In an interview from her apartment in TriBeCa in New York City, Fort Worth native Sterling McDavid shares her experiences and future goals in the world of finance, architectural design, hospitality and philanthropy. McDavid has been a member of UNICEF's Next Generation since April 2011. She is one of 20 New York City junior board members.
The organization currently exists in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and Vietnam, but it started in New York City four years ago with original founders such as Jenna Bush Hager, the founding chair; Lauren Bush Lauren; and Gloria Moncrief Holmsten, who also is a Fort Worth native.
"Through her involvement and support, she has raised both funds and awareness for this wonderful organization," Holmsten says. "Sterling is discovering her entrepreneur spirit, which she inherited from her wonderful parents, Stacie and David. She will no doubt be successful in everything she does."
As co-chair of the Next Generation Program Events Committee, McDavid personally hosts and plans awareness events and fundraising for current issues, such as water and sanitation programs in the Philippines. She serves as co-vice chair of the program committee. McDavid has traveled to Vietnam to consult with the government and observe child protection programs in the field.
Hager says McDavid's dedication to UNICEF's mission of advancing the rights of children worldwide is contagious. "She has become a motivated advocate," Hager said. "Her passion is inspiring, and she has become a dear friend. I've adored working with her."
McDavid says working with Next Generation has been one of the most educational things she's ever been part of. "We hear about these things, but it's completely different to actually go and see them."
McDavid graduated from University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor in Finance, a UT Honor Scholar, The McCombs School of Business, in 2011. She worked as an analyst in the Securities Division at Goldman Sachs from 2011 until 2013. Prior to that, she worked as a summer intern.
"It was a dream of mine to move to New York and to work on Wall Street since I was 17 years old, although I probably knew I wasn't going to be on Wall Street forever," McDavid says. "I just wanted the best base I could get in finance, and I definitely got that."
She left Goldman Sachs in July last year.
"I kind of have this creative background that I never really acknowledged," she said.
Acknowledging that creative side, McDavid will graduate from Parsons The New School for Design in New York in December this year. She's studying interior design focused on the architectural redevelopment side.
McDavid also is co-owner of a New York City gastropub, Rogue & Canon, with two of the most well-respected hospitality men in New York, Larry Poston and Johnny Swet. They opened the restaurant in February last year. McDavid works on the business and finance side.
"I've learned more from them than I could possibly imagine, and it has been going great," McDavid says. "Hospitality, in the true sense of working in it, is not as sexy as I thought it was," she said laughing. "I'd rather be on the redevelopment side creatively revamping a space. I'm good with numbers, so I want to mix my finance side with a creative industry."
McDavid is looking forward to working in Paris, France, all summer for Projectiles, the architecture firm that currently is working on renovating the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth and did the most recent renovations on Versailles in Paris.
McDavid has been an active member of the Cowgirl since 2003. She is one of the youngest members of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Advance Team.
She enjoys running and yoga and is a vegetarian. On a lighter side, her fashion style is "edgy chic." She favors artistic original clothing but also is a fan of Chanel. As for art: "I'm a huge fan of Peter Lik's architectural photography, but I also love edgy photography like Steven Klein's work."
McDavid designed her contemporary apartment in TriBeCa, which features two Peter Lik art works, "Manhattan Bridge" and the "Flat Iron Building."
The 25-year-old entrepreneur is working on a start-up idea that would mix her business and creative backgrounds as well as her passion for helping others, potentially in cooperation with UNICEF.
"It's most important to me to lead a life positively impacting every person I have the privilege of meeting and knowing, and mixing my skills in business and finance with my creative design skills to do so," McDavid said.
