It’s no secret that the majority of Wall Street asset funds are controlled by white men. In fact, only 1.4% of the $82 trillion in private equity funds are managed by diverse-owned firms.
Yet, there are men of color who are beating the odds and dominating Wall Street in the process. These men have carved a niche in profitable industries that have been mostly overlooked by their white counterparts. Here are 5 men of color who are raking in billions on Wall Street.
1. Orlando Bravo, Founder and Managing Partner
Company: Thoma Bravo
Education: Brown University (Bachelor’s degree in economics and political science); Stanford Law School (JD); Stanford Graduate School of Business (MBA)
Wall Street Accolades:
- Led his company to become one of the top private equity firms in the world.
- Oversaw more than 380 software acquisitions.
- Named by Forbes as Wall Street’s Best Dealmaker in 2019.
Philanthropy:
- Serves as Founder and Chairman of the Bravo Family Foundation.
- Spearheaded humanitarian missions in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
- Donated $100 million to the Rising Entrepreneurs Program (REP).
2. Jose E. Feliciano, Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Company: Clearlake Capital Group
Education: Princeton University (B.S. in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering); Stanford University Graduate School of Business (MBA)
Wall Street Accolades:
- Company manages more than $50 billion in assets.
- Firm oversaw more than 300 investments.
- Partners with world-class management teams with consumer, industrials and technology target sectors.
Philanthropy:
- Co-founded a grantmaking and impact investment organization called the SUPERCHARGED Initiative.
- Serves on the board of the Robert Toigo Foundation to foster career advancement of underrepresented talent.
- Invests in non-profits that impact entrepreneurship, education, empowerment and equal opportunities.
3. Adebayo Ogunlesi, Founding Partner, Chairman and Managing Partner
Company: Global Infrastructure Partners
Education: Oxford University (B.A. in Philosophy, Politics and Economics); Harvard Law School (JD); Harvard Business School (MBA)
Wall Street Accolades:
- Member of President Trump’s Strategy and Policy Forum
- Serves on the Board of Directors at Goldman Sachs
- Company manages more than $81 billion in assets
Philanthropy:
- Company supports Engineering Tomorrow to expose underrepresented high school students to the field of engineering.
- Supports organizations that train and mentor students who pursue careers in top industries.
- Additional philanthropic organizations that his company supports include The Sutton Trust, Mann Deshi Foundation and RE:ACT Disaster Response.
4. Ramzi Musallam, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner
Company: Veritas Capital
Education: Colgate University (B.A.); Harvard Law School (JD); University of Chicago Booth School of Business (MBA)
Wall Street Accolades:
- Led company growth from $2 billion to $36 billion in assets.
- Funds generate net internal rates of 31%.
- Creates successful investments in government-influenced markets.
Philanthropy:
- Supports the Global Empowerment Mission.
- Transforms the lives of children by partnering with All Hands Volunteers.
- Founder of his organization’s first institutional healthcare fund.
5. Robert F. Smith, Chairman and CEO
Company: Vista Equity Partners
Education: Cornell University (B.S. in Chemical Engineering); Harvard Law School (JD); Columbia Business School (MBA)
Wall Street Accolades:
- Company manages more than $93 billion in assets.
- Oversees a portfolio of more than 80 enterprise data, software and technology-enabled companies.
- Supervised more than 580 completed transactions.
Philanthropy:
- Founding Director/President of the Fund II Foundation that provides grants to conserve culture and experiences in African American communities.
- Personally contributed $20 million to Cornell University.
- Paid off debts of nearly 400 graduates of Morehouse College.
While your goal may not be to become a billionaire Wall Street investor, these men have shown us that it is possible to master the money game and make an impact as a diverse leader.
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