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Shattering Financial Barriers: 5 Men of Color Who Are Raking in Billions on Wall Street

by | Jun 30, 2022 | PRODUCTIVITY, DIVERSITY, FINANCES, Finance, Career, Productivity, Life, MEN OF COLOR BLOG, FEATURES, CAREER, LIFE

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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