Patricia Hall

Patricia Hall heads Goldman Sachs’ Salt Lake-based technology division—the office’s largest department. She relocated to the Beehive State from New York two years ago to build the Salt Lake tech division and now serves as managing director, co-leading a crew of approximately 200 technology professionals.

Hall’s love of technology took root in college, and she’s never looked back. Her passion for the industry was recently recognized by the Women Tech Council, which awarded her the Technology Excellence award for 2011.

“I haven’t been [in Salt Lake] very long, so I didn’t expect to win, but it was a great honor. The other women that won awards are unbelievably impressive,” Hall says.

Much of Hall’s success can be attributed to her get-it-done spirit and lead-by-example business philosophy. “I try to make sure that I never ask my team to do something that I wouldn’t do myself,” she says. Hall is also well known for her ability step into a difficult role and come out on top.

“I find that when you don’t know the outcome, but you take a risk that proves to be successful, those are some of the most rewarding moments of your career,” she says. In fact, it just might be the challenge Hall enjoys most. “Every day is different. You come in every morning and you have a list of projects, but there’s always a new market or a new product. The unexpected is what I like the most.”

During her 20-year career with Goldman Sachs, Hall has worked all over the world. And as a transplant to Utah, she is grateful for the opportunity to explore a new place. It’s the perfect situation for a woman who finds travel to be one of her favorite ways to keep balance in her busy life.

“I’ve been hiking in Bryce and have been all over the state, and I have been blown away by the whole landscape. And Salt Lake is such a beautiful place. I almost don’t want to tell people about it, to keep it a secret, because it’s so great,” she says.