In this conversation, Anne Ackerley discusses the importance of storytelling in finance, particularly in the context of fiduciary responsibility. She reflects on her transition into marketing at BlackRock and emphasizes the company's commitment to helping clients build better financial futures while maintaining a fiduciary role.

Takeaways

Other people tell your story, but we decided to tell ours.

The importance of being a fiduciary in finance.

Combining active and index strategies in a portfolio is crucial.

Transitioning into marketing can be a significant career shift.

BlackRock's mission is to help people build better financial futures.

Understanding the culture of a company is essential for success.

Learning new skills can lead to unexpected opportunities.

The role of marketing in communicating financial strategies.

Fiduciaries should never be on the other side of a trade with clients.

Storytelling is a powerful tool in the financial industry.

00:00 – Intro 03:45 – Larry Fink (BlackRock) 05:30 – Early Days of BlackRock 08:15 – The 8 Original Founders of BlackRock 10:00 – A Company Without Hierarchy: The BlackRock Ethos 11:00 – Rob K: The Cultural Heart of BlackRock 13:45 – Mentorship With Rob 15:45 – Realizing She Was Part of a Future Global Giant 17:10 – Career: A Story of Give and Take 18:00 – The “Marriage” of Active & Index Investing 19:00 – Becoming the Accidental CMO 21:40 – Rob’s Vision for Anne 23:30 – When the Company Didn’t Understand Active + Index 24:05 – Getting the Role as Head of the Retirement Group (Part 1) 24:50 – Mentoring Others 26:50 – Hurdles She Faced 27:00 – Getting the Role as Head of the Retirement Group (Part 2) 29:35 – “Everyone Does Know Your Story” 30:40 – Anne Loves Getting Results 31:40 – Creating the LifePath Paycheck 34:15 – Belief 35:45 – Going Back to School at Stanford 38:50 – Sports 39:15 – What’s Next: Teaching Finance & Learning AI 40:30 – Stanford Center for Longevity 42:05 – Final Thoughts