Age: 50. Birthplace: New Brunswick, NJ. Profession: Finance and investing. Title: Investor. Pronouns: He/Him/His. Alma mater: Pennsylvania State University; New York University.
Recent professional development: Learning how artificial intelligence can be incorporated into investing. Latest contribution to others: Assisting a friend in making a career path decision. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Becoming CFO of a public telecom company before turning thirty. Hobbies: Weightlifting, art collecting. Recent travel or adventure: Hawaiian Islands with my family and visiting Mauna Loa. Last book read: Leonardo DaVinci, by Walter Isaacson. Recently viewed and recommended: Full Swing (Netflix).
How do you define a perfect friendship? Bouncing ideas off each other, not always agreeing, having a passion to win together. How do you define an ideal business relationship? One that pushes you to perform your best, is rewarding, allows you to make a living while you enjoy what you are delivering. What is your greatest joy? Spending time with my family and friends. What is your guilty pleasure? Collecting artwork and eating good meals. What word or phrase do you use far too often? You can’t manage what you can’t measure. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? On vacation with my family. What is at the top of your bucket list? Running a marathon or half marathon.
What movie have you repeatedly watched? The Great Escape. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? A Paul Emile Pissarro painting of the French countryside. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Never quit, keep fighting, that will teach you how to get better. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Don’t try to change a personality in someone, change their skillset instead. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Online classes. What company or organization do you most admire? Berkshire Hathaway. What world event has had the greatest influence on your life? 9/11.
What is your big idea?
Investing in a start-up company that has the possibility to become widely used.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Seeing how AI can influence investing decisions. What change would you like to see in the world? Where unfair competitive practices are eliminated to level the playing field for all people. What widely held belief do you reject? That certain people are not capable of learning or contributing. What mega-trend most excites you? Artificial intelligence.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? How to Beat the Competition. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? Someone in the financial industry. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? My computer. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? Hanging out with friends and family. What advice would you give your younger self? Don’t stress out over bad bosses, just be confident in your ability to always do well in whatever endeavors you undertake. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? The day I decided what to pursue in college.
Personal mission: To achieve as best as I can, to do the same for my family and encourage my kids to seek out the one thing they would like to be part of and go for it. Personal motto: Look forward. You can’t change the past, but you can learn from it. Favorite quote: “Be kind to everyone on the way up; you’ll meet the same people on the way down” (Wilson Mizner). Desired epitaph: Accomplished the best he could, always fair and kind, had fun doing what he did in life, a role model for his children.
