Seizing Every Opportunity in the Alternative Investments Industry

With a well-established track record in developing and implementing programs to close common preparation gaps, SEO helps highly talented and motivated students from underserved and underrepresented communities on the path to exceptional educational and career opportunities.

Seizing Every Opportunity

SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity) is a nonprofit organization, with a mission to create a more equitable society by closing the academic and career opportunity gaps for motivated young people of color.

With a well-established track record in developing and implementing programs to close common preparation gaps, SEO helps highly talented and motivated students from underserved and underrepresented communities on the path to exceptional educational and career opportunities.

Why does SEO have a focus on alternative investments as a career path?

After over 35 years of providing top, diverse talent to Wall Street and partner firms, SEO recognized the need to drive change in the highly competitive alternative investments industry and launched the SEO Alternative Investments program. In conjunction with 47 partner firms, SEO Alternative Investments educates, develops, and mentors individuals who are historically underrepresented in alternative investments.

What does SEO do to enhance diversity and inclusion within the alternatives investments industry?

SEO has five programs (SEO Scholars, SEO Career, SEO Law, SEO Alternative Investments, and SEO Leadership Institute), two of which support the path to the alternative investments industry: SEO Career and SEO Alternative Investments.

SEO Career has 40 years of experience providing entry-level talent to more than 100 prestigious Fortune companies, private equity firms, investment banks, and real estate firms. The SEO Career program has helped more than 7,000+ talented underrepresented college students secure internships with partner organizations, giving them the best chance to land a return offer.

The SEO Alternative Investments Fellowship Program (AIFP) educates, mentors, and provides access to first-through-third-year investment banking analysts and management consultants traditionally underrepresented in the alternatives industry. SEO Investment Academy – a series of curated workshops designed for undergraduate students and investment banking analysts and leading to their acceptance into AIFP – equips participants with the time, relationships, and resources needed to bridge the knowledge gap in the alternatives industry.

Breaking into the Alternatives Industry

Without prior knowledge or connections to professionals in alternative investments, access and insight into the very pedigree-driven industry is often difficult. Talented young people go undiscovered, and so building connections is critical, particularly for individuals who are historically underrepresented in this industry.

How can participants use networking and LinkedIn to improve their exposure to the industry?

Aspiring professionals will need to make a greater effort to network in the current environment, considering almost everything is virtual. To achieve this, Fellows can leverage LinkedIn or their alumni or analyst program networks to facilitate warm introductions. People are especially receptive when there is a shared connection.

What is the most common skill successful professionals in the industry exhibit?

Successful associates possess not only analytical abilities and keen attention to detail when evaluating an investment, but additionally, they communicate in a succinct and persuasive manner during investment committee meetings.

What are the greatest challenges participants face in entering the alternative investments industry?

One of the greatest challenges professionals face when entering the alternative investments industry is being able to network with individuals who fall outside of their ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Being able to connect and do so in a friendly and authentic manner is crucial to succeeding in the industry.

SEO Alternative Investments was launched in 2009, with the support of the LP investor community, to provide education, access, and career development opportunities to both young and experienced professionals who are traditionally underrepresented in the alternative investments sector. SEO AI includes the Investment Academy Program, Alternative Investments Fellowship Program (AIFP), AI Leveraged Investing Training and Education (AI LITE), SEO Breakfast Connections, and the annual Alternative Investments Conference (AICON). www.seo-usa.org

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