exit from the finance giant seems like a huge blow, it is not a rarity. In 2021, Goldman Sachs reported that only 49 of its over 1,500 executives were Black. Considering that small pool, Dixon’s departure is significant as he represents the sixth Black executive to leave over a year.
According to the company’s 2020 Sustainability Report, Goldman Sachs’ CEO David Solomon said there was “still a long road ahead” in improving the diversity of the bank’s workforce, adding that he would “continue to make this effort a personal priority.”
Dixon’s journey toward a new financial future leaves only one Black partner in the firm’s markets business division.
Josh RodgersLover of Culture. Curator of Motivation. Advocate for Equity. Josh Rodgers is a writer and content creator originally from Memphis, TN. Along with AfroTech, Josh's work can be seen on Blavity News, Travel Noire, Shadow & Act, and Buzzfeed. When he isn't writing, he can be found on the mic as the co-host and founder of The Jigsaw Podcast - a platform dedicated to helping Black millennials attempt to navigate the craziest puzzle piece ever created, life.
See more materials by JoshncG1vNJzZmiZlqe8tbHCoWWcp51kr62twqRknrCVmHqtscCvnKxll6S5pbnAp2SsmZOdwG7AzmaqrZmiqXqnwc2dZg%3D%3D