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PODCAST

Billion Dollar Backstory

Host Stacy Havener brings you the storytelling tips, sales strategies, behavioral secrets, and inspirational stories that help YOU turn your words into dollars. Learn from sales and marketing experts. Meet finance and investment leaders, founders and fund managers who have made it, and the ones on the rise. Because there are people behind the portfolios. Their stories matter. So does yours. Presented by: Ultimus Fund Solutions // www.ultimusfundsolutions.com GemCap //

business investing

All Episodes

68:07

102. How a Female, First-Gen American Founder Turned...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/06/18

When you think about European credit investing, most people assume it’s only for the big shops with billions under management. Agata Dornan, Founder & CIO of Chepstow Lane, is here to challenge that, and she’s doing it with smarts, grit, and real talk about what it really takes to succeed.Agata’s path to launching her own boutique wasn’t a straight line. As a first-generation American who started out on the pre-med track at Middlebury, she discovered her passion for finance by accident

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68:02

101: Meet Rob Morier: From Wall Street Exec to...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/06/11

Stacy and Rob Morier met over 25 years ago at Julius Baer Investment Management, long before podcasting, LinkedIn, and fund manager personal brands were even a thing.Fast forward to today, and Rob’s resume reads like an adventure novel. He’s done it all. From Wall Street, to teaching the next generation about all things VC as a Professor at Drexel University, he knows a thing or two about how asset managers can go from scrappy startups to stable, growth-ready firms.In this Episode, Rob and

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60:45

100th Episode Featuring Dr. Daniel Crosby | The...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/06/04

Being great at investing is one thing but if no one knows about you or what you stand for, good luck growing your fund. It might sound harsh, but it’s true. In today’s world, attention is the new currency and you can’t afford to ignore it.That’s why today, Stacy is bringing her friend Dr. Daniel Crosby back on the mic for a very special 100th episode of Billion Dollar Backstory. They’re picking up right where they left off in their “Scientist & The Storyteller” series.Together, they’re

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10:17

99: How to Add Personality to Your Posts (Without...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/05/28

Let’s be honest: writing for LinkedIn can feel like walking a tightrope.You want to sound smart, credible, and professional.But also… like a human.In this Episode, Stacy shares the exact approach she uses to walk that line between being personable and credible (and to generate leads for her firm, Havener Capital, in the process). Listen in as she breaks down: How to use the 5 Pillar framework to post with both authority and authenticityWhy your “boring” hobby might be the thing people

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55:45

98: Inside the Mind of a 3x Billion-Dollar Boutique...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/05/21

Stacy’s had a front row seat to a lot of boutique success stories but this one is something special. Tucker Walsh didn’t just build one billion-dollar firm, he did it again. And now? He’s back at it for a third time.In this Episode, Tucker and Stacy talk about what it really takes to build an investment firm from the ground up. They also discuss: The realities of raising capital in today’s marketWhy allocator behavior is shifting and what that means for boutiquesLessons learned from decades

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61:39

97: Sean Peche, Founder and Fund Manager, Ranmore...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/05/14

Most fund managers are happiest behind their screens, crunching data and studying markets. That’s their zone of genius, so it makes sense.But when you step into the founder seat, everything changes. Investing is no longer your only job. Suddenly, marketing and distribution aren’t just important, they’re non-negotiables. Today’s guest, Sean Peche, knows this firsthand. He’s the Founder and Fund Manager at Ranmore Funds, a $650 million investment boutique that doesn’t just invest differently,

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44:45

96: Alex Boyd, Founder of Aware – Helping Investment...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/05/07

Most college students aren’t spending their free time building trading algorithms. But Alex Boyd isn’t most people.From an early start on an investment desk to founding Aware—a tool that helps professionals build real influence on LinkedIn in a fraction of the time—Alex’s journey is anything but typical.He’s also an introvert who understands what it’s like to want to show up online… without becoming a content machine or someone you’re not.In this Episode, Alex sits down with Stacy to

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66:36

95: Dan Mikulskis, CIO £31B People’s Partnership –...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/04/30

Panels are everywhere in the asset management world. But let’s be honest, most of them aren’t exactly lighting the room on fire.So why is something that seems so simple, so hard to get right? Is it really that tough to throw a few smart folks on stage and ask them questions?To find out, Stacy called in her friend Dan Mikulskis. Dan is the Chief Investment Officer at the £31B People’s Partnership, and in his role, he’s become a go-to panelist for leading conferences across the UK and

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62:45

94: Big Exit. Bigger Idea. $30M in Backing | Meet...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/04/23

After exiting a successful startup, Rafael Loureiro went looking for a better way to do estate planning…and came up empty. The experience? Clunky. Expensive. Outdated.So like any smart entrepreneur would do, he decided to build something better.Today, Rafael is the CEO of Wealth.com, a FinTech firm backed by Google Ventures and designed to modernize the estate planning process for advisors and their clients.In this Episode, Rafael sits down with Stacy to discuss: Rafael’s backstory – How he

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60:31

93: Meet Ben Beneche – Former Co-Lead of...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/04/16

Founders don’t start firms because it’s easy; they do it because they believe there’s a better way.That was true for today’s guest, Ben Beneche, who left the comfort of a $200B+ global firm to launch his own boutique: Tourbillon Investment Management.In this Episode, he sits down with Stacy to discuss:His backstory: How his nomadic childhood shaped the independence and resilience he leans on as a founder todayThe rebel spirit (from class clown to contrarian) that gave him the guts to walk

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7:15

92: Crowd Control—How to Nail Investor Meetings (Even...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/04/09

There’s nothing worse than walking into a conference room full of investors. Suddenly, everything you thought you knew about running a great meeting goes out the window.You’re wondering who to make eye contact with, whether anyone is actually interested, and why no one is saying anything. Crowded meetings are awkward. They’re intimidating. But they aren’t impossible to rock. You just need a good strategy, and that’s exactly what Stacy’s giving you today. In this Episode, she breaks

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8:45

91: The 4 Traits Every Great Fundraiser Has (and...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/04/02

Whether you’re raising capital on your own or thinking about hiring someone to help, chances are… you’re focused on all the wrong things.The biggest lesson Stacy learned while raising $8B for boutique asset managers (which ultimately helped drive over $30B in follow-on AUM)? Flashy resumes, market hot takes, and smooth talkers don’t close deals.The fundraisers who consistently crush it in meetings share four specific traits, and in this Episode, Stacy’s breaking them down, plus:Why a CFA

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9:22

90: Are Allocators Even on LinkedIn? How to Build...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/03/26

Raising capital starts with real relationships. And in 2025, social media is the easiest way to make those connections…right?Well… not always.What if the allocators you’re trying to reach aren’t posting? You can’t comment. You can’t DM them. Heck, maybe they don’t even accept your connection requests on LinkedIn. Then what? How do you reach someone who seems impossible to reach? How do you start a conversation without sending an email pitch that gets buried?If these questions sound

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9:07

89: The 5 Biggest Storytelling Mistakes Fund Managers...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/03/19

You know storytelling is powerful. You’ve heard that facts don’t close deals—feelings do.But when it comes time to talk about yourself, it suddenly feels...awkward.When is the right time to tell a story? And how do you know if you’re sharing too much or sounding too braggy? Listen in as Stacy tackles these questions and breaks down: The #1 storytelling mistake fund managers make Why telling your backstory can feel awkward (and how to share yours without sounding braggy)How to ditch the

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10:21

88: How to Stand Out (and Win Over Investors) in a...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/03/12

As a boutique, blending in isn’t just a mistake; it’s a death sentence.You don’t need to be BlackRock. You need to own what makes your fund different. But let’s be real: finding your edge—and actually leading with it—can feel like showing up to a black-tie event in your pajamas. Awkward. Exposed. Uncomfortable.That’s why in this Episode, Stacy breaks down:Why trying to prove you’re “better” is a losing game for boutiquesThe 3D Model for uncovering what actually makes your fund stand outHow

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61:20

B$B 87: People Invest in People | $6B CEO Conor Hoey...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/03/05

Raising capital isn’t about having the perfect pitch deck. And there’s no magic button that makes assets pour in.At the end of the day, it all comes down to one thing: trust.If you want to grow your boutique, you have to build real relationships with investors. Take it from $6B CEO Conor Hoey. He’s spent over a decade raising capital, leading investments, and even securing the right backers for his football club. And along the way, he’s learned one simple truth: People do business with

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8:11

86: Objection! Why Investors Say No (and How to Get...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/02/26

Most fund managers panic when investors push back.They freeze. They fumble. And they walk away from capital they almost had.Not because their pitch was bad but because they didn’t know how to handle objections with confidence.In this Episode, Stacy is sharing her best tips for handling push back like a pro. She’s breaking down: Why objections can actually be your best friend - and bring you closer to a yes - IF you shift your mindset The most common investor pushbacks you need to be ready

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71:32

85: Meet Kristof Gleich – President & CIO of $50B...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/02/19

Struggling to stand out to allocators? Wondering why your pitch isn’t landing?Kristof Gleich has sat on both sides of the table. Today, he’s the President & CIO of $50B Harbor Capital, but before that? He spent 8+ years leading manager selection at JP Morgan, fielding pitches from managers just like you.In this episode, he and Stacy dive into:Kristof’s path from physics to finance—how he went from studying physics to landing his first finance job at Goldman Sachs right after 9/11What

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79:35

84 Meet Amy Volas – Founder of Avenue Talent Partners...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/02/12

If you’re always chasing investors, hires, or deals… you’re doing it wrong.The most successful boutique founders don’t try to close everyone. They focus on alignment—and that’s exactly what Amy Volas is here to help you master.As a top sales leader turned founder of Avenue Talent Partners, she helps startups hire the right sales leaders. Along the way, she’s seen the costly mistakes founders make—whether they’re hiring, fundraising, or scaling—and she’s here to help you avoid themIn this

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54:07

83: Meet Judith MacKenzie - Founder of Downing Fund...

Billion Dollar Backstory ·

2025/02/05

Judith MacKenzie’s path is as unconventional as it is inspiring. She didn’t learn to invest on Wall Street. The lessons that led her to the founder’s seat, running the boutique investment arm of $2.5B Downing LLP, started in her dad’s small news and ice cream shop in the Highlands long before finance was on her radar.In this Episode, she sits down with Stacy to discuss: Her backstory– the surprising business lessons she learned as a kid and how they still influence her investing todayWhy

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123 results

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