Who We Are
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Joseph Craven: Founder and Director
Joe retired from BlackRock in 2020, after a 30+ year career in financial services. Joe was COO of BlackRock’s wealth business from 2011 to 2016, led iShares wealth business and U.S. retirement policy. A first-generation college student, Joe graduated from Brown University with a degree in Economics and a JD from Fordham University.
Robert Job, CFA, Founder and Director
Rob is Head of Corporate Development and Strategy for Altrinsic Global Advisors. Previously, Rob spent 13 years as the Head of Global Distribution for PanAgora Asset Management. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Anchor Capital in Boston, MA, acts as as strategic advisor to several asset management and financial service technology firms. Rob graduated from University of Richmond with a degree in Business, and from Boston University School of Business with an MBA.
Joseph Gennaco, Founder and Director
Joe retired from BNY Mellon in 2018 and formed JPG Consulting to provide consulting and other services to those in financial services sector. Joe was President of The Boston Company, as well as Chief Operating Officer of BNY Mellon Asset Management. A first-generation college student, Joe graduated from St. Anselm’s College with a degree in Business.
Kaitlyn Fischer, Director
A first-generation professional, Katie is currently a Managing Director at BlackRock’s US Wealth Advisory, where she oversees product strategy for a spectrum of index, factor and alpha-seeking solutions. Prior to joining BlackRock, she was a product specialist with Allianz Global Investors, covering sustainable strategies. A first-generation college student, Katie graduated magna cum laude from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Economics.
Emily Pachuta, Director
Emily is currently the Chief Marketing Officer of Ascensus. Prior, she was the Chief Marketing & Analytics Officer, Americas at Invesco. Emily is an accomplished marketing, data, analytics and digital executive, building and advancing those disciplines at multiple Fortune 500 firms. An expert in the financial services industry, she led multi-year marketing transformations through complex industry disruptions and M&A and built leading brands and state-of-the-industry data, analytics and digital capabilities to accelerate revenue and client loyalty. Emily earned a BA from Yale University and an MFA from New York University.
Bill Dunigan, Director
Bill is currently a Director at BlackRock, where he is a Senior Relationship Manager for key RIAs within the US Wealth Advisory business. After starting his career in Sports Marketing, Bill shifted to Financial Services, joining BlackRock’s marketing organization in 2007. At BlackRock, Bill has held several marketing and sales leadership positions prior to his current client-facing role. He graduated with a degree in politics from Princeton University and resides on the South Shore of Boston with his wife and three daughters.
Ashley McManus, Director
Ashley is Vice President of Client Relationship Management at InvestCloud, responsible for partnering with new & existing client relationships to achieve the goals of helping clients grow & expand their business and increase overall relationship success and adoption. She has worked in relationship management for over 15 years and has over 10 years in financial services. Prior to her current role, Ashley was VP Strategic Relationship Management at Vestmark, Strategic Enterprise Consultant at Envestnet and an Account Executive at SEI. She is a proud graduate of Providence College with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing.
Holly Framsted, CFA, Director
Holly Framsted is the Head of the Product Group at Capital Group. Prior to joining Capital Group, Holly spent 15 years at BlackRock, focusing on product development and strategy, and also served as a portfolio manager. She began her career in a private equity firm in Boston, where she discovered her passion for finance. A first-generation professional, Holly has been a guest presenter to our students, where she shared her career journey and encouraged our students to pursue varied opportunities, particularly in investment and wealth management. Holly holds a degree in psychology from UCLA
MENTORS
Christopher Bendel, Director, BlackRock
Charley Kersten, Head of Marketing, 55ip
Kate Fulton, Ret. Managing Director, Black Rock
Lisa Mahoney, Ret. PanAgora Asset Management
Drew Meyers, Vice President, BlackRock
Salma Mgawe, Director, Invesco
Ric Thomas, Senior Advisor, The World Bank, and Professor, Sawyer School of Business, Suffolk University
Maeve Luparello, Goldman Sachs
Dylan Essandoh, Wells Fargo
Molly Firr, Bank of America
Lauren Goldfarb, BlackRock
Noah Wieland, Invesco
Sam Ntium-Addae, BlackRock
Rachel Schleicher, BlackRock
Laura McDonough, CFA, Director, SCS Financial (2021)
Joanne Medero, Board Member, Nuveen Funds
Kristen Jaconi, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California (2021)
Jason Windawi, Ph.D Rock Labs (2022)
Melissa Zhang, Kennedy Fellow, John F. Kennedy School, Harvard University (2021)
Most Board Members of Sapere Aude are also mentors.