Levi Pettit: Why Face-to-Face Interaction Remains Critical in Finance Careers

Against the backdrop of increasing remote work options, investment professional Levi Pettit presents a compelling case for maintaining traditional office culture in the financial sector. The CFA® charterholder, currently pursuing his MBA at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, argues that early-career success in finance depends heavily on in-person interaction.

The Real Value of Office Culture

“Entry-level job seekers really should be looking for opportunities where they can be face-to-face with people every single day,” Pettit emphasizes, speaking from his experience across multiple sectors of finance. “That’s where I learned the most — and how I grew the most.”

His stance comes at a time when many young professionals are gravitating toward remote work opportunities. While acknowledging this trend, Pettit offers a word of caution: “The young people who want to pursue finance may find that attractive. They may see older friends or family who have these hybrid jobs, where they can travel or work from home. However, for an entry-level job, they really should be looking for opportunities where they can be face-to-face with people every single day.”

Levi Pettit’s Blueprint for Success

The magna cum laude graduate of The University of Texas at Dallas found his own path to success through embracing in-person opportunities. After earning degrees in Finance and Economics, Pettit discovered his passion during an internship at a family office. “I really didn’t understand what a family office was at the time I interned in one, and I fell in love with it,” he recalls. “You have a direct line of communication to the most important people in the company.”

This experience led to his role as an investment associate at a first-generation, single-family office, where he honed his expertise in alternative investments and private equity. His commitment to professional development included earning his CFA® charter through more than 600 hours of dedicated study. “Nobody required it of me,” he notes. “It was a lot of evenings and weekends studying.”

Building Career Momentum

Pettit emphasizes the crucial role of mentorship in professional development. “You have to put yourself out there. Find mentors — I would definitely not be where I am today if it wasn’t for the mentors I have in my life,” he advises. This guidance becomes particularly valuable when delivered through daily, face-to-face interaction.

He also stresses the importance of demonstrable skills, suggesting that job candidates bring concrete work samples to interviews. “Companies may wonder, ‘Do you have the ability to produce a product that is going to be on par with what we expect?'” he explains.

The investment professional’s perspective is shaped by advice he received early in his career: “I know that you just graduated, and you think that you have a college degree and know everything now; but that’s not the case — and you need to realize that you will need to continue learning for the rest of your career.”

As the financial industry continues to evolve with technological advances, Pettit maintains that certain fundamentals of professional development remain unchanged. The ability to observe, interact with, and learn from experienced professionals in person provides unique advantages that virtual environments have yet to replicate.

For those beginning their careers in finance, Pettit’s message is clear: while remote work may offer convenience, the path to long-term success still runs through the traditional office environment, where daily interactions and observations create invaluable learning opportunities.