In the ultra-competitive landscape of quantitative finance, top talent is the most valuable (and volatile) asset. But what truly makes a quant stay? In this session, senior leaders share how they’ve built high-performing, research-led teams—without relying solely on compensation. We’ll explore strategies to recruit exceptional minds, assess career pathways for existing team members, and create a culture where quants thrive long-term.

Through a blend of quant-industry insights and lessons from leaders, this session will challenge firms to think beyond salaries and bonuses and toward what actually drives loyalty, innovation, and performance.

Discussion Points:

·      Talent without turnover: What Big Tech can teach quant firms about cultivating belonging, purpose, and professional growth

·      Career architecture for quants: How to define and communicate clear development pathways for research, trading, and engineering roles

·      Why people really leave: Exploring the impact of team dynamics, leadership, flexibility, and legacy tech on retention

·     Hiring with intention: Balancing technical excellence with long-term culture fit when recruiting into high-performance environments