TCU junior Camille Marinac wanted to understand how to present analytical ideas in
a way that captivates an audience and leaves a strong impression — even in high-stakes
settings like investment pitches and boardroom discussions.
So she asked Michael Lewis. Yes, that Michael Lewis.
Liar’s Poker, Big Short, Moneyball, Michael Lewis.
The New York Times bestselling author, Michael Lewis.
The keynote speaker at the 21st TCU Investment Strategies Conference, Michael Lewis.
Before he took the ISC stage with TCU President Daniel W. Pullin, he took time to
have an intimate chat with 23 Horned Frog students, Michael Lewis.
“I chose TCU largely for the size and environment of the Neeley School of Business,”
said Marinac, who is studying finance. “I wanted to be somewhere I could build strong,
meaningful relationships with professors, get involved in one or more of the many
premier programs at Neeley, and take advantage of unique, impactful experiences that
are more accessible in a smaller, more personal environment.
“Funny enough, when I told my parents about this Q&A session with Michael Lewis, they
said, ‘This is exactly why you said you wanted to go to TCU.’ And they were right
— it’s opportunities like this that make Neeley the perfect fit for me.”
Leaders in finance, hundreds of them, from across the country and internationally, come to Fort Worth every year to hear from
thought leaders like Lewis as well. Neither he nor Pullin disappointed. They had a
far-reaching conversation about courage, innovation and the importance of the meaningful
work.
“Michael said the common thread in all his characters is ‘courage,’ which resonates
deeply with the leadership qualities we aim to develop in our students,” Pullin said.
“It takes courage to lead with values, think critically about the world around us
and consider how we can do our part to make it better. It was wonderful to see the
faces of so many engaged students in the audience — truly a special event enjoyed
by all.”
The conference’s agenda featured thought leaders from the industry speaking on wide-ranging
topics like whether we may be facing another recession, the rise of private financing,
the digitization of assets and whether investment bankers are overpaid — a throwback
to an op-ed Lewis wrote for The Wall Street Journal back when he was starting his career at Salomon Brothers. They all tied into this
year’s ISC theme of “Going Direct: The Rise of Disintermediation in Finance.”
What stood out, though, was TCU’s continued commitment to the student experience.
Students had many spots at the sold-out conference, where every year, even the wait
list has a wait list. They were given front-row seats (literally) as some of the most
respected strategists and investors assessed salient issues that matter most for long-term
investors. They personally hosted and chatted with featured speakers like Yelena Shulyatyeva,
a senior economist for The Conference Board Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, and
Rick Smith, chairman of J.P. Morgan Private Capital.
“The impact of what we do and the benefit of our endowment is our future,” said Jason
Safran, TCU’s chief investment officer, “and that is our students.”
The TCU Investment Management office co-hosts the ISC with the LKCM Center for Financial
Studies at the Neeley School of Business, the LK standing for Luther King ’62 (MBA
’66).
Along with being an alumnus, King is a former member and chairperson of the TCU Board
of Trustees, brilliant financier and very involved with the university. He headlined
the first ISC 21 years ago, and was in the front row with his wife, Teresa, for this
one.
“I have been lucky to have Luther King as my partner and mentor,” said Mo Rodriguez,
the director for the LKCM Center and professor of finance and real estate in Neeley.
“One of the best things I learned from him was about the impact of giving back.”
Lewis touched on this in his conversation with Pullin, how success can often lead
to one of two approaches: “I’m so great” or “I’m going to give back.” King embodies
the latter. He was the kid who had never been to a country club when he first showed
up at TCU and, as a result, wants to make sure students have access to opportunity.
It is not an add-on at the ISC. It’s the point.
“You have to perform. You have to do what you say you are going to do. You have to
be on time,” King said, “but relationships should be Chapter 1 of the book. When we
started the firm, I didn’t have a pitch book. It was based on relationships. I think
that probably comes through, I hope, to young people.”
He loves that the students had that time with Lewis, a man he calls an icon.
Pullin, as well as Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr., and Craig Crossland, John V.
Roach Dean of the Neeley School of Business, were in the room as well, but they simply
listened as students asked about the untold tales from Liar’s Poker: Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street, a semi-autobiographical account of being bold versus being reckless and the power
of narrative.
The answers, in Lewis fashion, dealt with the subject at hand but also doubled as
incredible life advice for them.
Marinac, also a student in the John V. Roach Honors College, reflected on her takeaways
from the day.
“One of the most impactful ideas he shared was that ‘successful risk takers have humility,’”
she said. “He encouraged us to take risks even in how we present ideas — for example, by engaging
an audience with a narrative that invites interpretation rather than controlling their
reaction. While that can mean risking disapproval from a few, it also increases the
chance of truly connecting with and standing out to other members of the audience.”