FLASH FRIDAY is a weekly content series looking at the past, present and future of capital markets trading and technology. FLASH FRIDAY is sponsored by Instinet, a Nomura company.
Generation Z, or Gen Z, is the generation of people born between 1997 and 2012. They come after the Millennial generation and before Generation Alpha.
Here are some things to know:
- Age: In 2024, the oldest members of Gen Z are in their late 20s, while the youngest are around 12 years old.
- Parents: Most Gen Zers are the children of Generation X or younger Baby Boomers.
- Consumer habits; Gen Zers prefer debit cards over other payment methods, and are cautious about using credit cards.
- Slang: Gen Z slang includes “lit”, which is used to describe something remarkable, interesting, or fun.
- Events: Gen Zers have experienced the COVID-19 pandemic, the #MeToo movement, the George Floyd protests, and the overturn of Roe v. Wade
This Summer we’ve already met a number of Gen Zers from Clear Street, Robinhood Markets, T. Rowe Price and Citadel Securities.
Today, we’re excited to introduce a couple of Deutsche Bank zoomers.
Adam Lerner, Vice President, Quant Trader, Deutsche Bank
Briefly describe your educational background and work experience, including current role/responsibilities.
After I graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2019, where I studied Computational Finance, I joined Deutsche Bank as an analyst in the Rates Derivative Structuring business. My experience in the firm’s summer internship program helped prepare me for my first post-college role. I’m currently a quant trader in the Electronic Foreign Exchange Spot Trading business. Our team helps optimize the eSpot offering using methods ranging from simple and intuitive, to machine learning and AI.
What do you like to do outside work?
Outside of work, I enjoy playing sports and recently joined a recreational kickball league. It’s been a great opportunity to continue to play a sport I enjoy, as well as meet new people and make new friends.
Is it true Gen Z hates to talk on the phone?
While a surprise call can sometimes be a bit jarring, a pre-scheduled video call with colleagues or clients is always welcome. I have found that a phone or video call is often far more efficient when working through a complicated challenge. For example, my team, which is globally run across four offices, has a video call running all day that allows us to stay well-informed and connect with colleagues across geographies.
What is the best aspect of your job?
The best aspect of my job is the people I work with and the work we do. I enjoy the mix of quantitative analysis and market intuition in my day-to-day. My colleagues are incredibly smart and are always willing to help share different perspectives or solutions, which provides a wealth of ideas for me to research.
What advice would you offer someone looking to “break” into the field of finance?
The advice I would offer is when networking within an organization, I’d recommend going for depth and not breadth. Developing a deeper relationship with one or two members of an organization can often be more beneficial than speaking once with many more.
Preston Bryant, Vice President, Structuring Associate, Deutsche Bank
Briefly describe your educational background and work experience, including current role/responsibilities.
I joined Deutsche Bank after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University in 2019, where I studied finance and accounting. I also took part in the firm’s summer internship program my sophomore year. I began my post-graduate career with the bank as an analyst on the Social Infrastructure Direct Lending desk. I was responsible for assisting on underwriting by modeling cash flows for deals and preparing credit memos. My responsibilities as a vice president on the desk have grown to cover the entire investment process from origination to underwriting, structuring, and legal negotiation.
How did you get interested in the world of finance / fintech / asset management?
I became interested in the world of finance through basketball. As an avid basketball fan and life-long Knicks fan, I would see players traded for other players and draft picks, this sparked my interest in the finance and negotiation process of building and managing a professional basketball team and franchise. As I got older it gave me an appreciation for those business fundamentals and I decided to pursue my interests in the markets.
What is the best aspect of your job?
The best aspect of my job is the constant learning that is required, whether it is understanding a new credit structure or legal concept, every deal presents new challenges, which is interesting and intellectually rewarding.
Do you participate in any extracurricular activities at work?
I’m active in Deutsche Bank’s recruiting program where I support our recruiting efforts, as well as provide interview preparation and mentoring. I’ve had many great mentors throughout my career, so it is important to me to serve as a mentor to others at the firm. One of the most rewarding aspects of my professional career is watching individuals I’ve mentored grow in their careers.
