For someone who views leadership as a trait that takes a long time to flourish, Edith Hunt started quite early.
Hunt was the first woman ever to graduate from Penn with a dual degree.
Originally a sociology major, she was convinced to take an accounting class by a Wharton student she dated her freshman year. She found accounting to be "easy" and mapped out her dual degree program by taking Wharton courses as her College electives and vice versa.
The registrar's office was surprised by her request because no woman had earned two degrees before. After a two-week wait, they told her she could go ahead with her academic program.
Hunt's ambitious nature continued, as she became co-chief operation officer of the Human Capital Management Division of Goldman Sachs.
"If you want to be a star, there are great companies you can go work for. At Goldman Sachs, it's about being part of a star team," she said Thursday. "The negative of working at a place like Goldman Sachs is that it's an incredibly seductive environment."
She outlined three characteristics of successful leadership: the ability to articulate vision and strategy, drive change and lead other leaders. She also stressed the importance of "asking for what you want" and "taking risks" in her 45-minute lecture.
"Leadership develops over time ... anyone who wants to be a leader can be," Hunt said.
Student reaction to the lecture was very positive, though many of the audience's questions focused on possible employment at Hunt's firm.
"It confirmed my view of Goldman Sachs ... a firm where the best of the best commit themselves for the group. Individualization is just not accepted," Wharton junior Gor Ter-Grigoryan said.
As one of the heads of recruiting for the firm, Hunt also fielded several recruiting questions from the audience.
When asked about the work-life balance on Wall Street, Hunt told her audience that entry-level analysts need to understand the rules and be prepared for long hours.
"Be thoughtful of what you're getting yourself into," she warned.
After audience prodding, Hunt also commented on the importance of getting an MBA after graduating. She told audience members that Wharton undergraduates do not need an MBA.
Hunt did note the special advantage of seeking an MBA.
"It's the perfect excuse to quit your job," she said.
