Guyanese Asahi Pompey is the highest-ranking Black person at Goldman Sachs and has earned a well-deserved spot on the December 2024 inaugural ForbesBLK 50 list, celebrating the wealthiest and most impactful African Americans, reshaping industries, driving change, and inspiring communities. Sharing this coveted honor with global female icons like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Oprah Winfrey, and Shonda Rhimes, and trailblazing entrepreneurs like Iman Abuzeid, Thasunda Brown Duckett, and Mellody Hobson, Pompey stands out as a corporate powerhouse, philanthropist, and role model.
Born in Guyana, Pompey’s family emigrated to Brooklyn, New York, when she was 9. Her early life was a masterclass in perseverance and the profound impact of education. With a family steeped in academia—her father and many relatives were educators—she was instilled with the belief that education was the key to transcending limitations. An Oak Leaf Award recipient, Pompey earned a B.A. in political science at Swarthmore College and holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School. She attended high school in Japan thanks to a scholarship from the American Field Service—a Goldman Sachs Gives program grantee. She has also worked as a corporate attorney in Frankfurt, Germany.
Pompey joined Goldman Sachs in 2006, quickly ascending to Managing Director and Partner by 2018. As President of the Goldman Sachs Foundation, she oversees a $2 billion annual philanthropic arm dedicated to empowering communities through groundbreaking initiatives like the One Million Black Women Program, a $10 billion commitment to fostering economic opportunities for Black women. Her portfolio extends to leading the 10,000 Women initiative, which provides women entrepreneurs in developing economies access to education and capital, and the 10,000 Small Businesses program, aimed at supporting small enterprises in underserved communities. Recently, Pompey took on the role of Chairwoman of Goldman Sachs’ $3 billion Urban Investment Group, which focuses on impact investing across real estate and small business financing.
Pompey’s ascent to the upper echelons of Goldman Sachs was not without its challenges. In 2016, she faced a career-defining setback when she was initially passed over for a partnership role. Despite the disappointment, she remained steadfast, driven by a commitment to stability for herself and her young sons. This decision proved pivotal; two years later, she achieved her long-held goal of becoming a partner. By 2020, she had solidified her place among Goldman’s most influential leaders, joining the management committee as its sole Black member. Reflecting on these moments, Pompey emphasizes the importance of resilience and adaptability: “The path is not linear. Sometimes, the timing isn’t yours, but that doesn’t mean the opportunity won’t come. How badly do you want it?”
Pompey’s influence extends beyond Goldman Sachs through her role in creating the Women Entrepreneurs Opportunity Facility, a partnership with the International Finance Corporation that has mobilized over $1.76 billion in its first five years to support women-led enterprises globally. By addressing the systemic barriers that hinder access to capital for women, Pompey is redefining what inclusive growth looks like in the 21st century. Her life experiences—spanning Guyana, Japan, Germany, and the U.S.—have endowed her with a unique perspective on global interconnectedness. “What I’ve learned is the universality of people’s desire to have a purpose, to have a shot,” she shared in an interview. This empathy and a results-driven approach position her as a leader uniquely capable of bridging the gap between corporate strategy and grassroots impact.
In an interview with LinkedIn News, Pompey urged aspiring professionals to embrace what she calls the “burn the boat” mentality—fully committing to their goals without the safety net of retreat. This philosophy encapsulates her career trajectory, marked by bold pivots, from her legal beginnings at Cleary Gottlieb to her financial leadership at Goldman Sachs.
Pompey’s inclusion on the ForbesBLK 50 list celebrates her journey from a young girl in Guyana to one of the most influential women in corporate America. Her Caribbean heritage is also central to who she is. “The values I learned growing up—community, resilience, and the belief in giving back—guide me daily,” Pompey shared in an interview. Her advice to others facing challenges? “Invest in relationships, not just when things are going well, but especially when things aren’t. Success isn’t about a linear path—it’s about grit, resilience, and community.”
To Guyana, the Caribbean, and communities worldwide, Pompey’s journey reminds us that our roots are our strength, and our dreams are always within reach.
(Sources: IFC.org, LinkedIn News, Fortune.com, Forbes.com)
