How Padi Raphael and Her Brother Climbed to Goldman Sachs Partnership Together

Padi Raphael and her brother Neema have each achieved one of Wall Street’s most exclusive distinctions—partnership at Goldman Sachs. In an organization with nearly 49,000 employees, only about 500 hold partner status. Their parallel ascent through the firm represents a rare story of shared ambition, mutual mentorship, and family support culminating at the highest levels of global finance.

Dual Excellence: Padi Raphael’s Leadership in Asset Management

At 47, Padi Raphael leads the third-party wealth business within Goldman Sachs’ asset management division—a rapidly expanding segment that connects broker-dealers, private banks, and investment advisors with high-net-worth clients. Her trajectory has spanned multiple continents and business models, establishing her as a trusted partner to some of the financial world’s most sophisticated players.

Her career at Goldman Sachs began in 1999 when a mentor suggested she speak with the firm. What followed was an intensive 30+ interview gauntlet designed to test perseverance and commitment. She joined as an analyst, starting in New York’s asset management division before relocating to London in 2000 to work in equity derivatives sales on the trading floor. That foundation in client-facing markets would define her career.

From Los Angeles to the World: Building Careers Across Continents

Both siblings grew up in Los Angeles in a household that prized education above all else. Their parents—Nora Ghodsian and Bijan Raphael—collectively held three master’s degrees and a Ph.D., emphasizing learning, curiosity, and open discourse. Neither Padi nor her younger brother originally planned a finance career. Padi Raphael studied neuroscience at UCLA while Neema pursued computer science at UC Berkeley.

When Neema graduated, he sought to apply his technical skills in a business context and reached out to Padi Raphael for help entering Goldman Sachs. Her advice was direct: “Be authentic, be thoughtful, and let your work speak for itself.” Neema joined as a technology analyst in 2003, launching a parallel career in a different division but within the same institution.

The 2008 Crisis Moment: When Technology Accelerated Advancement

During the 2008 financial crisis, Neema’s team played a pivotal role in digitizing systems that enabled Goldman to rapidly assess its risk exposure. This achievement—one normally reserved for dealmakers—earned internal recognition and solidified his focus at the intersection of data and finance. Meanwhile, Padi Raphael navigated the same turbulent years while managing client relationships and market uncertainty.

Throughout their independent trajectories, the siblings maintained regular contact, exchanging advice and insights. When Neema received an opportunity to transfer to Tokyo early in his career, he consulted Padi Raphael, who immediately encouraged him to accept. She recognized that any experience broadening his perspective would prove invaluable to his long-term development.

Partnership Milestone: Recognition After Two Decades of Sustained Growth

Padi Raphael reached partner status in 2016, having weathered the Dot-com collapse, the global recession, the European financial crisis, and the pandemic. Her assignments across New York, London, and Hong Kong had prepared her for the firm’s most demanding leadership roles. Neema followed as a partner in 2020, the first year he was eligible, as data and artificial intelligence became central to Goldman’s strategic direction under CEO David Solomon.

Beyond the Office: Family, Values, and Tradition

In 2022, after nearly a decade based in Hong Kong, Padi Raphael made a significant personal decision. “Returning to the US felt right for our growing family,” she reflected. Her relocation to New York aligned with Goldman’s restructuring of asset management, where leadership sought to strengthen the division with seasoned partners. For a period, Padi Raphael’s family lived with Neema’s household, and the siblings often commuted to the office together.

Outside work, their bond remains central. Padi Raphael has three children—two teenagers and a kindergartener—while Neema is raising a young family that includes a four-year-old and an infant. The cousins are each other’s closest friends. Every Friday night, both families gather for Shabbat dinner, maintaining a tradition that grounds them amid demanding careers.

When Paths Converge: The Symbolic Milestone at Goldman’s Annual Summit

At Goldman’s annual winter gathering in Miami, partner names are prominently displayed. When Padi Raphael and her brother searched for their names on the display, they discovered them positioned at opposite ends of a section break—Neema’s at the end of one section, Padi Raphael’s at the start of the next. They photographed themselves in front of each name, capturing a quiet moment of reflection. The symbolic image marked two careers that had run parallel for decades before finally meeting at the summit of the firm.