In a remarkable story of parallel career trajectories, siblings Neema and Padi Raphael have both risen to become partners at Goldman Sachs, placing them among roughly 500 partners at the 49,000-employee firm. What makes their achievement particularly significant for the AI industry is Neema’s role as Goldman’s Chief Data Officer, where he leads hundreds of engineers working on the bank’s data and AI systems—a position central to CEO David Solomon’s artificial intelligence priorities.
Padi Raphael, 47, serves as global co-head of the third-party wealth business at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, having built her career across markets and client-facing roles in Europe and Asia. She joined Goldman in 1999 after an intensive interview process involving more than 30 interviews across three rounds. Her career spanned major financial crises, from the dot-com bust to the European financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Neema Raphael, 44, joined Goldman’s technology division in 2003 after his sister helped circulate his résumé. His career took a pivotal turn during the 2008 financial crisis when his team helped Goldman quickly assess its exposure by digitizing key systems—an effort that earned internal recognition typically reserved for dealmakers. This experience cemented his focus on the intersection of data and finance, ultimately leading to his current role overseeing AI development.
The siblings’ convergence at Goldman’s New York headquarters represents more than just a family success story. Neema’s position places him at the forefront of Goldman’s AI transformation, with clients showing “huge appetite for hearing his insights on all things data-related,” according to Padi. His work on AI systems and data infrastructure is essential to the firm’s competitive positioning in an industry increasingly driven by artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Both became partners years apart—Padi in 2016 and Neema in 2020—after decades working in different divisions and continents. The children of Iranian immigrants who emphasized education, they now work together advancing Goldman’s technology capabilities while maintaining close family ties, including weekly Shabbat dinners with their young families.
Key Quotes
Our clients have a huge appetite for hearing his insights on all things data-related
Padi Raphael describing the demand for her brother Neema’s expertise. This quote reveals how Goldman Sachs clients are actively seeking AI and data strategy guidance, positioning the bank as an AI thought leader beyond just internal implementation.
Be yourself and be thoughtful and show them your work
Padi’s advice to her brother Neema when he was applying to Goldman Sachs in 2003. This guidance helped launch the career of someone who would become central to Goldman’s AI strategy, demonstrating how early mentorship can shape future technology leadership.
Our Take
The Raphael siblings’ story illustrates a broader transformation in financial services where AI and data expertise now command equal prestige to traditional banking roles. Neema’s elevation to partner and Chief Data Officer reflects how Goldman Sachs—and Wall Street generally—has recognized that competitive advantage increasingly depends on artificial intelligence capabilities. The fact that clients specifically request meetings with the CDO signals a market shift where AI strategy has become as important as investment strategy. This parallel rise of a wealth management leader and an AI technology leader also suggests successful financial institutions must excel at both client relationships and technological innovation simultaneously. Goldman’s investment in AI infrastructure, led by executives like Neema, will likely determine its ability to compete with both traditional banks and emerging fintech challengers in the coming decade.
Why This Matters
This story highlights the critical importance of AI and data leadership at major financial institutions as they compete in an increasingly technology-driven landscape. Neema Raphael’s role as Chief Data Officer overseeing AI systems at Goldman Sachs underscores how AI has become a C-suite priority at Wall Street’s most prestigious firms. CEO David Solomon’s emphasis on artificial intelligence reflects broader industry trends where financial services firms are racing to implement AI for trading, risk management, client services, and operational efficiency.
The client demand for AI insights that Padi mentions signals how wealth management and institutional clients are seeking guidance on leveraging artificial intelligence in their own operations. This positions Goldman not just as an AI adopter but as an AI advisor and thought leader in the financial sector. The elevation of a technology executive focused on AI to the partnership level demonstrates how technical expertise in artificial intelligence has become as valuable as traditional dealmaking skills at elite financial institutions, marking a fundamental shift in how banks value and reward talent in the AI era.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-siblings-neema-padi-raphael-partners-careers-2026-1