Monday, July 24, 2023

Alumni discuss global finance and opportunities to give back

Alumni working in finance gathered in New York for a special event

by Megan Vander Woude, Office of Advancement

Bachher and Gray pose at the event
On July 18, alumni working in the finance industry gathered in New York for an evening of conversation and networking. The event featured a roundtable discussion between Dr. Jagdeep Singh Bachher (BASc ’93, MASc ’94, PhD ’00), chief investment officer and vice-president of investments at the University of California, and Jonathan Gray, president and chief operating officer at Blackstone.

The pair discussed the state of the world through the lens of finance and markets, including government actions against inflation and the availability of capital. Gray also shared his outlook as a leader who aims to embed humanity in his work and explored current opportunities for philanthropy.

Bachher spoke about the importance of balancing career and human pursuits. He shared how gratifying it’s been as an alum to get involved with Waterloo, including his current role as vice-chair on the University’s Board of Governors.

With a small guest list and intimate setting, the event was a unique opportunity for alumni to reconnect with Waterloo’s community, recall shared experiences from campus, and meet others in their industry and alumni network.