After taking a career break from nearly two decades in finance to spend time with her family and regroup, Elyse Goodman decided it was time to return to work. Her CV included positions in investment management at Lehman Brothers and Morgan Stanley, but the 19 months off had helped her realise she needed a change.

She applied and was accepted on Goldman Sachs's Returnship Program in New York, an internship for experienced workers who have voluntarily stepped out of the workforce and are seeking a route back in. At the end of the 10 weeks as an intern in 2010, she was hired.