Investing In Integrity

Citing Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory,” Robin John, CEO of Eventide Asset Management, traces his inspiring, Christ-driven journey in building an investment firm that “makes the world rejoice” by allocating capital to promote “human flourishing.” In this one-of-a-kind episode of Investing In Integrity, Robin John explains how Eventide’s investment philosophy goes beyond, “avoiding the worst examples” of exploitation, to actively “keep moving towards companies promoting human flourishing and the global common good.”

“If a company's killing a person through their product and service, to us, they don't belong in our portfolio,” Robin explains, citing how focusing only on ESG criteria – without considering the specific effects of the actual product or service – isn’t necessarily sufficient to make values-based investment decisions.

Additionally, Robin unpacks his philosophy in leading a faith-inspired investment firm which includes “a huge amount of diversity – people from Hindu backgrounds, Jewish backgrounds, and atheists.” Reflecting on the importance of integrity, Robin says that, “if I have to sacrifice growth in order to maintain a strong culture at Eventide, I would: culture is number one.”

For anyone interested in learning from one of the most values-based, purpose-driven leaders in finance, this is sure to be an unforgettable episode.

00:00 - Intro/Career

05:15 - Founding of Eventide

10:36 - Faith & Values

18:28 - Navigating Pushbacks

26:48 - Religious Inclusion

29:56 - Leadership & Culture

37:31 - Rapid Fire

“Life’s too short to play games,” says Arvind Purushotham, Head of Citi Ventures, our guest in our latest episode of Investing in Integrity. Arvind traces an impressive career arc from engineering leadership at Intel to making high-stakes investment decisions and advising founders & business leaders at Citi, unpacking how strong technical and product knowledge can equip future investors to make smarter decisions.

For those curious about different approaches to venture capital (e.g. the differences between Citi Ventures and firms like Sequoia), and the role finance can play in driving innovation, Arvind offers a first-hand perspective comparing and contrasting how different firms operate.

Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes the importance of transparency, ethics, and integrity in leadership positions, and doing right by the company, investors, and clients. 

And tempered with wisdom from working through the Dot-com Bubble, Arvind contextualizes present macroeconomic concerns and unpacks timeless qualities that investors should look for–from operational discipline to principled-decision making. 

Tune into this episode for advice on how to “face the music and be out there,” as Arvind muses, in making difficult decisions and navigating uncertainty, whether as a student, operator or investor.

00:00 - Intro/Career

06:11 - Values

08:43 - Keys to Success

11:19 - VC vs. CVC

16:13 - Value Proposition

23:31 - Principled Leadership

26:10 - Rapid Fire

In this episode of Investing In Integrity, we spoke with Stephen Sorenson, COO at Scholars of Finance. This conversation is all about balance and leadership. 

Stephen defines work-life balance as “being healthy on all fronts - mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual,” and shares several stories about his early days in building SOF – and how being focused and present in the task at hand, whether it is work or spending time with family, benefited him.

Stephen also talks openly about how work-life balance is often overlooked until mental health is affected negatively. “I see a therapist every week, I'm not ashamed to say it,” Stephen says, because “everyone should be able to talk to someone professionally about what's happening and how they can learn and grow.”

Relatedly, Stephen talks at length about being an effective manager and his path into management. Giving feedback, he reflects, is about “helping others succeed with no other intentions aside from helping them succeed.”

“If that's my mentality heading into a feedback conversation, there's no loser, there's just winners,” he concludes.

There are only winners in this conversation, too, thanks to Stephen’s compassionate, wise advice on timeless themes like personal well-being, family values, work-life balance, and leadership.

00:00 - Intro

10:11- Work-Life Balance

14:30 - Mental Health

18:26 - Feedback and Growth

22:22 - Managing Others

26:00 - Rapid Fire

In this episode of Investing In Integrity, we spoke with Yassaman Salas, Partner at Goldman Sachs in the Healthcare Investment Banking Group. 

At Goldman Sachs, Yassaman leads their Medical Technology Banking division, where she’s been involved in some of the biggest Healthcare and MedTech industry deals of the last decade. Yassaman digs into how the pandemic impacted the space, and also discusses several predictions for the industry in the coming years. 

Yassaman also co-leads the undergraduate and MBA recruiting efforts at Goldman Sachs for her alma mater, Georgetown, so she offers lots of advice and insight in the episode into how the firm recruits, and how students can better stand out and navigate the process. 

Finally, Yassaman touches on her passion for helping women to succeed in finance, recounting her own inspiring career path and offering tips for anyone looking to make an impact through finance. Don’t miss this conversation filled with relatable, practical advice from Yassaman!

You can listen to Investing In Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere else you listen to your favorite podcasts.

00:00 - Intro

15:44 - Healthcare Investment Banking

28:26 - Recruiting

35:21 - Rapid Fire

In this episode of Investing In Integrity, we spoke with Arielle Patrick, Chief Communications Officer of Ariel Investments. 

Arielle leads an integrated team responsible for all communications for the $16.2 billion global asset management firm and its private equity arm.

This episode is a masterclass on essential communication skills for all finance professionals. Arielle also explains the recent rebranding of Ariel Investments, which introduced the tagline, ‘Active Patience.’ She emphasizes the importance of the brand reflecting specific changes in the firm’s asset management strategy and client service approach and speaks more broadly about the changing role and reputation of financial services in the public understanding. 

Additionally, she discusses the ethical obligations of communications leaders and how to handle situations when professional duty conflicts with personal values. Whether you’re keen on improving your communications skills or learning about another leader’s real-world perspective on ethical dilemmas, this episode is for you.

00:00 - Intro

11:08 - Communications Leadership & Role at Ariel Investments

33:08 - Rapid Fire

Working in finance is essentially “safeguarding people’s lives and dreams,” according to Gunjan Kedia, Vice Chair of Wealth Management and Investment Services at U.S. Bank.

“The most successful leaders and firms in finance,” Gunjan argues, are those who carry this obligation “close to heart, and never let people become just a statistic.”

U.S. Bank, Gunjan explains, follows this principle through efforts to bring equal access to wealth management and robo-advisory technology in serving clients

In the episode, Gunjan shares her journey in the financial services industry, including her experience as a management consultant at McKinsey, and the values and principles that have contributed to her ascent through the ranks of banking leadership.

She also describes the difficulties in balancing raising a family and keeping a personal life with building a professional career, and emphasizes the importance of honesty and courage in the workplace to navigate difficult situations.

We hope you enjoy the conversation!

Disclaimer: Automated Investor is offered by U.S. Bank affiliate, U.S. Bancorp Investments.

00:00 - Intro

16:32 - US Bank

34:04 - Doing Good in Finance

42:36 - Rapid Fire

In this episode of Investing in Integrity, Ross had the pleasure of speaking with Rory Gwozdz in our first ever alumni interview. Rory was one of the Co-Founders of our UC Berkeley chapter and is currently a trader at the hedge fund The Voleon Group.

Rory shares his experience of charting his initial path in finance. As a recent graduate of UC Berkeley, he offers relatable insights into choosing your professional careers from a student perspective. He candidly takes us through his journey and passion in finance through his academic years, and discusses how he realized he could follow his passion for options trading by building his own trading firm post-grad.

Rory was an incredible student member of SOF and we are so grateful for his commitment to the next generations of SOF students as a professional member and donor. This is a great podcast touching on values of entrepreneurship, dedication, and ethical finance from one of our very own alumni. We hope you tune in!

00:00 - Intro

09:10 - Perception of Finance

15:34 - Ethical Design and Regulation

36:34 - Involvement in SOF

42:28 - Impactful, Ethical Finance

In this episode of Investing In Integrity, Ross Overline spoke with Michael Sonnenshein, CEO at Grayscale Investments. For context, Grayscale is the world’s largest digital currency asset manager, and its flagship product, the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, or GBTC for short, has had major ups & downs in the last couple years – just like Bitcoin.  Ross & Michael dig into some of the major controversies and flashpoints in crypto, from the recent collapse of FTX, to Grayscale’s clash with the SEC over launching a Bitcoin spot ETF.

A decade-long crypto veteran, Michael describes the present moment as a “third winter” in the backdrop of a possible recession, but argues there is ample reason to be bullish. With measured optimism, Michael answers some of the core existential questions about crypto, from its viability as an asset class, to whether NFTs and memecoins are useful innovations.

Michael also shares some thoughts on leadership, gained from working at one of the most dynamic and unpredictable edges of finance.

We hope you enjoy this timely conversation on some of the hottest issues in crypto!

00:00 - Intro

18:04 - SEC Lawsuit, Regulation

31:23 - Crypto as an Asset Class, Recession Context

36:06 - Rapid Fire

In this episode of Investing In Integrity, Ross Overline spoke with Tim Welsh, Vice Chair of Consumer and Business Banking at U.S. Bank. This conversation is all about helping other people to achieve their goals, and how a mindset grounded in humility, compassion, and integrity should be at the center of banking.

Tim’s career started in management consulting, spanning over two decades at McKinsey. He discusses in-depth how a leadership foundation in solving problems and helping clients has informed his decision-making as the head of over 25,000 people in the consumer and business banking divisions of U.S. Bank.

“Job titles are irrelevant if you’re not making a difference in people’s lives,” Tim says. This conversation has a timeless quality to it, as Tim touches on inflection points in his own career and U.S. Bank’s journey, and explains how leadership principles and values have helped him and his countless employees and clients to prosper.

We hope you enjoy this evergreen conversation on the importance of serving others and staying true to principles in leadership!

00:00 - Intro

11:40 - Leadership

34:35 - Consumer Banking

38:01 - Philanthropy

39:16 - Rapid Fire

In this episode of Investing In Integrity, Ross chatted with Vijay Tirathrai, Managing Director of Techstars, a juggernaut startup accelerator which has had 2,900 companies go through its accelerator programs, adding up to a combined market capitalization of over $70 billion.

Vijay’s journey spans founding, failing, building, scaling, and exiting as a serial startup founder – and then investing, advising, and mentoring as a venture investor at Techstars. Vijay emphasizes the role of integrity in startup leadership, especially through vulnerability and tenacity as a team-member in his own companies. “The quicker we can get to openness, the faster we build trust,” Vijay says, explaining how it’s important for leaders to be forthcoming about challenges, setbacks, and the failures they face.

A prolific and successful entrepreneur, Vijay explains how getting “agitated” about unsolved problems in his life inspired him to start several companies, including a cycling helmet manufacturer, an association and events management platform, and a corporate venture capital firm.

And as a seasoned investor and advisor, Vijay also unpacks how Techstars operates, highlighting how they “don’t have a timeline for when investors need to exit” as a firm that believes in “patient capital.” He emphasizes the role of a curated, talent-dense network in facilitating growth and collaboration. “Start a company because you’re passionate about solving a problem, start today,” Vijay says. “If you fail, even better – stop procrastinating and get it done!”

We hope you enjoy this conversation on entrepreneurship, integrity, vulnerability, and the principles underpinning great leadership in the startup space!

00:00 - Intro

15:06 - Entrepreneurship

29:49 - Techstars Role

36:03 - Rapid Fire

In this year-end episode of Investing In Integrity, we’re joined by Peter Akwaboah, the Chief Operating Officer for Technology and Head of Innovation at Morgan Stanley.

It’s alright to “slow down,” Peter says. “The pandemic taught us we can take time out and calibrate; things will survive and still run.” As we wrap up a year marked by so much uncertainty and kick off 2023, Peter reminds us that “it doesn’t matter what we do – taking care of yourself is the only way we continue to have mileage for the marathon.”

Peter’s career proves that reflection and self-care aren’t just compatible with professional excellence, they’re conducive to it. He delves into his work spearheading innovation at Morgan Stanley, stressing the importance of clear principles, strong interpersonal relationships, and thought leadership in making a difference. He also explains how Morgan Stanley builds firm-wide resilience to weather global issues such as geopolitical challenges from China, mounting cybersecurity threats, and Russia’s War on Ukraine.

First an IBM engineer, Peter talks about pivoting from technology to finance and the changing landscape of FinTech, and also explains how the Great Recession of 2007-2009 changed his perspective not only about finance’s impact, but his own values and principles. He also digs into diversity, equity, and inclusion, highlighting the differences he saw between firms making statements versus taking actions in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.

This conversation managed to be both eerily timeless and unmistakably present, packed with wisdom spanning decades applicable to some of the biggest issues in finance and society today. We hope you enjoy our final episode of 2022 – Happy New Year!

Episode Segments

0:00: Episode Introduction

3:10: Peter’s Background

4:40: Triple Jump & Academic Excellence

6:45: Two Inflection Points in Peter’s Career

9:50: Peter’s Three Leadership ‘House’ Principles

14:20: Peter’s Innovation Role at Morgan Stanley

16:20: How Morgan Stanley Innovates

18:30: Morgan Stanley’s Global Growth in India

20:45: FinTech ‘Eating The World’ & Future of Big Banks

24:55: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion - Transparency & Taking Action

29:05: Macroeconomic Uncertainty and Cultural Nimbleness

32:40: Lessons from the Financial Crisis of ‘07-09

36:10: How to Balance Reflection & Execution

38:30: Rapid Fire Questions

In this episode of Investing In Integrity, we’re joined by Jack Pitts, Senior Managing Director in the Legal & Compliance Group, where he serves as General Counsel of Blackstone Alternative Asset Management (BAAM). 

“I’m only as good as the people around me,” Jack said, praising his colleagues at Blackstone. “I can’t do anything without an offensive line in front of me or a receiver to throw to,” the former quarterback added.

Educated at Howard University School of Law, Jack explains the rewarding, intellectually challenging problems he solves day-to-day by applying his legal training to important parts of finance, from structuring portfolios to negotiating investment opportunities. Jack also delves into his work Co-Chairing the Blackstone Diverse Professionals Network Task Force. 

Throughout the episode, Jack offers candid bits of wisdom drawn from his own childhood, education, and professional trajectory. He highlights the transformative role of education in instilling confidence and the value of great mentors whose feedback is “not always going to be peaches and cream.”

And like other guests from top firms like Blackstone, Jack offers first-hand advice into what the firm looks for in recruiting and hiring, and the values and principles it takes to succeed. We hope you enjoy this conversation!

“Impact is the next big shift in finance,” says Aaron Yeo, SOF UCLA member and Founder of Purposeful Finance, a purpose-driven media initiative to illuminate and amplify stories of finance making an impact, showcasing how rapidly-expanding disciplines like Impact Investing & Sustainable Development are changing the world for the better.

A UCLA student interested in pursuing a career in finance who started his adult life in Singapore’s armed forces, Aaron reflects on how he founded Purposeful Finance to fill a niche that he and his friends noticed: a lack of high-quality, curated content, speakers, and internship opportunities specifically for students interested in impact-oriented finance.

For first-time founders or anyone considering launching their own project, Aaron offers tons of advice from his experience, from the importance of simply getting started to which criteria to weigh in picking strategic partners and collaborators.

Speaking of partners and collaborators, Purposeful Finance is now a Scholars Of Finance organization! Ross & Aaron dig into our integration and how it’ll benefit thousands of purpose-driven finance students and professionals. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Aaron about Purposeful Finance!

00:00 - Intro

7:06 - Purposeful Finance

18:25 - Integration

25:25 - Rapid Fire

In this episode of Investing In Integrity, we were joined by three student members of SOF: Amirta (USC), Drake (UPenn) and Serena (UVA). This conversation was all about culture and  community–not only how each student has experienced SOF on their campus, but how their broader experiences in college and interactions with the industry–from networking conversations to recent internships–have shaped their pursuits of a career in finance.

With recruiting and networking top-of-mind for many students, our panelists shared first-hand perspectives on what they’ve looked for in internships and jobs, including how they compare and contrast considerations like business focus, people, and firm reputation when evaluating opportunities. They touch on some common challenges they’ve faced in addition to tips for standing out in the recruitment process.

Additionally, our students offer tons of practical advice for any student considering a career in finance, from choosing a career pathway, to making the most out of networking conversations, to developing stronger technical skills and knowledge. They also describe the impact SOF has had on their finance journeys, especially their own leadership roles and how they’ve specifically made an impact in their own campus chapters.

We hope you enjoy this conversation with some of our own stellar student members!

00:00 - Intro

12:08 - Finance Culture on Campus

27:02 - Impressions of Finance Industry

37:29 - Rapid Fire

In our latest episode of Investing In Integrity, we unpacked the changes & growth happening in our programs with our own Miranda Jenkins, Chief Program Officer at Scholars of Finance.

This conversation offers a behind-the-scenes perspective, connecting the dots between our student members’ experiences; the involvement of professionals as speakers and mentors; and the support of corporate partners and donors.

A decade-long leader in financial services, including a stint at Goldman Sachs, Miranda talks about her own career path, highlighting the role of last-minute opportunities, and how being both open to new experiences and assertive in stepping up helped her to stand out.

Miranda also digs into some of the major cultural and strategic shifts in finance, including greater focus on DE&I and prioritization of ESG.

For anyone wondering how they can make the most out of their involvement with Scholars of Finance, this episode might be like discovering the Secret Menu at In-N-Out or discovering new features in an iOS update: surprising and useful! We hope you enjoy this insightful conversation and that it helps you to find more connection and value as part of our organization.

00:00 - Intro

2:26 - Career / Background

15:26 - SOF Role

24:23 - 2022 Programs Changes

35:59 - Get Involved and Wrap Up

“Don’t you dare sell anything you wouldn’t want your grandmother to have,” says Richard Davis. “Get it off the shelf!” This ‘Grandmother Quotient’ is one of many leadership principles that the former CEO of U.S. Bank and now President & CEO of Make a Wish America shares in this episode.

It’s no secret that U.S. Bank during Richard’s (nearly two-decade) tenure set a standard of excellence, frequently being cited as one of the best places to work in America; racking up prestigious international awards for ethical business practice; and generating industry-leading returns to shareholders.

In this masterclass on principled, servant-leadership, Richard unpacks that elusive success. He recounts his rise from humble bank teller to CEO of one of the biggest banks in America, touching on key inflection points in his career such as leading U.S. Bank through the Great Recession and supporting employees and customers through social unrest in the 2010s.

“In our lives, we need to look around and see people with potential,” Richard says, reflecting on a bank manager named Cindy, who mentored him early in his career and set him on his path of leadership in banking.  “Financial services,” he says, is all about the “word services–what you do for others and what you give back.”

His insightful, pointed commentary on why “we shouldn’t set goals, but directions,” or why we should always be the person to “take the next hardest assignment, not promotion,” is relevant to students and professionals alike. One of our first and foremost supporters at Scholars of Finance, Richard offers timeless wisdom through sincere stories. We hope this episode makes you a little wiser, just as it did for us.

00:00 - Background & Introduction
02:52 - Richard’s Early Career as a Bank Teller
08:50 - Becoming CEO of U.S. Bank
10:38 - Leadership Paradigms & Values

14:28 - Compassionate Servant Leadership
18:30 - Ethics at U.S. Bank & Financial Performance

24:30 - Characteristics of World-Class CEOs
31:20 - Organizational Culture & Employee Wellness
35:00 - Non-Profits as a ‘Patchwork Quilt’
39:10 - Richard’s Backstory with SOF

This episode of Investing In Integrity features a highly respected leader in Private Equity, Daniel Pietrzak. Daniel is a Partner at KKR where he co-leads the firm's private credit funds with about $72B in assets under management.

Daniel recently launched a $2.1B asset-based finance fund, which is the firm’s first fund which finances assets secured against collateral-based cash flows, like consumer mortgages and commercial leases.

Daniel not only takes us through the backstory of launching a new fund and building a team; he explains how his fund operates at the cutting edge of Private Equity, which he says is about “financing the real-world economy,” more than the traditional buy-and-flip model.

Throughout the episode, Daniel offers insightful, first-hand advice for anyone interested in a career in PE or a top-tier firm like KKR. He explains how KKR looks for “dynamic athletes” and talks about the importance of being both well-read and speaking up to share points of view.

A seasoned leader, and Advisor to Scholars of Finance, Daniel shares wisdom into the leadership principles and practices which have helped him to succeed, from the importance of education to the necessity of humility. The first in his family to attend college, Daniel shares an inspiring story–both of his own career journey and of the rapidly-evolving landscape of PE in finance.

We hope you enjoy this conversation!

00:00 - Intro

2:42 - Daniel’s Story

14:25 - KKR and Daniel’s Role

19:47 - Private Equity

31:00 - Rapid Fire

It’s another first on Investing In Integrity: a conversation with one of our team-members! We’re joined by Jody Holden, our new Chief Growth Officer at Scholars of Finance. Prior to joining SOF in the spring, Jody spent 25+ years in financial services, including stints at Prudential, Citigroup & Bank of America where she specialized in Equity Research and Institutional Sales.

In this conversation, Jody takes us back to the beginning of her career working as an analyst. She recounts how her early research roles gave her both broad industry exposure and a strong foundation of transferable soft skills, which she then leveraged to rise the ranks to become a Managing Director of Institutional Sales.

“My job,” Jody says, “is to make sure we’re here for as long as we can possibly be here, to make sure we get bigger & stronger.” Jody takes us behind the scenes into growing a non-profit membership organization like SOF, sharing her perspective on our mission, vision, and values–and unpacking her optimism for the future of our organization and our growth strategy.  Ross & Jody also discuss the importance of building and sustaining high-trust, high-integrity relationships in collaborative leadership.

Whether you’re thinking about your first role in finance, curious about the future growth of our organization, or envisioning your own career ascent, we hope you’ll enjoy this first conversation with one of our own team-members!

00:00 - Intro / SOF Role

8:52 - Early Career

13:40 - Sales and Client Relationships

19:19 - Mentorship and Women’s Initiatives

26:24 - Wrap Up

In this episode of Investing In Integrity, we’re joined by Kathy Kraninger, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Solidus Labs & the former Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). A Republican Trump-appointee confirmed along party lines, Kathy covers several hot-button issues from her tenure leading the CFPB, from the $2T+ student loan debt crisis to the record-high level of consumer complaints filed in 2020.  

“Many Republicans stated their opposition to the CFPB,” says Kathy, but “I’m a ‘good government person’ and the CFPB’s mission is important,” she adds. Kathy emphasizes the influential role of public service in finance, tracing her own career path through government, from the Department of Transportation in the early 2000s, to the Department of Homeland Security, to leading the CFPB from 2018-2021.

Additionally, Kathy digs into cryptocurrency & digital assets, ranging from her thoughts on the Digital Commodity Consumer Protection Act to the recent backlash spurred by Bitcoin’s price collapse. She discusses her transition into the private sector, leading regulatory affairs at Solidus Labs, including her recent experience building the Crypto Market Integrity Coalition (CMIC).

We hope you enjoy this in-depth conversation as we did.

00:00 - Intro

14:26 - Consumer Protection

23:46 - Crypto and Crypto Regulation

36:32 - Rapid Fire

In this episode, we dig into cryptocurrency regulation, the societal role of corporations, and ESG requirements with SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce.

Both a leading conservative advocate of cryptocurrency innovation and a vocal critic of ESG, Commissioner Peirce brings incisive perspective to complicated current topics including:

For future and current finance leaders alike, we hope this conversation proves both highly informative thanks to its substantive depth, and also thought-provoking as Commissioner Peirce shares her unique perspectives on some of the most important topics in finance today.

*Note: at the time of this recording a few weeks ago, the SEC only had four commissioners. Since then, Commissioner Mark Uyeda and Jaime Lizarraga were sworn in.

00:00 - Intro

9:00 - Crypto Regulations

17:33 - Role of Corporations in the Public Interest

26:22 - ESG

39:53 - Rapid Fire

In this week’s episode of Investing In Integrity, our CEO, Ross Overline, interviewed Michelle Seitz, the Chairman & CEO of Russell Investments, a leading global investment firm that ended 2021 with over $340 billion in assets under management and $1.2 trillion under advisement for clients in 32 countries.

Michelle digs into her 35+ year career arc, speaking candidly about the importance of bringing her authentic self to work, tracing back to 1987 when she was a first-time female portfolio manager with an undergraduate degree from Indiana University, among a sea of men with Ivy League MBAs.

“Human connection can never be understated, and it is core to being a high-performing executive.” Michelle says, in discussing her tenure leading Russell Investments. She reflects on building and sustaining strong culture and how she self-selected her role based on her own values tracing to her upbringing.

Michelle also offers timely insight on investors’ mindsets, contrasting her focus on fiduciary responsibility and long-termist discipline with bull-market speculation. For future finance leaders, Michelle charts a course for building “inclusive, sustainable, long-term” growth – and also explores challenges & opportunities for young women, in particular, in becoming leaders in finance.

00:00 - Intro

1:44 - Michelle’s Career and Story

26:55 - Developing client relationships, culture, and purpose

36:31 - Empowering more women to become leaders in finance

43:58 - Rapid Fire Questions

At the dinner table with his father, a Tuskegee airman, John Rogers began reading Kiplinger’s Letters and the annual reports of companies. Soon after, Rogers began being mentored by Stacy Adams, a pioneering African-American stockbroker in Chicago.

In just 30 minutes, John traces in remarkable detail his own pioneering, history-making career. John discusses how Ariel Investments, the first Black-owned investment management firm in America, weathered financial crises by sticking to a values-driven approach, both in investment decisions and in leadership.

He also explains how financial services firms and their leaders can help close the racial wealth & opportunity gaps, from diversifying management, to supporting financial literacy, to collaborating with other progressive and minority-owned institutions.

“Optimistic about the future,” John highlights the roles of political engagement, educational leadership, and non-profit involvement in his own life as crucial ways that financial services employees & executives can make a difference.

“I felt the challenge to do something special and make a difference,” John says. We think you’ll agree that his clarity of perspective and generosity of advice in this episode are yet another example of something special and difference-making added to John’s impressive list.

00:00 - Intro

2:59 - John’s Career and Story

13:53 - Racial Inequalities in Wealth and Corporate Finance

23:47 - Rapid Fire questions

In our first-ever student panel, our CEO Ross Overline spoke with several Scholars of Finance members from the Princeton, MIT, and UC Berkeley chapters.

“One finance club I joined had a party culture – it was toxic and snaky, and instead of encouraging community, it made me feel alone,” said one panelist. “It made me reconsider and almost give up on the finance industry because I wasn’t comfortable. The culture turned good people away.”

“But the truth about finance,” another student said in this episode, “is that you can be ethical, hold your values close to your heart, reach the top and use your position to do good and be admired for it.”

Throughout the conversation, our panelists attested to the impact SOF has had on their pursuit of positive, values-driven, inclusive finance cultures. “The people I’m around in SOF help me have more hope,” said one student. “This community encourages and motivates us to stay true to our values.”

This episode is packed with first-hand student stories and perspectives covering:

1. the diverse finance cultures at their universities, and how they found like-minded, mission-driven peers and avoided toxicity through SOF

2. the finance industry and its reputation at their campuses, and how they have been navigating the recruiting process to find values-driven opportunities

3. the intersections between pursuing finance and social impact, ranging from helping their extended families overseas to driving inclusive change within the industry

As another student panelist said, “I’m most looking forward to starting a domino effect to help others achieve the best versions of themselves, because it takes a village to achieve what we want to do.”

We hope this conversation – packed with authentic insights from SOF student members – tips a domino for you in your own pursuit of a purpose & passion-driven career.

Episode Segments:

00:00 - Intro

02:09 - Background on student panelists

10:16 - Finance culture at different schools

27:15 - Student perspectives on finance industry and recruiting

34:28 - The impact our members hope to make in finance

41:21 - How SOF has impacted our members

Mandell began his career at Morgan Stanley and has been with the firm for 30 years. Prior to his role as CHRO, he served as the Head of Private Wealth Management, as the Chief Marketing Officer, and in a variety of roles in Sales, Trading, and Business Development. Throughout his time at Morgan Stanley Mandell has led the organization across revenue and asset growth, fielded leadership talent, and spearheaded the creation of a more equitable firm culture.

We discussed many topics today, including Mandell’s unique story of entering and rising the ranks at one of the top investment banks in the world, the role capital and capitalism plays in driving societal change, the ESG movement, and the importance of diversity and inclusion in the industry. Mandell was a fun and insightful guest and the conversation was amazing - all thanks to him of course. Our team really does hope you enjoy it and find it as valuable as we did.

Episode Segments

In episode #18, Ross converses with Chris Campbell, the Chief Strategist at Kroll.

Chris has an incredibly interesting story and provides unique insight on the financial system with his deep experience in both the public and private sectors. Chris discussed many topics including, working in the United States government, tackling tough objectives through policy, early career trajectory and advice, the role of finance in the current day, the current macroeconomic environment in the US, and the advice he would give to young finance professionals.

Prior to his role at Kroll, Chris was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Institutions serving from 2017 to 2018. Prior to this role he served as the Staff Director of the Senate Finance Committee and Judiciary Committee. He designed, managed and coordinated the U.S. Senate Republican agenda in the areas of international and domestic taxation, international trade, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and the U.S. National Debt. As a part of his government leadership roles, Chris helped spearhead some of the most impactful financial legislation and international negotiations of the last decade.

We are pleased to have Chris Campbell on today’s podcast!

Chris Varelas is the Founding Partner at Riverwood Capital Partners. Riverwood Capital Partners is a world-leading Private Equity firm that invests in high growth technology. With over 3 billion dollars in capital commitments Riverwood enables tech-related business scale into world-class organizations.

If that isn't enough, Chris is a board member for The Aspen Institute - an organization that works to build diverse and creative thought leaders who are designed to address the world’s most complex issues.

Prior to his work with Riverwood and The Aspen Institute, Chris worked at Citi as the Global Head of Technology, Media & Telecom Investment Banking, Head of Citi’s National Investment Bank, and a member of Citi’s Global Operating Committee.

Our CEO, Ross Overline, talks with Christine Anderson about how the reputation of finance and corporate governance have evolved over the years, her experience in the Clinton Administration press room, and the duties of her current role at Blackstone.

Christine Anderson leads Blackstone’s efforts related to Environmental, Social and Governance issues and she serves as the primary spokesperson for the firm, advising Blackstone’s senior leaders and business groups as well as companies across Blackstone’s portfolio on ESG matters.

This week on the podcast we had Jonathan Knee, a Senior Advisor at Evercore in the firm’s Corporate Advisory Business and Co-Director of the Media and Technology Program at Columbia Business School.

Before joining Evercore as a Senior Managing Director in 2003, Professor Knee was a Managing Director and Co-head of Morgan Stanley's Media Group. He was previously Publishing Sector Head in the Communications, Media and Entertainment Group at Goldman Sachs. Prior to becoming an investment banker, he was Director of International Affairs at United Airlines and served as Adjunct Professor of Law at Northwestern University. His writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, the Atlantic, and Jonathan is the author of The Accidental Investment Banker, The Curse of the Mogul, and The Platform Delusion.

Episode Segments

00:00 - Intro

06:20 - Jonathan’s Journey to Finance

09:10 - “What I liked about Banking”

10:20 - Jonathan’s role at Morgan Stanley

12:15 - Role at Columbia University

14:20 - Work with CEO of United Airlines

17:51 - What led to be being an “accidental banker”

22:57 - How to build transparent relationships 

31:50 - What Teaching is really about in finance

33:56 - Platform business delusions

40:00 - Rapid Fire Questions

In episode #14, Ross converses with Stephanie Cohen, Global Co-Head of Consumer and Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs.

Stephanie discusses the importance of giving everyone a voice, and how staying curious and embracing failure can lead a company to rapidly innovate - even an investment bank as large as Goldman Sachs.

Prior to assuming her current role, Ms. Cohen was the firm’s Chief Strategy Officer, where she drove strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), strategic investing and partnerships for the firm. She led Launch With GS, Goldman Sachs’ $1 billion investment strategy which aims to increase access to capital and facilitate connections for women, Black, Latinx, and other diverse entrepreneurs and investors, as well as GS Accelerate, the firm’s in-house innovation engine. She is also a member of the Global Inclusion and Diversity Committee, serving as a Global Executive Sponsor of the Women’s Network.

Kofi Bruce is the Chief Financial Officer at General Mills where he has worked for over 12 years in various roles at the firm. Prior to joining General Mills in 2009, Kofi worked at EcoLab and at the Ford Motor Company in various financial positions.

Kofi holds an undergraduate degree in international relations from Stanford and a masters in business administration from the Ross School of Business at University of Michigan.

In today’s episode, Ross and Kofi discuss Kofi’s early career arc and what eventually led him to General Mills. Further, they spend the bulk of the time discussing values and people based leadership as well as diversity in the finance industry. Finally, they pivot the conversation and discuss Kofi’s work outside of General Mills and his involvement in SOF.

In today’s episode, we were joined by Elizabeth Sandler, the Founder and CEO of Echo Juliette and a former Managing Director at The Blackstone Group, to discuss mentorship with a focus on helping people chart their path in finance.

Prior to founding her consultancy, Elizabeth served as a Managing Director at The Blackstone Group and Chief Operating Officer of Blackstone’s Real Estate Debt Strategies business from September 2016 to August 2018. Prior to that, she was at Deutsche Bank for 15 years as an MD and division COO as well.

Elizabeth is a dynamo and we think you’ll love hearing from her. In our conversation we covered the importance of setting and accomplishing long-term goals, what we all can do to empower women in finance, what it takes to be a good mentor AND mentee, and so much more.

As always, a special thank you to all of our students who submitted questions for today’s interview.

Today’s episode is a special one for many of us at Scholars of Finance as we had the opportunity to sit down with our Co-Founder, Ryan Quinlivan, to discuss the founding story of SOF.

Ryan is a VP of institutional equity sales at Piper Sandler in their New York office. Beyond having a very successful early career thus far, Ryan has helped us build and grow SOF every step of the way on nights and weekends… investing a lot of time in our team, students, and community to help us achieve our mission of inspiring character and integrity in the finance leaders of tomorrow.

Ross and Ryan start with how they both met and got involved in finance, and ultimately, how they started Scholars of Finance. We dive into our vision for finance and SOF as well. Ryan is an amazing person, leader, and deeply knowledgeable about markets - so we can’t wait for you to listen to this episode.

A special thank you to all of our students who submitted questions for today’s interview.

Chris Larsen is the Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Ripple and happens to be a crypto billionaire.

Chris is active in working to advance pro-consumer regulation in the financial sector and is an incredibly impressive leader, founder, and change-maker.

In today's episode of Investing In Integrity, we delve into the regulation of cryptocurrencies, transparency in the financial system, socioeconomic impacts of crypto, their climate impact, and the future of crypto in America and across the globe.

Here’s an overview of some of the segments:

00:00 - Intro

04:00 - What value crypto brings into the world

08:55 - The impact crypto has on globalization

12:30 - How crypto and blockchain technology can make finance more accessible

22:50 - Ripple’s lawsuit with the SEC and its regulatory implications

28:00 - Chris’s definition of cryptocurrency

32:00 - Crypto’s climate impact and how it can be dramatically reduced

57:00 - Career advice from Chris

JC de Swaan is a Lecturer at Princeton University on the topic of Ethics in Finance. He also teaches at Cambridge University and is a partner at Cornwall Capital, a New York-based investment fund.

In today's episode of Investing In Integrity, we talk with JC about his new book, Seeking Virtue in Finance: Contributing to Society in a Conflicted Industry.

We unpacked each of the four pillars in his framework for virtuous financial leadership and discussed some of his thoughts on ethical fading and values-based leadership, among other topics.

Segments from the episode:

00:00 - Intro

05:44 - Seeking Virtue in Finance at a glance

09:25 - The Four Pillars

13:31 - Pillar #1 (Customer Mandate. Serving Customers Interests Faithfully.)

25:14 - Pillar #2 (Social Wealth Creation. Contributing to Society Beyond the Customer Mandate.)

40:35 - Pillar #3 (Humanistic Leadership - Treating Colleagues with Dignity, Empowering Them, and Fostering a Responsible Culture.)

51:16 - Pillar #4 (Engaged Citizenship)

01:09:25 - The core virtues to adhere to as a finance leader

Joseph R. Martinetto is the Chief Operating Officer of Charles Schwab where he is responsible for operations, infrastructure, and products. This includes Charles Schwab Investment Management, Legal Services, Client Solutions, Community Services, Schwab's registered investment advisor affiliates and market strategists, and the Schwab Center for Financial Research. In addition, he leads Technology Services, Digital Services, Operational Services, and the Schwab Affiliated Banks.

In today's episode, Ross and Joe shared a conversation covering the broader economic system with a large percentage of that time being spent focused on financial technology including DeFi, cryptocurrency, and his leadership of the acquisition of TD Ameritrade.

Segments from the episode:

00:00 - Intro

5:54 - Where young professionals should focus to maximize their potential

7:27 - Joe's early career and how to find the right career strategy for yourself

10:47 - How to be a good team player

14:02 - How to be a strong leader

17:26 - Trade-offs within the context of work-life balance

23:57 - Charles Schwab's strategy against The Great Recession

29:01 - Assessing the risk profiles of different assets

36:25 - Why large finance companies are staying away from cryptocurrencies

40:05 - Does DeFi have a future in the financial sphere?

42:30 - How Schwab leverages new technology

46:15 - Schwab's Acquisition of TD Ameritrade

Today is our second episode of Investing In Integrity and we were joined by Teri List, a Board Director at Microsoft.

Teri was the CFO of three Fortune 500 companies, including Gap Inc., Kraft Foods, and Dick’s Sporting Goods, after working for P&G for almost 20 years and Deloitte for 10 years prior to that.

In our conversation with Teri, we covered some of the biggest lessons she learned throughout her career including how to build confidence, investing in relationships, managing machiavellian colleagues, diversity in finance, the role philanthropy plays in our economy, and her experience being on the Board of one of the largest companies in the world.

Segments from the episode:

00:00 - Intro

04:00 - The one thing that had an exponential impact on Teri's success

7:15 - How you can develop confidence

9:25 - The biggest lessons from Teri's career

13:09 - How to manage machiavellian colleagues

17:35 - The importance of building relationships

22:20 - How Teri got involved with Microsoft's Board of Directors

27:00 - What it's like to be on the Board of Microsoft

31:00 - Best practices in board leadership

37:00 - The importance of diversity in finance

42:20 - What we can do to help women succeed in finance

46:45 - The importance of philanthropy

John Taft is Vice Chairman at Baird and a member of the firm's Executive Committee. Prior to joining Baird, he served as CEO of RBC Wealth Management, a full-service brokerage firm with nearly 2,000 financial advisors and over $280 billion in assets, for more than 10 years (2005-2016). He is a past chairman of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), where he advocated for responsible financial reform.

His book "Stewardship" is read by all of our students during the Leadership Development Program and covers the importance of core principles on a personal, professional, and societal level.

Throughout this interview, Ross and John unpack the concept of stewardship and what everyone can do to use finance as a force for good.

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Segments from the episode:

00:00 - Intro

06:45 - John's book "Stewardship"

15:30 - What we can do to make finance a force for good

24:30 - The role of finance in making a positive impact

29:20 - Vehicles that generate value vs. those that extract value

39:30 - To what extent is the financial services industry extractive?

42:00 - Combating inequality and inequity through finance

53:00 - Advice for investors to maximize personal impact

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Join our mission at scholarsoffinance.org

Welcome to Investing in Integrity by Scholars of Finance. We're a rapidly growing organization on a mission to inspire character and integrity in the finance leaders of tomorrow. If you’re an investor, finance professional, or student aspiring to make an impact with capital, this podcast is for you. Investing in Integrity is a compilation of conversations and interviews with leading minds in finance that will help you learn how you can make finance a force for good.