Creating the Next Generation of Finance Leaders
Asset Management Conference
About the Conference
The HPS Center for Financial Excellence Asset Management Conference, in partnership with AltFinance, is a two-day event that brings together students, industry professionals, and alumni to explore careers in asset management, wealth management, and management consulting. The conference supports Howard University’s commitment to advancing finance education by delivering technical training, industry exposure, and meaningful career development opportunities for students.
The conference will open with a Leadership Panel featuring Mr. Ryan Smith, Executive Vice President at Atlanta Life Insurance Company, and Mr. Herb Belton, Associate at Haveli Investments. Both are proud Howard University alumni. This discussion will examine the role of HBCU leadership, alumni engagement, and industry professionals in shaping the future of asset management and expanding pathways into the field.
Day two takes place at the Howard University School of Business and features a robust lineup of sessions focused on asset management fundamentals and professional development. The day will include a fireside-style conversation with a senior industry leader offering perspective on the evolving finance landscape, followed by hands-on technical workshops and case study challenges. Topics will include private credit underwriting, private equity, asset valuation, strategic problem-solving frameworks commonly used in management consulting, and leveraged buyout financial modeling. In addition, the day will feature an impactful career fair, giving students direct access to firms, recruiters, and professionals across the asset management ecosystem.
Designed to build both foundational knowledge and advanced technical skills, the conference blends expert insights, applied learning, and high-impact networking. Through this experience, students gain critical industry exposure and professional connections, reinforcing Howard University’s mission to develop the next generation of finance leaders.
Anthony D. Wilbon, PhD, PMP
Dean, Howard University School of Business
Our responsibility is to prepare the next generation of investors, asset allocators, and financial leaders who will shape global capital markets. At the Howard University School of Business, we are building the academic rigor, industry partnerships, and applied training necessary for our students to compete and lead across the buy-side ecosystem—from asset management and private equity to institutional investing. Our goal is clear: to ensure Howard graduates enter the industry with the technical discipline, market insight, and leadership capacity required to steward capital and create long-term economic impact.
From Markets to Leadership: A Conversation with Buy-Side Executives
Michelle Gadsden-WIlliams
Managing Director and Co-Head Global Talent & Culture, BlackRock
Michelle Gadsden-Williams is the Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Talent and Culture at BlackRock. She is an award-winning global human capital executive, author, activist, producer, and philanthropist with more than 30 years of experience as an advocate for equality within corporate America and a thought leader around diversity and inclusion. Michelle is a seasoned diversity practitioner with experience working in the consumer goods, pharmaceutical, professional, and financial services industries.
She has held positions of global responsibility in strategic planning, organizational development and diversity management. She lived in Switzerland for close to 10 years of her corporate career and managed diversity functions for large multi-national corporations such as Accenture, Credit Suisse, Novartis and Merck & Co, Inc.
Michelle has acquired a multitude of community service awards and accolades for her work as a diversity leader. She was recently named as one of the 2025 US Black Chamber of Commerce Power 50 Women of Influence. In 2024, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her leadership in Diversity Equity and Inclusion by the Reverand Al Sharpton and the National Action Network. In 2023, she was recognized by the Global Diversity Leadership organization with the Top DEI Global Champions Award and an honoree at the inaugural Global Chief Diversity Honors Awards by Black Enterprise. Michelle has also been recognized by Market Media with the Financial Services Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award, Diversity Women Elite 100 and Black Enterprise as one of the Top Executives in Corporate Diversity for 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017. The Reverend Al Sharpton recognized Michelle as a 2016 honoree at the National Action Network “Woman of Power” Luncheon, she was an honoree at the Black Institute Awards Gala in NYC and a 2015 Ebony Magazine Power 100 honoree. Her other notable tributes include: being named the 2010 recipient of the Maya Way Award for Diversity Leadership by the incomparable Dr. Maya Angelou, receiving the 2008 Harvard Black Men’s Forum Businesswoman of the Year Award, accepting the Rainbow Push Coalition’s Bridge Builder Award by the honorable Reverend Jesse L. Jackson and also being recognized with an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from Kean University for her outstanding personal and professional accomplishments in the field of diversity and inclusion.
In 2013 Michelle was appointed as a member of the Global Advisory Council on Gender Parity for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Michelle is a member of the Executive Leadership Council and currently serves on the board of trustees for WNET and the Apollo Theater in New York City.
Michelle earned a B.S. in Marketing, a B.A. in Communications from Kean College of New Jersey, and an M.S. in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania
Jordan Gay, '27 (BBA, Finance & Honors)
Student Moderator
Jordan Gay is a junior at Howard studying finance, and is passionate about pursuing a career in the investment space. Her freshman summer, she interned in private credit at Blue Owl and spent her sophomore summer at Apollo Global Management on their Flagship Private Equity team. She is looking forward to deepening her experience as an incoming Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Lazard Frères & Co. for her junior summer internship. Jordan is also a Cohort 4 fellow in AltFinance, and has participated in numerous leadership and enrichment programs at leading firms including Evercore, KKR, Goldman Sachs, and more.
On campus, Jordan is a proud Spring 2025 initiate of the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and the President and founding member of the Women in Finance Initiative. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, her other interests include French language, in which she is pursuing a minor degree in, as well as serving her local community and mentoring young students.
Call to Action: Howard University Alumni
We invite you to a special reception and panel discussion on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 6:00 PM, hosted at the University Club of Washington, DC.
The evening will feature two Howard Alum, Mr. Ryan Smith, Executive Vice President at Atlanta Life Insurance Company, and Mr. Herb Belton, Associate at Haveli Investments, who will lead a discussion on the future of asset management and the role of alumni engagement in expanding access and opportunity for Howard University students.
This event provides an opportunity to learn how you can help shape the future of asset management through the HPS Center for Financial Excellence. Your involvement as an alumnus is critical to strengthening the talent pipeline and creating meaningful opportunities for students pursuing careers in the industry.
Through mentorship, professional guidance, and industry connections, alumni can help ensure students are not only academically prepared but also positioned to make a lasting impact in asset management. Your support is essential to building a strong foundation for student success, and we look forward to partnering with you to develop the next generation of finance leaders.
Reserve Your Seat
Register Today
Navigating the Future of Finance: Leadership Panel
Randell Beamon III, CFA, CAIA
Dr. Curtis Kidd Telemaque
Executive Director, HPS Center for Financial Excellence
"Capital shapes economies, institutions, and opportunity. Our responsibility is to ensure our students are not spectators in that system, but architects equipped to build, manage, and grow wealth at scale."
Thursday: March 19, 2026
Partners Workshops
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Corporate partners will facilitate a series of interactive workshops focused on professional development and career readiness. These sessions will include interview preparation, résumé development, and mock interviews, providing students with practical guidance and direct feedback from industry professionals. Designed to complement the technical programming, these workshops help students refine their presentation, strengthen their candidacy, and better position themselves for competitive roles across the finance industry.
Professional Reception
6:00 PM - 6:50 PM
The reception at the University Club of Washington, DC, provides an opportunity for alumni, faculty, and industry leaders to network in an informal setting.
Navigating the Future of Finance: Founders Forum
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
This leadership panel brings together founders and senior leaders shaping the asset management industry. Featuring Dr. Curtis Kidd Telemaque, Director of the HPS Center for Financial Excellence, and Marcus Shaw, President & CEO of AltFinance, the discussion will explore leadership in finance education, the founder’s perspective on building and scaling asset management platforms, current industry trends, and strategies for sustainable growth in the next generation of firms.
Mr. Marcus Shaw
CEO & President AltFinance
"The more people that we get involved in what we’re doing, I think we’ll see more leverage…the breadth of opportunity that’s created through this industry is second to none."
Friday: March 20, 2026
Breakfast and Check-In
7:45 AM – 8:30 AM
Attendees will check in, enjoy breakfast, and network before the day’s sessions begin.
What Is Asset Management? Understanding the Industry and Career Pathways
8:40am – 9:30am
Panelist:
Deepak Tolani, Portfolio Manager at the District of Columbia Retirement Board
Patrick Sahm, Chief Investment Officer at the District of Columbia Retirement Board
Abigail Hickey, Private Credit Associate at Adams Street Partners
Layla Smith, Wealth Management Analyst, BNY
This session introduces students to the fundamentals of asset management, including how firms invest capital on behalf of individuals, institutions, and organizations to grow and preserve wealth. Panelists will discuss the structure of the industry, key roles within investment teams, and the skills firms seek in emerging talent.
Market Watch: What students should know today
- Overnight market highlights and key developments
- What asset managers are watching today
- Identifying risks and opportunities early
- How market context informs daily priorities
- Professional communication in a fast-paced setting
Credit Underwriting & Risk Analysis (Advanced)
9:40 AM – 10:50 AM
Craig Jatlow, Managing Director at HPS Investment Partners
This session will delve into the key technical skills necessary in asset management, covering areas like private credit underwriting and risk management.
Leveraged Buyout Modeling
9:40 AM-10:50 AM
Herb Belton, HAVELI
This hands on session walks participants through building a fully integrated leveraged buyout model used in private equity and investment banking. The focus is practical modeling, technical interview readiness, and understanding how sponsors evaluate risk and return.
AI in Asset Management: From Data to Investment Insight
9:40 AM – 10:50 AM
Vernon Lee: Managing Director, ANCHOR
- How asset managers use AI and advanced data analytics to support research and idea generation
- Applications of AI in risk management, portfolio construction, and scenario analysis
- Using alternative data and machine learning to identify trends and investment opportunities
- Balancing human judgment with AI-driven insights in the investment process
Certain Decision Making in an Uncertain World
9:40 AM – 10:50 AM
Brian Swain, Deputy Chief Investment Officer at Howard University, Independent Chair ETF Trust
Keon Holmes CFA, Managing Director at Cambridge Associates
Justin Bullion, Senior Consultant, UNCF
Dr. Shawn Thomas, Director of Investment Leadership Programs, UNCF
In a world shaped by market volatility, geopolitical shifts, and rapid technological change, leaders are often required to make critical decisions without complete certainty. Certain Decision Making in an Uncertain World brings together experienced professionals to explore how they evaluate risk, interpret complex information, and move forward with confidence in unpredictable environments.
Behind every major investment, endowment strategy, ETF structure, and portfolio allocation is a table where critical decisions are made. This session offers a rare look inside those rooms where fiduciary responsibility meets strategic conviction and where institutional leaders determine how capital is deployed, protected, and grown.
Drawing on real world experience across public markets, endowments, and exchange traded funds, our speakers will discuss the frameworks and mindset that guide effective decision making when the future is unclear. Attendees will gain valuable perspectives on how leaders assess risk, balance long term performance with evolving market conditions, uphold governance standards, and exercise disciplined judgment while stewarding capital at scale.
From Markets to Leadership: A Conversation with Buy-Side Executives w/ Mrs. Michelle Gadsen-Williams
11:10 AM – 12:00 PM
Fireside Chat
Moderated by: Ms. Jordan Jay
Lunch
12:00-2:00pm
Grab-and-Go Lunch (Room 200)
A brief midday break offering quick refreshments for participants while the career fair is underway, allowing attendees to refuel without missing ongoing networking and recruiting opportunities.
Beyond the Game: The Business, Capital Strategy, and New Economics of Sports and Entertainment
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Paul White, CFP®, MBA, Family Office Relationship Executive | Vanguard
Katlyn Andrews, CIA Director, Risk Advisory | bakertilly
Kamila Elliott,CFP® CEO | Collective Wealth Partners
Ricky Clemons, Lecturer: Department Health Human Performance and Leisure Studies | Howard University
Kerry Davis, Vice President & Athletics Director at Howard University
This panel explores the financial architecture behind athletes and entertainers, including contract negotiation, branding, NIL opportunities, and long-term wealth strategy. Panelists will examine how high-income earners transition from performance-based earnings to structured enterprises through disciplined capital allocation and private market investing.
Attendees will gain insight into deal structuring, risk management, alternative investments, and the evolving economics shaping the modern athlete and entertainer.
Inside Aladdin: How Asset Managers Measure Risk & Build Portfolios (BlackRock)
1:00 PM- 2:00 PM
BlackRock
This interactive workshop provides a practical look at how asset managers evaluate portfolio risk using real world tools and frameworks. Participants will explore diversification and correlation in action, conduct scenario analysis and downside stress testing, and examine how portfolios are constructed across asset classes to balance return objectives with risk tolerance.
Attendees will gain hands on insight into how institutional investors think about capital allocation, risk exposure, and portfolio resilience in dynamic market environments.
Case Interview Preparation Fundamentals (Consulting)
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
McKinsey
Overview of consulting case interviews and recruiting expectations
Structured problem-solving frameworks and analytical approach
Communicating insights clearly, confidently, and concisely
Common pitfalls and practical strategies to prepare effectively
Asset Management Career and Networking Fair
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
An interactive career fair connecting students with asset management firms, recruiters, and industry professionals. The session provides opportunities for networking, career exploration, and meaningful conversations around internships, full-time roles, and career pathways across the asset management landscape.
