We Talk Careers

Product Manager

Today is our 50th episode of WE Talk Careers!
We are continuing our dive into Wall Street careers and into the very heart of Exchange-Traded Funds. What does it mean to be a product manager? We are joined by Sandra Testani and Greg Trinks to help us explore this role.
In her role as Head of ETF Product and Strategy, Sandra Testani drives strategic product initiatives to launch new products and oversees the existing ETF offerings across the American Century and Avantis Investors brands. Prior to joining American Century Investments in 2015, she spent 15 years as a vice president at AllianceBernstein. She has worked in the investment industry since 2000. Sandra holds a bachelor's degree in international relations with a concentration in business and economics from Boston University. She is a CFA and CAIA® charterholder. She currently serves on the Finance Committee for Women in ETFs. Sandra lives in Connecticut with her husband and 7 year old daughter. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, snowboarding and swimming. She aspires to travel to as many U.S. National Parks as possible in her lifetime.
Greg Trinks is Head of U.S. Product at Janus Henderson Investors, a position he has held since 2023. In this role, he leads the U.S. product team. Prior to joining the firm, Greg was with UBS for over twenty years where he held a variety of roles, most recently as head of portfolio advisory group. Greg began his career focused on taxable fixed income and municipal bond sales and marketing at Prudential Financial. Greg received a BA degree in business administration and finance from Western Michigan University. He holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation and has 24 years of financial industry experience. Greg lives in New Jersey with his wife, 8 year old son, and 6 year old daughter. Greg enjoys spending time with his family outdoors, especially the beach and boating, hiking, and skiing/snowboarding. He also enjoys cooking, hosting friends, and listening to Audiobooks/Podcasts on the long commutes.
Kristine Delano guides the conversation about Product Management as the intersection for the ETF industry and what it takes to build strong, collaborative, relationships.
Follow on Instagram kristine.delano.writer 
Visit www.womeninetfs.com to find additional support in the ETF industry. 
Go to www.kristinedelano.com for your Thrive Guide: a compilation of the most requested and insightful advice from our guests on Leadership and Advancement.
In partnership with https://www.etfcentral.com/
Book recommendations: 
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker, PhD 
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, MD
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Sales and Distribution

As we've been tackling different Wall Street careers, today we are focusing on the highly sought after and complex Sales and Distribution roles. We are joined by April Reppy Suydam and Inga Rachwald. 
April Reppy Suydam is Head of Latin America Distribution at First Trust Portfolios. April has over a decade of experience in the financial services industry and spent half of her career supporting Vanguard’s International Division. April has a Global MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. April lives in Chicago with her husband and three small children. 
Inga Rachwald is a Director and Senior Investment Portfolio Strategist supporting Schwab Asset Management. Prior to joining Schwab in 2016, she spent six years at RS Investments as a senior product manager and product specialist. Inga earned a Master of Business Administration in finance from Duke University and a Bachelor of Science in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. Inga lives in San Francisco and enjoys bike riding in her spare time. 
Kristine Delano guides the conversation about utilizing organizational skills and communication best practices to establish work/life balance.
Follow on Instagram kristine.delano.writer 
Visit www.womeninetfs.com to find additional support in the ETF industry. 
Go to www.kristinedelano.com for your Thrive Guide: a compilation of the most requested and insightful advice from our guests on Leadership and Advancement.
In partnership with https://www.etfcentral.com/
Book recommendations: 
- France: An Adventure History by Graham Robb- Battling Ward: The Life Story of a Greek Immigrant by Peter J. Douros- Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

Portfolio Management with Linda Klingman and Shana Sissel

On today’s episode, we are talking about the quintessential role of Portfolio Manager. They oversee the management and performance of a fund. What does it take to be successful and how do you get tapped for the role? Today we have Linda Klingman and Shana Sissel joining us.
Linda Klingman is a Managing Director and Head of Money Market Strategies for Schwab AssetManagement. She leads the portfolio management teams for Schwab Money Funds and has overall responsibility for all aspects of the management of the funds. Linda earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University. Linda lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is an avid gardener, growing many types of fruits and vegetables to share with family and friends throughout the year.  When she’s not managing money funds or in the garden, she is traveling to places far and wide or spending time in Key West, Florida.  
As CEO of Banríon Capital Management Shana Orczyk Sissel helps independent advisors navigate thecomplex world of alternative investing. Shana earned her nickname as “Queen of Alternatives” from her industry peers and wears the “crown” with great pride. Shana earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sport Management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst before receiving her MBA from Bentley University’s McCallum School of Business. She is a proud holder of the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation. In her spare time, Shana enjoys horseback riding, traveling, and spending time at the beach, regardless of the season. 
Kristine Delano guides the conversation about the importance of making connections with clients, managing goals, and having mentors.
Follow on Instagram kristine.delano.writer 
Visit www.womeninetfs.com to find additional support in the ETF industry. 
Go to www.kristinedelano.com for your Thrive Guide: a compilation of the most requested and insightful advice from our guests on Leadership and Advancement.
In partnership with the New York Stock Exchange and  https://www.etfcentral.com/
Book recommendations: 
- Risk: The Science and Politics of Fear by Daniel Gardner- Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson, M.D.

Head of ETFs with Leah Wald and Greg Friedman

We are diving into Wall Street careers, specifically in the exciting space of Exchange-Traded Funds. Today, we are starting at the top. What is it to be the Head of ETFs? How do you oversee all the aspects of your firm’s fund business and what does it take to get there and be successful? We have Greg Friedman and Leah Wald with us today.
Leah Wald is the CEO at Valkyrie Investments, bridging the gap between traditional finance and the rapidly evolving digital asset industry. Leah is a contributing writer for Forbes and co-authored the book Hyperwave Theory: The Rogue Waves of Financial Markets. Leah has a BA in International Political Economy and a MSc in Management specialized in International Business from IE Business School. Leah lives in Nashville, TN where she enjoys horse racing, beekeeping, and hiking. 
Greg Friedman is head of ETF Management and Strategy at Fidelity Investments. In this role, Greg is responsible for the development and execution of a firm-wide comprehensive ETF strategy, including product development, management, and positioning.  Prior to joining Fidelity, Greg was chief operation officer and head of Global ETF Product at Russell Investments. Greg earned his bachelor of arts degree from the University of California at Davis. He loves spending time with his family, golfing, skiing and will always be a Parrot Head. 
Kristine Delano guides the conversation into the importance of rigorous decision-making, team dynamics, and time spent on industry news. 
Follow on Instagram kristine.delano.writer 
Visit www.womeninetfs.com to find additional support in the ETF industry. 
Go to www.kristinedelano.com for your Thrive Guide: a compilation of the most requested and insightful advice from our guests on Leadership and Advancement.
In partnership with https://www.etfcentral.com/
Book recommendations: 
24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid by Willie Mays and John Shea
The Every by Dave Eggers

ETF Careers Kick-Off with Mo Sparks and Rob Jaeger

We are kicking off a new season of We Talk Careers Podcast. We're diving into Wall Street careers, specifically in the exciting space of Exchange-Traded Funds. We’ve seen unprecedented growth and innovation and we are excited to unveil the careers that make that happen. 
Today we have Mo Sparks and Robert Jaeger joining us. 
Mo Sparks leads the New York Stock Exchange’s strategic initiatives and related activities for asset managers engaged in the development of ETFs. Prior to joining the NYSE, he spent nearly a decade at
The Vanguard Group. Mo received his undergraduate degree from Clemson University and is a holder of the Certified ETF Advisor (CETF®) designation. Mo and his wife have two young boys ages 3 and 1 and when not talking ETFs he can be found traveling, enjoying sports (particularly basketball + golf) or enjoying the great outdoors.
 
Robert Jaeger is a seasoned fin tech entrepreneur. Currently VP at Trackinsight, he drives product strategy and business development. His career began at Goldman Sachs, and he holds a degree in Finance and International Business from Washington University. Outside work, he resides with his wife and two daughters in Roslyn, NY, enjoying family time, tending to his succulents, tennis, and cycling.
Kristine Delano guides the conversation about the importance of providing transparency into the careers guiding the ETF industry. 
Follow on Instagram kristine.delano.writer 
Visit www.womeninetfs.com to find additional support in the ETF industry. 
Go to www.kristinedelano.com for your Thrive Guide: a compilation of the most requested and insightful advice from our guests on Leadership and Advancement.
In partnership with https://www.etfcentral.com/
Book recommendations: 
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
Oh crap! Potty Training by Jamie Glowacki
Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy (Podcast)

Sustainable Career with Lauren Smart

In this episode we’re talking about your Sustainable Career with Lauren Smart.  How do you keep thriving in your career, year after year? 
Lauren Smart is the Chief Commercial Officer of S&P GLOBAL Sustainable1. Over the last 20 years, she has been a key figure in the ESG market and is a respected industry speaker at events such as the World Economic Forum in Davos. Lauren is passionate about entrepreneurship for impact and was instrumental in growing Trucost to its market leading position and was part of the board team that sold  it to S&P Global. She is married with two daughters and lives in the countryside outside of London. In April she ran the London Marathon for the Sumatran Orangutan Society of which she is a trustee.
Kristine Delano guides the conversation about how to thrive on your path to success and how to apply sustainability to your career. 
Follow on Instagram kristine.delano.writer 
Visit www.womeninetfs.com to find additional support in the ETF industry. 
Go to www.kristinedelano.com for your Thrive Guide: a compilation of the most requested and insightful advice from our guests on Leadership and Advancement.
Book recommendations: 
Anthro-Vision: A New Way to See Business and Life by Gillian Tett

Understand Your Moment with Randi Roberts

Do you trust your intuition? What happens when career paths diminish or diverge? What can the snooze button tell you? 
In this episode, we’re talking about identifying and understanding your moment—those times when your perspective changes and your career pivots, right along with it.  
Randi Roberts is an Executive Career-Life Coach. After more than 30 years in Pharmaceuticals and working with many talented executive coaches, she chose coaching as her second career. She calls herself a hippie with an Ivy League education. She earned a BA in Sociology from San Diego State University, and an MBA from The Wharton School of Business and is certified by The Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching and accredited by the International Coaching Federation. She’s been married for 32 years and loves to hike, kayak, and explore.
Kristine Delano guides the conversation about how to navigate the most impactful moments in your career. 
Follow on Instagram kristine.delano.writer 
Visit www.womeninetfs.com to find additional support in the ETF industry. 
Go to www.kristinedelano.com for your Thrive Guide: a compilation of the most requested and insightful advice from our guests on Leadership and Advancement.
Book recommendations: 
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Global Communication with Karrie Meehan

How often do you feel like no one is listening? We don’t want that. We’re talking about getting your particular message out to the right people at the right time and then being able to gauge the success. 
In this episode we’re talking about global communication with Karrie Meehan.  
Karrie Meehan is a vice president of Enterprise HR Communications at Fidelity Investments. She leads a global team responsible for developing the strategy and communications to all of Fidelity’s (70k+) global associates. Karrie has over 20 years of experience in financial services marketing. She earned her bachelors in English, with honors, from Colby College. She holds the FINRA Series 7, 24, and 63 licenses and spent two years serving as the Global Co-Head, Marketing and Communications, of Women in ETFs. She lives in Webster, Massachusetts, with her husband Brendan, two kids, and pug Rocco.
Kristine Delano guides the conversation about how to effectively convey your thoughts on a diverse stage, through global communication. 
Follow on Instagram kristine.delano.writer 
Visit www.womeninetfs.com to find additional support in the ETF industry. 
Go to www.kristinedelano.com for your Thrive Guide: a compilation of the most requested and insightful advice from our guests on Leadership and Advancement.
Book recommendations: 
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
Watch Out for Her by Samantha Bailey

Indexing Your Career with Joy Yang

How do you index your career? We know index-based investing can be more efficient, easier to access, and can help you maintain an edge. But how do those principles apply to your career and why would you want them to? 
In this episode we’re talking about how to index your career with Joy Yang.  
Joy Yang is the Head of Index Product Management and Marketing at MarketVector Indexes. Joy has more than 25 years of investment experience, having led teams delivering index and quantitative-active investment solutions. Joy has an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and a BS in Electrical Engineering. Joy was born to Chinese parents in Taiwan, and currently lives in NYC. 
Kristine Delano guides the conversation about how index-based investing principles can be applied to your career. 
Follow on Instagram kristine.delano.writer 
Visit www.womeninetfs.com to find additional support in the ETF industry. 
Go to www.kristinedelano.com for your Thrive Guide: a compilation of the most requested and insightful advice from our guests on Leadership and Advancement.
Book recommendations: 
Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology by Chris Miller

Work Life Teams with Bobbi Ivanova

You’ve heard about work/life balance; but what about work/life teams? Creating a team is essential to help navigate your work/life balance. Learn how to set goals and roles for the team, but be prepared, because over time everything will change for everyone.  
In this episode, we’re talking about creating work life teams with Bobbi Ivanova. 
Bobbi Ivanova is a managing director and investment strategist at Simplify. Simplify is an Asset Manager of ETF option-based strategies. Bobbi and her husband are from Bulgaria and currently live with their two boys in Park City, Utah.
Kristine Delano guides the conversation about work/life balance and creating a team to help maintain that balance.
Follow on Instagram kristine.delano.writer 
Visit www.womeninetfs.com to find additional support in the ETF industry. 
Go to www.kristinedelano.com for your Thrive Guide: a compilation of the most requested and insightful advice from our guests on Leadership and Advancement.
Book recommendation: Meditations by Marcus Aruelius