Grayden’s Story

Est. 3 minute read

Grayden is a Christian working in finance in the UK. He earns to give to tackle global poverty and preventable diseases.

He is also a CFI impact mentor.

Academic Background

I graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010, and in 2014, I went on to achieve a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD. After university, I realised through conversations with charities I had volunteered with, that what they needed funding more than people. This realisation significantly shaped my career aspirations.

Career Path

I initially pursued a career in strategy consulting and later transitioned into investing, both known for their high earning potential. Currently, I work in private equity, which is a role that involves project management, business acumen and finance. My day-to-day activities include speaking with investment bankers to identify opportunities, conducting due diligence on companies and recommending opportunities for our fund to invest in.

Professional Experience

Despite facing around 20 rejections during my job application process leaving university, I persevered and eventually secured a position as a junior strategy consultant. I spent six years in strategy consulting, where I developed valuable hard skills and received extensive in-house training. I then moved into investing, where I have spent the past eight years working in both public and private equity. In the UK, compensation in these roles can range from £100,000 to £1,000,000, depending on the position.

Philanthropy and Impact

To date, I have donated about $2m to effective charities, focusing on global health, development, and animal welfare, such as Give Directly, the Malaria Consortium and the Good Food Institute. I believe in earning to give, and I understand that the specific amount a person donates varies depending on their walk with God. I think what matters most is having a sacrificial attitude towards giving and caring that your sacrifice makes a difference.

Influence of Faith

My Christian faith has significantly influenced my life and career. Inspired by the transformative experiences of the disciples following Jesus' resurrection, I strive to live radically for Christ. Reflecting on wealth and giving through tools like the "How Rich Am I?" quiz, I realised that I’m still 5-10 times richer than the average person in the world even after donating most of my income. This reinforces my belief in being sacrificial and maintaining a right attitude towards wealth.

Advice for Young Christians

• Research Finance Sectors: Explore the various divisions within finance to find the best fit.

• Consider High-Frequency Trading: This area is popular within the Effective Altruism community due to its academic nature.

• STEM Backgrounds: Common pathways into investment careers often include STEM degrees.

• Objective Thinking: Enjoying and excelling in objective thinking can be beneficial for a career in investments.

• Workload Expectation: Be prepared for demanding work weeks, up to 100 hours per week.

Grayden’s Impact

At CFI, we believe that Grayden is on a high-impact path because so far through his career, Grayden has made meaningful contributions through philanthropy. Grayden has donated over $2,000,000 to effective charities, focusing on global health and animal welfare, reflecting his commitment to "earning to give”. Grayden’s career and philanthropic efforts illustrate a successful blend of high-earning potential and impactful charitable contributions.