Working on Wall Street at 21: the incredible success story of a Kazakhstani in New York

Kazakhstani Sultan Nasymbaev is only 21 years old. But he already works in one of the largest banks in the world, JP Morgan Chase. Moving to America, a failed career as a football player and the flag of Kazakhstan in the office in Manhattan - the incredible story of Sultan Nasymbaev was shared Tengrinews.kz.

First trip abroad

Sultan was born in Astana in 2000. The following year, his family moved to Almaty. During his school years, he and his parents wandered between the two cities. Otherwise, his life was not much different from the life of an ordinary Kazakh schoolchild. Everything changed after the first trip to the USA in the 9th grade.

“Then I went on my first big trip abroad - to a language course in New York. This city has changed my outlook, in it you feel yourself in the center of the world. I got sick of New York,” Sultan says.

Upon returning to Kazakhstan, the guy began to look for ways to get an education in New York. He ended up finding a company that sends students to the US.

“I learned all the requirements, took the courses and successfully passed all the exams for entering a school in New York,” Sultan said.

The long-awaited letter of invitation to an educational school in New York came when he was 17 years old.

“My parents then supported my choice and decision to fly away. We discussed the details. As a result, I fly to America to finish school, this is the 12th grade. At the same time, I am graduating in absentia from the Almaty MAB College, ”said the Kazakhstani.

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In 2018, Sultan Nasymbaev received two high school diplomas - in New York and in Kazakhstan.

Football career in the USA

Football has always occupied a special place in the life of the Sultan. Passion for this sport influenced his choice of university.

“In the US, I became the captain of the school team. The coach really liked my game. And he sent me to the local New-York City football club for a tryout. Surprisingly, I managed to qualify for a place in the club, which was claimed by 900 people, ”the guy shared.

A joyful event, it would seem, predetermined his future. It remains only to choose: play football professionally or get a football scholarship at the university.

“At one of the tournaments, I was invited by a coach from a very prestigious university in Pennsylvania. I was very happy with his message. I realized that this was fate, ”says Sultan Nasymbaev.

Sports injury and investment club

However, the injury that he received in the game against the Washington football team intervened in the plans of the Sultan.

“I went on the wrong tackle. My kneecap just fell out. This is a terrible injury for a footballer. It is impossible to recover quickly after it. Doctors said he needed at least two years of physical therapy to recover. I wanted to cry,” Sultan recalls.

In the end, he accepted the circumstances and decided to realize his ambitions in his studies. The Kazakhstani still entered the University of Pennsylvania, but without a football scholarship.

“The first week of my stay at the university was remembered by me as a festival of interest clubs. I joined the investment club. At the first meeting of the club, I did not understand anything. There were very complex terms, words, formulas. I sat with my mouth open for an hour. I was interested in understanding all this. I spent most of the semester in the library. I studied the terms, more and more delved into finance and investment, ”the young man shared.

Later, he got into the investment club at the university campus of his university.

“This is the first fund in the world run by students only. And he now has $14 million of real money from real investors. To get into it is a great success. When you get into this club, doors open for you to work in prestigious companies. For example, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, City Bank, Goldman Sachs and the like. When I passed the selection, I called my parents, I was happy, they were crying, ”said Sultan.

Interviews and JP Morgan Chase

At the end of the first course, attention was paid to the Sultan. He was invited to New York for an interview at City Bank, he passed it with dignity. The Sultan was invited to go to work in three months - in September.

“It was such a shock for me. About a year and a half ago, I just arrived in this country. Two years ago I didn’t really know English, and now I’m in Manhattan on Wall Street. I went to New York to prove that I was ready to put my soul into work. And I think this is what they saw,” said the Kazakhstani.

The Sultan decided to try to apply to other banks in the country. Soon he was invited for an interview by JP Morgan Chase.

“It is considered the largest and most prestigious bank in the world. I got through the first and second rounds. I was called in for the final interview, which took place at the central office in New York. On September 19, I fly for an interview, go to a grand hotel in Manhattan and see that, in addition to me, there are 40-50 more candidates from the best universities for this place. I realized that I was not smarter than them. But I knew that I could rely on my diligence,” Sultan said.

The final interview at JP Morgan Chase went well. One of the largest American banks saw the positive qualities of a young Kazakhstani.

“I have shown that I am hungry, confident and motivated. None of the interviewers asked questions from a stack of papers. We managed to talk about football and about Kazakhstan. One of them told that he had heard from friends about Shymbulak. He admitted that he would like to visit our ski resort,” Sultan shared.

Two weeks after the interview, the guy got a call and was told that they wanted to see him after his second year in summer practice.

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“I have never experienced this. It was a real miracle. Simply the best day of my life,” 21-year-old Nasymbaev recalls his emotions.

At the first stage, due to the coronavirus, Sultan worked remotely from Almaty. Due to the time difference, I had to wake up at 17.00. And it was possible to fall asleep only by 13.00 the next day.

“I worked 100-110 hours a week, lived like a zombie, didn't see anyone. But I was glad, because I purposefully went to this. When the internship was over, the director of the university called me on a video call and said that I was the smartest sophomore he had ever seen. I could hardly restrain myself from crying,” Nasymbaev shared.

After completing the internship, a student from Kazakhstan was offered a job with a salary increase. He signed a contract and started working at the headquarters of JP Morgan Chase in the heart of downtown Manhattan.

“I was walking in a suit through Manhattan to the office. It was the biggest dream of my life. In August 2021, I was offered a full-time job after university with a huge pay increase. I didn’t even imagine that immediately after graduation you can receive such a salary legally, ”he shared.

The Kazakh told about the position he occupies in the bank.

“We work with major corporations: Netflix, Disney, Amazon and Google. My position is an investment banker. Let's imagine that Apple wants to buy Samsung, their technologies and factories. We conduct an in-depth analysis that can take several months. Then we tell you how and at what price it is better to do it, ”explained 21-year-old investment banker JP Morgan Chase.

Plans for the future and return to Kazakhstan

The Sultan shared that he has a huge Kazakh flag hanging on the wall in his office.

“To some extent, I represent my country on Wall Street. In addition, I always show a map of Kazakhstan to my directors and vice presidents. Comparing our size with the size of Europe, they promise to come to Kazakhstan. The feeling that I am telling such people about my homeland warms my soul,” says the Kazakhstani.

Sultan is currently in his fourth year at the University of Pennsylvania and plans to finish his studies at the university with honors.

In the future, the Sultan would like to return to his homeland. He wants to promote and develop the investment industry, which is now gaining knowledge and experience.

“We have so many things. The country has a huge amount of talent. I'm one of the millions who can achieve tremendous success in a global industry. It seems to me that the system puts pressure on young people and does not allow them to open up. My desire is to help and reveal these talents in Kazakhstan,” Sultan said.