Katie Davis W'13

What did you study at Penn and when did you graduate?

I graduated from Wharton in 2013 with concentrations in Finance and Marketing.

What were you involved in at Penn?

I was a member of the Varsity Basketball team, Wharton Women, Wharton Leadership Lectures, and Venture Lab’s Snider Consulting! The basketball team and athletics, in general, were a great community on campus and a huge part of my Penn experience. Wharton Women was also a great way to connect with other women in Wharton that I didn't already meet in class.

What was your favorite part of Penn / Wharton?

My favorite thing about Penn was the sense of team and camaraderie in both academics and extracurriculars. Whether it was late nights in Huntsman working on a group project or practices with my team in the Palestra, I loved the sense of camaraderie that came from working hard together towards a common goal. I also really enjoyed the access that Penn had to different speakers. There was always an upcoming speaking event with someone interesting - anyone from a famous comedian, global leader, or C-suite executive.

What advice do you wish you had known when you were an undergraduate?

I think it’s important to try out subjects beyond the ones in your required curriculum. If you have an inkling that you might be interested in a particular class, go for it! Don’t feel held back from taking a class just because it’s not in your core strengths – you can always take it pass/fail. College is all about broadening your horizons, and Penn offers unique classes where you can take advantage of that.   

What advice do you have for student-athletes at Penn?

Being on a sports team is a huge honor and a huge time commitment. I think that it’s important to explore interests and relationships outside of the athletics bubble to ensure you get the most out of your whole Penn experience. Joining just one club or volunteer opportunity can enhance your Penn experience and expand your network of friends and classmates that carries on beyond graduation. 

Could you tell me a little bit about your career journey so far?

I interned at Goldman Sachs during my sophomore and junior summers. Having only experienced one firm, I decided to interview with a handful of others my senior year. I ended up hitting it off with the people at TD Securities and accepted their full-time offer. I started on the Treasury trading desk and loved the energy of the trading floor. Trading was a great place to start my career because it taught me the fundamentals of what moved markets and how to manage risk. After a year on the Treasury trading desk, I wanted something more client-facing and project-oriented, so I switched to debt capital markets, which is a mix of markets and investment banking. I’m now a Director at TD and cover some of our most important clients in the US and Canada.

What is your favorite part of the job?

My favorite part has to be the competitive and fast-paced nature of it. There’s always a deal in the pipeline and your job is to process the dynamics in the underlying market and how that can match with your clients' needs. You get immediate feedback on your pitch because you either win the trade or don't and have to react and adjust accordingly. I enjoy teaching our interns about the business (especially Penn kids!) and seeing them grow. 

How has being a woman affected your career trajectory, if it has?

Another reason I switched to the debt capital markets group was to learn from people who I found impressive and could learn directly from. Two of those individuals were women and later became my bosses. They challenged me to learn quickly in my early years and advocated for me during promotions. Now that I’m in a leadership role, I replicate that same behavior by mentoring women at TD and encouraging my peers to go after a promotion or big job.

I will admit that I've been in countless meetings as the only woman in the room, but learning from great female mentors, having confidence in my abilities, and support from a firm like TD makes it exciting.  

What has been the biggest challenge of your career?

The biggest challenge in my career was when I realized that I loved my job and the people that I worked with but wanted a change in location. Most people would find a new job in a different city, but I worked with my boss to figure out a solution where I moved personally to Washington, D.C. while still having my job in NYC. This was pre-COVID, which was not typical in the Finance world. For a year and a half, I spent four days in the office NYC and traveled back to DC to work remotely on Fridays and spend the weekend there. Yes, the travel became tiring, but I was able to keep a job I loved and find happiness in a new city! 

What is your proudest accomplishment?

When I first started at TD, we were a small firm that had just become a primary dealer in the US. We've grown massively in the US and internationally, while always keeping our clients' best interests in mind. It's been exciting and fulfilling to be a part of the whole expansion journey which is still underway.

What’s your favorite thing to do for fun?

Exercising and adventures are on the top of my list. I’m really looking forward to running races being back and signed up for a half-marathon in the spring. There’s plenty of hiking around D.C. and one of my favorite weekend activities is to hike with friends and stop at a winery after.   

What’s your favorite place that you’ve ever been to?

Park City, Utah. I love skiing there in the winter and hiking in the summer. The downtown is great with lots of restaurants, shops, and art exhibits.