4A in Focus: Gairy Hall '16

Alumni Spotlight: Gairy Hall ‘16 On Curiosity, Courage & Thriving in Private Market

Private banking, career coaching, and now powerhouse private markets, Gairy Hall’s path proves there is no typical finance journey. Now working in Private Equity at Carlyle, Gairy shares insights and real talk that every CBS student and alum can appreciate.

▶️ Read on to hear directly from Gairy.

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Career Journey: From Citi to Carlyle

Q: Can you walk us through your career journey post-undergrad to CBS and beyond? Gairy Hall: Absolutely! I graduated from Columbia undergrad and started at Citi in the Private Bank. I loved the combination of markets and working with people. But after a few years, I wanted to gut-check my career direction since I had only worked in finance. That’s what brought me to CBS.

At CBS, I intentionally explored everything outside of finance to test my interests, from pre-MBA interning at a prenatal juice startup to spending my summer in consulting. That journey ultimately confirmed my passion for markets, investing, and macroeconomics. I joined JPMorgan’s rotational leadership program post-MBA, which let me work across their global businesses, including a stint in London. Eventually, I landed in their Asset Management division, working in fundraising with pensions, endowments, and wealth managers.

Then in 2020, I joined Carlyle to focus solely on private markets, which has been a great fit. I’ve been raising capital across strategies ever since.

Why Finance Still Excites Me

Q: What keeps you passionate about this industry? Gairy Hall: The interconnectedness. Even though I’m not trading public markets, everything happening globally—politics, policy, economics—somehow touches what we do. I love finding those threads.

Also, innovation in investing never stops. Whether it’s new asset classes or structures like securitization, the industry keeps evolving. The way private markets have grown is incredible, for example at the start of my career a 10% allocation to alternative investments was common but now that gets to 50%+ for some clients. And honestly, there are also plenty of fascinating characters to work with and learn from in this space.

CBS Lessons That Stick

Q: What lessons or professors from CBS still stick with you today? Gairy Hall: Two standouts.

First, Doug Bauer. I took his Effective Philanthropy in Urban Communities class, and it shifted how I thought about impact. I realized you don’t have to wait until you’re ultra-wealthy to contribute. Your time, relationships, and advocacy matter and can have real impact now.

Second, Napoleon’s Glance with Bill Duggan. The idea that you can make decisions by referencing patterns from past experiences, like Napoleon did in battle, was profound. To this day it still reminds me to stay open-minded and pivot when needed, especially in high-stakes roles.

Beyond the Classroom

Q: What shaped your CBS experience outside the classroom? Gairy Hall: I was super academically driven during undergrad at Columbia, so at CBS I really dove into other facets. I served in both CBS Student Government and the University Senate.

One highlight was helping Columbia divest from private prisons, becoming the first university to take such action. That came from a student-led initiative that had many advocates and ultimately was channeled through the Senate. It showed me how slow and complex institutional change can be, but also that it’s possible.

Advice for Current & Future MBAs

Q: What advice would you give current or future CBS students, especially Black students? Gairy Hall: Be intentional. Don’t treat getting into CBS as the final goal. Use the platform to build the skills, relationships, and experiences that will move you toward your vision, whatever that may be.

Think of it like a toolbox: What do you want to build, and what tools do you need to collect while you’re here? And don’t underestimate the network! My CBS connections directly led to job opportunities at both JPMorgan and Carlyle.

CBS Network in Action

Q: What early post-MBA moment showed you the value of your CBS network? Gairy Hall: After my summer internship, I realized I wanted to pivot from consulting. My classmate Andrew was the one who encouraged me to say out loud what I did want—finance and leadership. He immediately introduced me to someone in JPMorgan’s rotational program. A few weeks later, I had the offer!

Years later, when I was thinking about pivoting to Carlyle, Michael, a CBS buddy already there, gave me the real scoop. That made the decision much easier. The CBS network pays dividends faster than you think.

Life Outside the Office

Q: What brings you joy outside of work? Gairy Hall: New York steakhouses! I have a running spreadsheet ranking 47 of them. I’m also into NYC architecture, working out (although not like I used to), and plants. My green thumb comes from my grandmother and my mom, our home growing up was basically a jungle. I even have a few plants here at Carlyle that get a lot of attention. They bring life and energy into my office.

On the Nightstand

Q: What are you reading right now? Gairy Hall: The Haves and the Have Yachts by Evan Osnos. It just came out. It’s about wealth inequality and modern excess, based on essays from The New Yorker. It’s eye-opening and honestly, pretty entertaining.

Final Words

Gairy Hall: I'm always open to connecting with CBS students and alums, especially Black students navigating finance. There isn’t plenty of representation in private markets, and I’d love to help change that. I’m also a CMC Career Coach, so feel free to reach out!

📩 Want to connect with Gairy? Find him on Linkedin.