Learn more about our employees’ career journeys with Millennium through Q&A sessions.

In this “How I Got Here” feature, we speak with Austin Friedman, a Project Manager and MLPride Sponsor based in our New York Office. Austin shares his career journey, experience with our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), and top advice for succeeding at Millennium.

1. What did your career look like early on?

I began my career working in a big four accounting firm’s consulting practice working with banks in the US to develop and implement firm-wide strategies. The work included process and human capital changes in different office functions, ensuring that banks were compliant with regulatory requirements, implementing changes to reduce expenses, and recommending new technologies to improve or replace legacy systems and processes.

2. What initially excited you about joining Millennium?

The Project Management team at Millennium was what initially attracted me to join. My role allows me work on various projects across business functions and with stakeholders at all levels of the organization, which I love. Also, Millennium is relatively small (in comparison to my previous company, which has more than 200K employees globally) and I was excited to work in that environment.

3. How has your time at Millennium surprised you?

I’ve been surprised to see how flat Millennium is as an organization. Many companies say they have flat hierarchies, or that members of senior management have open door policies, but I have truly seen this in practice at Millennium. I’ve also been pleasantly surprised at the support I have received for various initiatives or requests outside of my day-to-day. For example, I recently completed a Harvard Business School course on alternative investments which has helped with various projects I am working on.

4. What has been your experience with Millennium’s ERGs?

So far my experience with the MLPride group has affirmed that I have true allies at the firm. I’ve really appreciated the opportunity to become the Co-Chair of the network after being a member for a relatively short amount of time and I have felt support from the top down from day one.

5. What advice would you give to someone who is starting their career at Millennium?

I would recommend that everyone find a mentor. I have some who know I consider them a mentor and others who may not know, but advice from both groups is always helpful in navigating my career development.