Q&A with Connor Faulk: Charting a path from engineering to energy markets

Connor, who works in our Houston office, began his journey with Macquarie through the internship and graduate programs. While studying at Texas A&M University, he transitioned his focus from mechanical engineering to finance, driven by his passion for energy markets. Today, he plays a pivotal role in the COO team, supporting the trading business and contributing to the day-to-day operations of the Commodities and Global Markets group, all while feeling excited about the future he is building at Macquarie.

What inspired you to pursue a career in finance at Macquarie?  

I attended Texas A&M University and studied mechanical engineering for my undergraduate degree. Growing up in Houston, I was always fascinated by the energy sector that surrounded me and originally planned to work in oil and gas as an engineer. However, after a few years of school, my interest shifted to the markets-facing side. This led me to apply and get accepted into the M.S. Finance program at Texas A&M. As I learned more about opportunities in finance within the energy space, trading began to fascinate me, and I started to look for internships at firms specialising in energy trading. Macquarie, being an advisory board member for my former master’s program, presented an excellent opportunity and I was fortunate enough to receive an internship and then a full-time offer within the Commodities and Global Markets group.

What does a typical day look like for you? What real-world impact do you have in your role?  

As part of the COO team, I help to support the trading business internally. In my role, I am focused primarily on our non-bank physical oil desk and help contribute to the day-to-day business operations. Part of my time is spent performing typical desk analyst work, such as running position and profit and loss reports or booking deals and allocating trades. I am given a great deal of responsibility and access as a function of my role, which allows me to best support the different desks and assist with any system-related problems. This exposure allows me to get a wide view of our Commodities and Global Markets business.

How does Macquarie invest in your career? How are you encouraged to invest in yourself?

Macquarie encourages everyone to interact with people from different sides of the business and explore the opportunities that our company has to offer. Managers will go out of their way to provide exposure to areas of interest and help people further their careers. Learning and growth are always encouraged here, and in my experience, everyone - whether your manager or a senior person from another team - will take the time to chat, explain what they do, or teach about new concepts. This open and supportive environment fosters continuous professional development and growth.

In what ways do we have an inclusive culture and how do we continue to shape a workforce that is increasingly reflective of all aspects of diversity?

As an international firm, Macquarie fosters a very collaborative culture and encourages diversity of thought – whether it be gender, age, or ethnicity, because it makes good business sense. Throughout my time at Macquarie, everyone’s thoughts and opinions have been respected and valued, and you are given an opportunity to impact the business. This inclusive culture not only enhances our work environment but also drives innovation and better decision-making.

What’s possible for your future?

I hope to stay and grow my career with Macquarie in the energy trading industry, ultimately becoming a trader myself. In the short term, I strive to continue to improve in my current role and positively impact the business in any way possible. At Macquarie, we’re empowered to be in control of shaping our own careers, so I am very confident that I will take advantage of all opportunities to reach my full potential here.

What advice would you have for students looking to pursue a career in finance?

There are many different routes that you can go within finance, most of which involve different types of work and thought. Being passionate goes a long way, but it is also very important and beneficial to look at the future of different fields of finance and be prepared with the skills required for a career in that field – whether that be coding or familiarity with AI and other forms of data manipulation. Ultimately, having an interest and willingness to learn, as well as accepting that there will be a steep learning curve, are the most important pieces of advice I could give.