"Finance is a young person's arena. Long hours and stamina are treated as essential markers of a coveted hire. As I got older, I found myself wondering where that left someone like me: a middle-aged mom of three. I couldn't control getting older, so in 2022, at the age of 54, I became a full-time matchmaker. For the first time in my career, my age is an asset."
"I'm American-born Chinese, and in families like mine, there's often a plan: get good grades, attend a reputable school, and secure a respectable job. My parents wanted me to pursue a career in medicine, but because I struggled with chemistry. I went to Wellesley and majored in Chinese studies and economics. In my sophomore year, I became involved with the Asian Association's blind-date semi-formal. I had a lot of fun, even though I made some of the worst matches back then."
Cassindy Chao spent decades in finance, including roles at JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs, but did not thrive in the industry's youth-driven culture. She discovered a passion for matchmaking in college while organizing blind-date events and continued matchmaking as a side hustle during a corporate restructuring role. In 2022, at age 54, she transitioned to full-time matchmaking. Her upbringing emphasized stable careers, leading to study of Chinese studies and economics at Wellesley. Long hours and emphasis on stamina in finance made aging challenging, whereas matchmaking rewards age, life experience, and relationship insight. She is based in the Bay Area and is a mother of three.
#midlife-career-change #matchmaking #investment-banking #age-and-experience #asian-american-upbringing
Read at Business Insider
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