Abigail Rall
Building an ESG career from the ground up
Finding the right fit
Abigail joined Third Bridge as an Associate in the Private Equity team, working remotely from New York during lockdown. The pace was fast, and sometimes the topics were unexpectedly niche. “Lots of finding experts, cold calling, and trying to get them matched with projects. Now I know far too much about things like astroturf and canned coffee,” she laughs.
With a background in sociology, she hadn’t planned on a career in finance, but Abigail soon found that she fitted right in at Third Bridge. “Something that really stuck out to me was the mentorship structure. At every stage, you’re matched with somebody who’s dedicated to your development. That sounded really interesting to me.”
Even as she learned the ropes remotely, Abigail found herself pulled in by the people and culture. “Everybody I met was supportive and nice and seemed keen on growing people. That’s when I started feeling loyal to Third Bridge.”
Chasing the next step
Progression came quickly. Within two months, Abigail had her own book of business, and soon after, she was managing clients. “If I can see what the next thing is, I want it now,” she admits. “That’s a quality we value at Third Bridge; being curious and wanting to get to the next stage.”
Supportive managers guided her through each transition, and when she spotted an internal role in Operations, they encouraged her to go for it. “I was anxious about telling my manager I wanted to move teams, but she said, ‘That’s absolutely for you. Let’s talk about it.’ Managers here know people won’t be in the same role forever. You’ll get promoted, move around, or even go somewhere else. My managers wanted to support me in whatever I needed to do.”
Her first months in the role were spent having conversations with leaders across teams like Compliance, Tech, and Legal. “It was really a crash course in all of the different functions throughout the business,” she explains. “It helped me understand how everything fits together to enable our client-facing teams to succeed.”
Abigail’s fresh start in Operations also gave her a refreshed view of the company. “I no longer had a book of business or direct reports. Suddenly, I was looking at the business much more holistically. It was like taking 20 steps back from a painting and seeing the whole thing.”
Building something new
One of Abigail’s projects in operations focused on ESG, an area she was already passionate about outside of work. With encouragement from senior leaders, her work on the project grew into something much bigger. “There was no ESG role before I started saying I think there probably should be one,” she says. “I was shocked when they said, ‘Alright, go for it. Let’s try out your idea and see if it works.’” That openness gave Abigail the chance to shape a brand new role at Third Bridge and officially become ESG Lead.
The thing that's kept me around for the past 10 years is the ability to learn something new every day.
Driving impact and belonging
As ESG Lead, Abigail splits her time between internal and external work, from tracking the company’s gender pay gap and environmental policies to coordinating community volunteering and preparing for regulatory reporting. “It’s a lot of asking questions. ESG is something that everybody contributes to, even if they don’t think that they are.”
Her proudest moments come when the work feels tangible. She points to CSR days, where every employee gets two paid days off each year to volunteer. “That always feels so nice, to work with your colleagues outside the job and make a difference in the wider communities we belong to. It feels like we’re expanding the impact of Third Bridge.”
She’s also excited about a new partnership with Kiva, an organization that provides microloans. “Now Third Bridge has a fund where we can distribute microloans to entrepreneurs all around the world. You see where your money is going to, what they’re using it for, and you get updates about the impact. That makes me feel much more connected to the work we’re doing.”
Culture and career growth
For Abigail, the career opportunities available at Third Bridge are a product of the culture. “We’re collaborative but also competitive, in a way that fuels people,” she says. “We’re curious. We’re always looking for the next thing we can do, how we can make this better, and never being satisfied with good enough.”
Hierarchy doesn’t get in the way of innovative thinking, either. “A good idea is a good idea. It doesn’t matter if you’re the most junior person sitting at that table. The idea is to act like this is yours. If you owned the business, what would you do with it? Be proud of your work and encourage people to do better along with you.”
That mindset, she believes, is what allows careers to evolve. “If you want to grow your career here, you will. You’ll find a way, and Third Bridge will help you find that way. I don’t know what comes next for me, but I know I can find it here.”
Life outside the office
When she’s not leading ESG initiatives, Abigail keeps busy by walking her energetic terrier mix, doing ceramics, and – more recently – wedding planning. “My fiancée, my mugs, and my little dog,” she says with a smile. She also stays engaged with her community by joining activism groups that give her a sense of agency and spending time in New York’s queer spaces.
Advice for new joiners
Abigail’s advice for anyone considering a career at Third Bridge? “Keep an open mind. Feedback is a big thing at Third Bridge. Be curious about other people and the opportunities that are out there. Don’t have a set vision of what your career will look like. Be open to different options. Be ambitious and let it take shape.”
From making cold calls in lockdown to creating a role that reflects her passions, Abigail’s story shows how initiative, curiosity, and a supportive culture can open unexpected doors, giving you the space to craft a career that’s uniquely your own.
