Age: Older than I look. Profession: Finance and technology. Organization: Skyline IM. Title: Founder. Alma mater: Cornell University (B.S.); Stanford University (master’s degree in progress).
Current project: Integrating artificial intelligence with human creativity. Latest contribution to others: Volunteered for the American Cancer Society. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Launched my first billion-dollar fund at the age of 29. Hobbies: Tennis, golf, reading, volunteering. Recent travel or adventure: Antarctica and Patagonia. Last book read: Don Quixote, by Cervantes. Recently viewed and recommended: Chernobyl (HBO). Recent unique acquisition: Antique sports poster from Paris.
Personality profile: Tinkerer: ISTP. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Electric. Moral compass: My intuition. What is your greatest joy? To be challenged and learn. What is your guilty pleasure? Reading classics. What word or phrase do you use far too often? I don’t know. What natural talent have you neglected? Stand-up comedy. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Freedom fighter. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Charity. What is at the top of your bucket list? Hiking the Alborz Mountains. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? Danger.
What was your first paying job? Math tutor. What was your favorite childhood toy or game? Tonka truck. What book have you repeatedly read? The Bible. What movie have you repeatedly watched? Amadeus. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? 1352 map of Italy. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? History teacher from middle school. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? The microwave. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? Metropolitan Museum (New York). What company or organization do you most admire? SpaceX.
What is your big idea?
Embrace this unprecedented time of technology abundance to build great things for humanity
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Creating a new scaled investment platform that combines the permanence of family and endowment capital with the sophistication of a multi-asset manager. What change would you like to see in the world? Democratization of long-term solutions to chronic illnesses such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. What mega-trend most excites you? Widely available super intelligence to create a world of abundance.
Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? My maternal grandmother. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A doctor. What advice would you give your younger self? Trust your intuition and don’t look back. Why so few responses to this section? I prefer not to engage in hypotheticals.
Personal mission: To seek beauty, knowledge and virtue. Favorite quote: “Man suffers only because he takes seriously what the gods made for fun” (Alan Watts). Desired epitaph: He never gave up.
