Two brothers and sisters who have influenced Goldman Sachs discuss their journey to leadership

Goldman Sachs Siblings: Neema and Padi Raphael’s Journey to Partnership

• Neema and Padi Raphael are not only brother and sister, but also both hold partner positions at Goldman Sachs.
• Neema serves as the chief data officer, while Padi is the global cohead of third-party wealth within asset management.
• Their story is one of mutual support and parallel career growth at one of Wall Street’s most challenging institutions.

On a recent day at Goldman Sachs’ New York headquarters, Padi Raphael was escorting a client to the elevator when the doors opened to reveal her brother, Neema, the firm’s chief data officer. The timing was perfect—the client had been hoping to meet him.

This chance meeting was more than just a family reunion; it was a rare intersection of two impressive careers. Both siblings have achieved the rank of partner at Goldman Sachs, a distinction shared by only about 500 out of nearly 49,000 employees.

Today, Neema and Padi each lead critical divisions that are shaping the company’s future. Padi, age 47, oversees the third-party wealth business in asset management, a rapidly growing area where she collaborates with broker-dealers, private banks, and investment advisors to attract high-net-worth clients. Her career has spanned markets and client-facing roles across Europe and Asia.

Goldman Sachs partners Neema and Padi Raphael (third and fourth from right) in Hong Kong, where Padi previously worked. Courtesy of Goldman Sachs.

Neema, 44, advanced through the technology ranks and now leads a large team of engineers responsible for the bank’s data and AI initiatives. His work is central to Goldman’s expansion into artificial intelligence, a top priority for CEO David Solomon.

“Our clients are eager to hear his perspectives on data and technology,” Padi shared in a joint interview. For years, Neema was known internally as “Padi’s younger brother,” but now the roles have reversed.

The elevator encounter highlighted how their careers, once running on separate tracks and continents, have recently converged. For most of their time at Goldman, the siblings worked in different divisions and locations, only coming together in the same office in recent years.

They offered Business Insider a candid look at their professional journey together.

Early Years and Education

The Raphael siblings grew up in Los Angeles, raised by Iranian immigrant parents who placed a strong emphasis on education. Their parents, Nora Ghodsian and Bijan Raphael, collectively hold three master’s degrees and a Ph.D. “We prioritized learning and encouraged curiosity, reasoning, and open discussion,” their parents shared.

Unexpected Paths to Finance

Neither Padi nor Neema originally envisioned a future in finance. Padi studied neuroscience at UCLA, while Neema pursued computer science at UC Berkeley.

Padi’s introduction to Goldman Sachs was almost accidental. A mentor suggested she speak with the firm, promising valuable lessons. She joined as an analyst in 1999 after enduring a rigorous interview process—over 30 interviews in total, which she later realized was a test of her perseverance.

Padi with her younger brother Neema. Both are now Goldman Sachs partners. Courtesy of Goldman Sachs.

Her first year was spent in New York’s asset management division before she relocated to London in 2000, moving into equity derivatives sales and building her career on the trading floor.

A few years later, Neema reached out for guidance.

Climbing the Ladder Together

After graduating, Neema wanted to apply his technical skills in a business setting and asked Padi for help getting his foot in the door at Goldman. She offered introductions and some advice: “Be authentic, be thoughtful, and let your work speak for itself.” Neema was hired as a technology analyst in 2003.

Padi Raphael and her younger brother, Neema, during their childhood in Los Angeles. Courtesy of Goldman Sachs.

Five years later, during the financial crisis, Neema’s team played a key role in digitizing systems that allowed Goldman to quickly assess its risk exposure. This achievement earned him an internal award typically reserved for dealmakers and solidified his focus on the intersection of data and finance.

Early in his career, Neema was offered a transfer to Tokyo. Unsure about the implications, he called Padi, who immediately encouraged him to seize the opportunity, believing that any experience broadening his perspective would be invaluable.

Though their careers developed in different areas, the siblings regularly exchanged advice and insights. Becoming a partner was the next big milestone.

Padi reached partner status in 2016, having navigated the Dot-com bust, the global recession, the European financial crisis, and the pandemic, with assignments in New York, London, and Hong Kong. Neema followed in 2020, the first year he was eligible, as data and technology became increasingly vital to the firm’s strategy.

Family Life and New Beginnings

In 2022, after nearly ten years in Hong Kong, Padi returned to New York. “Returning to the US felt right for our growing family,” she said. Her move coincided with a major restructuring at Goldman, as leadership sought to strengthen the asset management division with experienced partners.

For a time, Padi and her family lived with Neema’s family, often commuting to work together.

Outside the office, the siblings remain close. Padi has three children—two teenagers and a kindergartener—while Neema is raising a young family, including a four-year-old and a newborn. Their children are best friends, and both families gather every Friday night for Shabbat dinner to celebrate the week’s end together.

At Goldman’s annual winter gathering in Miami, where the names of all partners are displayed, the Raphael siblings searched for their names. Due to a break in the display, Neema’s name appeared at the end of one section and Padi’s at the start of another. They took photos in front of each, a quiet tribute to two careers that ran side by side for decades before meeting at the top.