Meet Rayne Gaisford (BS ’04), a Lundquist College of Business alum who built his career in finance from Goldman Sachs to Credit Suisse and now serves as a chief risk officer at hedge funds. His path wasn’t traditional, but through persistence and strategic networking, he found a way in.
In this interview, Rayne shares how students can stand out in competitive industries and create opportunities even when there isn’t a clear recruiting pipeline.
Find the “Side Door”
Rayne didn’t enter finance through a traditional recruiting pipeline. Instead, he built his own path by reaching out to professionals, asking thoughtful questions, and taking the time to understand what different roles actually involved.
Those early conversations helped him develop clarity so that when he did land an interview, he knew how to speak to the role, the industry, and where he could add value.
Practice Before It Counts
One of Rayne’s most practical strategies was taking as many interviews as possible, even for roles that he didn’t expect to land. That repetition and interview practice helped him refine his story, get comfortable answering common questions, and build confidence in high-pressure situations. By the time Rayne reached the interview he really cared about, he was able to navigate the process comfortably and make a stronger first impression.
Relationships Create Opportunities
A key turning point in Rayne’s journey came through relationships. From building trust with professors and professionals who were willing to advocate for him to scoring an impressive interview, his advice to students is this: networking isn’t a one-time interaction. Make it easy for people to help you and do that consistently in the way that you reach out and the way you follow up.
Find What Sets You Apart
Throughout his career, Rayne focused on identifying the skills he was strongest in and then finding roles where those strengths mattered.
Rather than trying to be good at everything, he paid attention to the types of problems he enjoyed solving and leaned into them over time. There may not be one clear path into competitive industries, but as Rayne’s story shows, preparation, persistence, and relationships can open doors. Start early, stay curious, and be ready when your opportunity comes.