A global career spanning finance, business, education and philanthropy, Josephine Linden AM has never lost her connection to Australia or her commitment to creating opportunities for the Australians coming behind her.
Global Australians Spotlight: Josephine Linden AM
Josephine Linden AM has built an extraordinary global career.
The Sydney-raised Founder and CEO of Linden Global Strategies spent more than 25 years at Goldman Sachs, retiring as a Partner in 2009. She later taught wealth management at Columbia Business School and today holds leadership roles across business, education and international affairs.
She is Chairman of Lands’ End, a Board Member of Innoviva and E&P Financial Group and a Founding Board Member of Global Australians. She also serves on the Investment Committees of the Freedom Together Foundation, the Collegiate School and the Asia Society, and is a longtime member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Trilateral Commission. In 2022, she was appointed an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
Yet for all the titles and achievements, ask Josephine what has mattered most throughout her career and her answer is much simpler.
“It is always about the people,” says Josephine.
From Sydney to Wall Street
Josephine grew up in Sydney and attended Kambala before graduating from the University of Sydney and moving to the United States, where she completed an MBA at the University of Chicago.
Her rise through Wall Street came at a time when there were very few women around her.
“Breaking into Wall Street in the ‘80s as a woman and a foreigner was not a walk in the park,” she says. “I was one of two women in my Goldman class, and we earned our seat at the table.”
Mentors played a critical role in helping her navigate those early years.
“What saved me were great mentors, men and women alike, who pushed me to be better. Now it is my turn to do the same,” Josephine reflects.
Those relationships became lifelong sources of guidance and friendship, teaching her how to engage with clients, stand up for herself and, importantly, help others rise with her.
Her advice today is not only to find mentors, but to invest in those relationships.
“It is important to get mentors, but it is even more important to keep up with these relationships. Don’t lose touch with people.”
Josephine's career has also reinforced the importance of values and reputation.
“The most valuable lesson has been to stick to what is right. Reputation and values stick with you through your career, so it is crucial to set yourself up well. I value culture and people over everything,” she says.
It is a philosophy that now informs the way she gives back.
Through Linden Global Strategies, Josephine has created Fellowship and Internship programs that give young people the opportunity to gain professional experience and build the skills and confidence to pursue their ambitions.
More than 60 Fellows and Interns have participated, including many Australians.
Josephine has a particular commitment to supporting young Australian women. Through the Linden Fellowship program, early-career Kambala alumni spend three months with the firm in New York, developing their financial knowledge, professional skills and confidence.
Former Fellows have gone on to careers spanning government, investment banking, law, space policy and technology entrepreneurship.
For Josephine, this is what backing Australians means in practice: opening doors and helping Australians gain global experience.
“‘Backing Australians’ for me means providing an outlet for Australians who want to spend time overseas, especially those who want to come to New York and work in finance or elsewhere. It also means helping create a home away from Australia for them.”
Despite living and working in New York for many years, Josephine's connection to Australia has remained strong.
“I grew up in Australia, and I feel Australian,” says Josephine.
She has also been part of the Global Australians story from the beginning, from the organisation's establishment by Ken Allen AO in 2002 as YAPA, through its evolution to Advance and now Global Australians.
Josephine believes her Australian upbringing has influenced how she approaches both work and life.
“Being an Australian has taught me not to take life too seriously and to enjoy life outside of work. I think about the idea of mateship - it is also important to focus on collaboration over competition,” she says.
These are qualities she believes Australia should hold onto.
“I hope Australia never loses the way it gives people a fair go, how it treats people with respect, and its sense of humour amongst everyone.”
Australia in a competitive world
Josephine is equally clear that Australia's global reputation and competitiveness matter.
“Australia punches above its weight from an economic, cultural and sporting standpoint. It does this because it gives people an opportunity to excel,” Josephine says.
But Australia's geographic distance from the centres of the global economy makes international relationships and connections particularly important.
“I believe that because of Australia's distance from the nexus of world economies, we must foster strong relationships with other countries to maintain our position and grow in the future.”
Josephine also sees both an opportunity and a challenge in the extraordinary careers Australians can build overseas.
Global opportunities can be incredibly attractive, contributing to talented Australians leaving home. Josephine believes Australia needs to create more opportunities to encourage talented young people to stay, while also maintaining connections with those who choose to build experience elsewhere.
And the advice she would give her younger self?
“I would tell my younger self to be more patient, that things do work out eventually, and to stay the course.”
After decades living abroad, Josephine's answer to what Australia means to her, no matter where she is in the world, perhaps says it best: “Family, friends, and beaches.”
