During their on-site week in NYC, Schonfeld’s 2025 U.S. summer interns gathered for a conversation with CEO & CIO Ryan Tolkin.  

Ryan shared his path from Duke economics major to Schonfeld intern, Goldman analyst, and ultimately the dual CEO/CIO role he holds today.   

Throughout the session, Ryan’s central message surrounded the importance of listening to and learning from those around you, a trait instilled in him as an intern at Goldman. 

“Your brand is built in those moments,” he said. “If you listen first, people trust you and opportunities find you.” That habit, he said, is as important for analysts today as it is for a CEO overseeing teams across the globe.  

When interns asked what gives Schonfeld an edge in a crowded hedge-fund landscape, Ryan didn’t hesitate: “Culture – people first, excellence always.”   

Ryan described how PMs routinely share market outlook and risk views across strategies, especially on volatile days – a collaboration that sparked healthy debate and may have protected capital during recent market shocks.   

Ryan’s advice for early-career talent:  

• Listen first: Absorbing feedback builds better investors and better colleagues. 

• Act with integrity: “Doing the right thing compounds over a career.” 

• Find mentors and sponsors: Relationships with Steven Schonfeld and his Duke thesis advisor still shape Ryan’s thinking today. 

• Stay curious: Learning never stops.