From St. Kitts to Wall Street: Alumna Deonje Lawrence Finds Personal and Career Success

As a child, Deonje Lawrence never imagined she would leave her home of Basseterre, St. Kitts, let alone find herself working in finance in New York City. That all changed after she came to Monroe and doors of opportunity opened for her. 

To this day, the Goldman Sachs Associate is pleasantly surprised that she ended up working in finance. It never was a subject she considered for herself, even after she had started at Monroe pursuing a degree in Business Management and a minor in Marketing.  

She initially dreamed of taking on the fashion world and making a name for herself as a designer. When it was time to apply to college, Monroe's strong reputation throughout St. Kitts and the Caribbean was top of mind.  She took a chance on her dream, applied, and was accepted.

As she prepared to make her journey to New York to start college, she remembered thinking how far away Monroe seemed from Basseterre.  

“It was a big, pivotal moment and a big transition in my life,” Deonje said. “But it was really the community, especially of other West Indians at Monroe, that really stood out to me. There were a lot of people you could relate to, who knew what it meant to leave home for a new place. There was always someone supporting you—you never felt alone.”  

In just two and a half years, Deonje was able to get her bachelor’s, far surpassing the average four to six years that many students need to earn enough credits for a bachelor’s degree. She was ready to get to work.  

Her go-getter attitude got her noticed too. 

Thanks to some networking connections through Monroe, she was able to start meeting the right people to help her achieve her goals. Through Monroe, she joined the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPHA), making impactful connections that would prove invaluable to her career advancement. Her involvement in these groups led to her resume being noticed, resulting in an interview at various organizations, including Ernst and Young, Morgan Stanley and Deloitte and, ultimately, a job offer at Goldman Sachs.  

"Monroe gave me access to resources and networks that opened doors for me. Through groups like NABA and ALPFA, I was able to connect with professionals, get my resume noticed, and ultimately land my job at Goldman Sachs,” Deonje said. “Sometimes, you just have to show up and make your own way—even if there’s no chair at the table, you bring your own."  

Deonje started at Goldman Sachs as an Analyst in Project Management in 2021 and recently earned a promotion to Associate. She now manages programs and leads a team.   

Despite her career success, she still makes time to tutor part-time at Monroe. She hopes to inspire other students who might not be sure what their future looks like and encourage them to really go after their dreams.  

"Success isn’t always a straight line, and that’s OK. Embrace the journey, explore your interests, and don’t let external pressures dictate your path,” said Deonje. 

“Your vision and success are unique to you—stay true to yourself and focus on what you can control."