A typical software developer holds a computer science degree. They're analytical thinkers and usually more introverted, spending more time talking to

What does Goldman Sachs want in a coder? For them to have studied philosophy

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2024-04-23 20:00:08

A typical software developer holds a computer science degree. They're analytical thinkers and usually more introverted, spending more time talking to machines in computer programming languages than schmoozing over business deals.

But in the age of AI, where models can generate code faster, and often better, than humans, the typical education path of a software engineer is being upended.

Goldman Sachs' chief information officer, Marco Argenti, recently encouraged his daughter, a college student, to concentrate her education on philosophy if she wants to pursue a career in engineering.

"Coming from an engineer, that might seem counterintuitive, but the ability to develop crisp mental models around the problems you want to solve and understanding the why before you start working on the how is an increasingly critical skillset, especially in the age of AI," Argenti wrote in a Harvard Business Review article this week.

Over his decades of managing engineering teams at Goldman Sachs and Amazon Web Services, Argenti said asking the right questions is one of the most important skills he's learned.