Title: Senior Vice President
Firm: Jefferies
Age: 35
What Kirsten Chalke remembers most from her internship in J.P. Morgan's transportation group wasn't a particular transaction — it was the people.
"I've always been driven more by people than subject matter," she says. "The people I met were passionate about what they do and that passion was contagious."
That experience inspired her to launch her career in public finance at J.P. Morgan, spending eight years at the firm. Since joining Jefferies in 2018, Kirsten has advised on more than $25 billion in transportation financings for a wide range of surface transportation issuers, including toll roads, transit systems, ports and other critical infrastructure.
What keeps her engaged is that no two transactions are ever alike. "Every deal is different," she says. "The constant change keeps the work interesting and pushes you to keep learning."
Kirsten also values the balance between building long-term relationships and developing new ones. "It's exciting to be in both worlds," she says. "I'm proud that returning clients continue to trust our execution and it's equally rewarding when new clients take a leap of faith and choose to work with us."
Living in New York City provides a daily reminder of why her work matters. She often reflects on how different the city would be without the public financing that supports its subways, rail systems and other transportation networks. "This is essential infrastructure," she says. "Without it, New York would be a completely different city."
That appreciation for people extends beyond her clients. This year, Kirsten joined the national board of Women in Public Finance, where she serves on the mentorship and conference committees. She also participates in Jefferies' mentoring programs within both public finance and the broader investment banking division, helping develop the next generation of professionals.
