[REPLAY] - Jennifer Heller – Thinking it Through (Capital Allocators, EP.07)

Career Path

Jennifer Heller reflects on pivotal moments that shaped her career in investment management. She began her journey at a small team with Bill and Joe Borer, where she was given the freedom to explore new opportunities during the global financial crisis 1. This experience allowed her to delve into structured credit markets and mortgage-backed securities, which were ripe for investment at the time. Her career path took a significant turn when she realized her passion for the analytical side of finance, leading her to pursue a role at the Stanford endowment, a perfect blend of finance and the nonprofit world 2.

   

Mentorship

Mentorship played a crucial role in Jenny's professional development, particularly her relationship with Bill Peterson at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Bill's honest and questioning nature taught her invaluable lessons in investing and decision-making 3. Jenny also emphasizes the importance of building a community of peers, which she did by forming an informal network of allocators in 2008. This network has grown significantly, providing a platform for collaboration and support among professionals in family offices, endowments, and foundations 4.