Today, I’m grateful for curiosity, the drive to ask, to learn, and to see beyond the surface.
Years ago, I sat in the office of an African-American executive at a publicly traded company. He was graciously sharing his journey—one that didn’t begin with a straight line to the corporate C-suite. He actually started in the nonprofit sector.
What struck me most wasn’t just his story, but a simple insight he offered that became a game changer for me.
He told me: “Most people focus so much on base compensation, they miss the bigger picture—bonuses, equity, restricted stock. That’s where generational value can be built.”
That one comment opened a new door. It made me think differently—not just about compensation, but about capital.
Back then, I had a 403(b) retirement plan and saw it as a checkbox. But that conversation sparked deeper curiosity. I started paying more attention to investing—first by reviewing my withholdings, then by overcoming an earlier failure in real estate, and eventually exploring opportunities in the stock market, private entities (like the bank), angel investing networks, and ultimately, private equity.
One thing that’s always been true about me: I learn best by doing and by connecting the dots.
Yesterday, I spent most of the morning studying private equity structures, processes, and investment strategies. Not because I want to become a fund manager—but because I want to better understand how aggregators of capital think, how capital flows, how value is created, and how it connects to what I do as a bank leader.
Wherever I’m engaged, I try to sit at the intersection—in this case, where community banking, capital formation, and curiosity meet.
I may never be an expert, but I can always become more informed, more thoughtful, and more strategic.
Here’s what I’m learning as I go—and I’d bet most of this resonates with you:
Think of it like a bank account for the whole fund—if it’s going up, things are likely working.
Curiosity is the seed of wisdom—and wisdom is the foundation of stewardship.