2025 Spring Forum
Evolution in a Revolution: How we Adapt and Adopt
New Brunswick, NJ
April 21-23, 2025
Welcome to New Brunswick!
Forums are not like other conferences you may have been to. They are designed to maximize the free exchange of experiences and interests amongst its member participants in a balanced way. You will find three types of engagement options in three different ways:
- General Sessions with everyone in a ballroom setting and a more formal, directed conversation.
- Breakout Sessions are a mix of topics and agenda items that are participant-driven discussions and working sessions.
- Social Settings such as meals, receptions, activities, and other events to allow more self-directed interaction and networking.
These represent the three key mechanics we use to help you and your organizations learn and grow at the Forums. Every breakout session at the Forum is a dynamic conversation and discussion between members in which to share best practices and successes along with learning from one another about beginning, implementing, and improving on your own efforts. The breakout sessions are purposely succinct in their titling and description to allow the participants to drive more of the content, priority, and overall direction of the sessions. Facilitators from each session you register for will be reaching out to you in advance to gain your input for that session and help ensure that you are able to maximize your participation in it.
In addition to member participants from a broad spectrum of asset management firms, a curated selection of Vendor Partners has been invited by members for showing deep understanding and dedication to this space in the financial services industry and in particular to Sales, Marketing, Client Servicing and the tools, technologies, and practices that enable them. However, unlike other conferences, our Vendor Partners do not have booths, tables, or other dedicated space at the events. On the contrary, we invite them to participate in the sessions as a means for them to continue learning about what we are tasked with, how they may be of help and how they have assisted others in similar situations as us. They are forbidden from making sales pitches but encouraged to share their accomplishments and experiences with you as source of expertise and broad exposure to our industry. As such please be open to learning and sharing with them. It’s free!
Watch this short orientation video to make the most of your Forum experience
(Run time 8 mins, 4 seconds)
Helpful Numbers During Your Stay
Hazem Gamal: (917) 561-9553
Hotel Front Desk: 1-732-729-4670
Christopher’s Restaurant and Bar: 1-732-729-4670 , Ext. 8400
Tuesday Offsite Reception Location and Directions
(tap address on your mobile for directions)
Cuzin’s Seafood New Brunswick
78 Albany St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Upcoming SME Forum Events
2025 Global Forum
June 17-18, 2025 – London, UK
Fall 2025 SME Forum
October 27-29, 2025 – Denver, CO
2025 Spring Forum: By The Numbers
Attendees
Asset Management Firms
Sessions
Speakers
Agenda
Monday, April 21
All Day: Arrivals and Check-in
5:30 – 8:00 PM: Welcome Reception – Christopher’s Bar – The Heldrich Hotel
Tuesday, April 22
8:00 AM: Registration and Networking Hot Breakfast
9:00 AM: Welcome and Opening Remarks Hazem Gamal, SME Forum
9:30 AM: The Evolution in the Revolution, Charlie Novicki, Broadridge
10:15 AM: Networking Break
10:30 AM: Tuesday Morning Breakout Sessions:
Liv 3 | Sales & Distribution Emerging Tools & Technologies Enabling Distribution
Segal | Marketing Reconsidering Client Journeys by Persona
Kelly | Channel Evolution Organizing for Diversifying Sales and Product Channels
Liv 4 | Solutions Worskhop The Compliance Bridge: Unlocking the Potential of Data with AI
12:00 PM: Networking Sit Down Lunch
1:30 PM: Divisional Manager Panel Discussion – Moderated by Lee Kowarski (SS&C) with M.L. Fletcher (Northeast Divisional Manager, T. Rowe Price), Megan Hopps, (Divisional Sales Manager, John Hancock), Dominick McPeake (Co-Head of National Sales, Lord Abbett)
2:15 PM: Tuesday Afternoon Breakout Sessions:
Liv 3 | Sales & Distribution Overcoming Challenges of Supporting Intermediary Sales
Segal | Marketing Delivering ROI from Institutional Marketing Efforts
Liv 4 | Data, Tech & AI Best Practices in Capturing Value from Unstructured Data
Kelly | Solutions Workshop How to Develop and Choose Build vs. Buy Options
3:45 PM: Networking Break
4:00 PM: CRXM: 360 Customer Centricity use Cases Francisco Quevedo, Rutgers
4:45 PM: Guest Speakers: Staying Inspired as we Evolve Sparsh and Hiren Shah
5:30 – 8:00 PM: Offsite Reception, Exhibition & Sit-Down Dinner at Cuzin’s Seafood (78 Albany Street)
Wednesday, April 23
8:00 AM: Registration and Networking Hot Breakfast
8:30 AM: Assessing Value from Intel-Driven Strategies Finding from Loren Fox (Fuse Research) with Mario Gallotto (Markets Intelligence, SSGA) and Joe Stewart (Distribution Enablement & Analytics, GQG)
9:00 AM: The Last Mile of Insight Delivery: Bridging the Gap Between Data and Action Presented by Nathan Stevenson (CEO ForwardLane) with Kevin Sawchuck, (Head of Distribution BI, Allspring) along with (TBA)
9:45 AM: Wednesday Morning Breakout Sessions:
Liv 3 | Sales & Distribution Strengths of CRMA, Tableau, and Power BI for Sales Enablement
Segal | Marketing Keys to Successful Partnerships between Marketing & Distribution
Kelly | Channel Evolution Aligning Capabilities for Evolving Channels
Liv 4 | Data, Tech & AI Navigating the values of CDPs, Data Lakes and MDMs
11:15 AM: Leveraging AI to Drive Sales Presentation by Phil Cohn (Rutgers) with Jonathan Wang (CTO, VanEck) and Lynda Koster (CEO, Growthential)
12:00 PM: Networking Sit Down Lunch, Christopher’s Restaurant
1:00 PM: Wednesday Afternoon Breakout Sessions:
Liv 3 | Sales & Distribution Emerging Success Cases in Trigger-based Sales Campaigns
Segal | Marketing When to use Marketing vs Sales-driven Leads
Liv 4 | Data, Tech & AI Extracting Value from Data Packs and 3rd Party Sources
Kelly | Solutions Workshop C0mpliant Content at the Speed of AI
2:30 PM: Closing General Session: What Can We Apply Today – Strategy and Tactics Led by Adam Feldstein, ISS Market Intelligence
3:30 PM: Closing Reception and Networking
5:00 PM: Forum Concludes and Departures
6:30 PM: Leadership Council Offsite (by invitation)
Thursday, April 24: SME Leadership Council (by invitation)
8:00 AM: Leadership Council Breakfast and Meetings
11:30 AM: Meeting Concludes and Departures
Breakout Rooms: Liv3 = Livingston III | Liv4 = Livingston IV | Kelly and Segal are on 2
Speaker & Panelist Biographies
Mario Barbato
The SME Forum
Mario began his career at Lord Abbett leading the firm’s effort to build Sales & Marketing data analytics functions, develop digital marketing strategies and create a comprehensive client touch point data analysis to facilitate client segmentation, predictive analytics, lead management, and CRM engagement. Through this work, he initiated a wholesaler training program to drive adoption of both the data & technology to help meet business plan goals.
Most recently Mario served as Chief Transformation Officer responsible for leading change management in Lord Abbett’s Technology and Operations areas in an effort to enhance agility throughout the firm. This included overseeing the integration of data management and analytics, reporting, and technology to increase efficiency, create an information advantage, and drive transformation across the organization. In this role, Mario led key initiatives such as; the migration of the firm’s Middle Office platform through a Strategic Partnership with a leading provider in the industry, provided strategic thought leadership, implementation planning & development for the firm’s move to a new Investment Management Solution and the development of a strategic product & client data platform for new product launches, customer acquisition/onboarding, lifecycle, and retention initiatives through interactive data analytics, visualization, & management tools.
Tony Busacca
The SME Forum
Anthony Busacca is a highly accomplished business professional with more than 35 years of experience in the corporate world, as well as over 10 years of experience as an entrepreneur. He has a proven track record of success in driving growth, managing teams, and delivering results across a range of industries.
Mr. Busacca began his career in the financial sector, holding senior leadership positions in finance, operations, and business development at several prominent companies. He honed his skills in strategic planning, financial analysis, and team management, and gained deep expertise in industries such as banking, insurance, and investment management.
In 2009, Mr. Busacca made the leap into entrepreneurship, founding his own company focused on providing innovative solutions in the financial services industry. As the CEO of his own firm, he demonstrated his ability to identify new opportunities, develop effective strategies, and build high-performing teams.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Busacca has earned a reputation as a dynamic and results-driven leader. He is known for his ability to think strategically, execute effectively, and drive growth in even the most challenging environments. He has a proven ability to develop and motivate teams, and to build strong relationships with stakeholders across all levels of an organization.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Busacca is also actively involved in his community. He has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations, and is committed to giving back and making a positive impact in the world.
Overall, Anthony Busacca is a seasoned business professional with a diverse range of experience and a proven track record of success. Whether in the corporate world or as an entrepreneur, he has consistently demonstrated his ability to drive growth, deliver results, and create value for stakeholders.
Inder Chhatwal
The SME Forum
Inderjit S Chhatwal is a veteran of the Asset Management and Technology domains, with over 30 years of experience in IT, of which about two-third has been in managing IT efforts for Asset/Wealth Management. Inderjit’s broad and deep understanding of mutual funds distribution business, related technologies and data affords him to lend a unique blend of both business and technology perspectives.
Inderjit managed multiple technology teams working on various CRM and data efforts for the Sales and Distribution business line for Oppenheimer Funds, with overall responsibility from inception to adoption. His keen interest in latest technology trends brought Design Thinking approach to Oppenheimer as well as utilization of data science for predictive modeling. Prior to Oppenheimer, Inderjit was leading the Distribution Technology team supporting sales and marketing efforts at Allianz Global Investors.
Phil Cohn
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, Professional Selling Program Lead Rutgers Business School, Newark and New Brunswick
Phil Cohn joined the Rutgers Business School Faculty in the Fall of 2022, bringing his 30+ years of “real-world” experience as a sales and marketing executive to the classroom. He has vast experience in large corporations, private equity, turnarounds, and M & A with a reputation for delivering results through a hands-on management style.
Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in building successful sales and marketing teams and developing talent with such world-renowned companies as Samsung Electronics, D & M Holdings (Denon, Marantz, Boston Acoustics), Sony Electronics, and TouchTunes Interactive Networks.
Phil is a two-time alum of Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Business Administration degree, both in Marketing. He has served on the Dean’s Advisory Board, the Marketing Advisory Board, and the Alumni and Corporate Engagement Council at Rutgers Business School.
ML Fletcher
Vice President, T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc. & T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., Divisional Sales Manager – Northeast
M.L. Fletcher is a Divisional Sales Manager for the Northeast Division, with T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc. She has been with the firm since 2014, and in her current role she leads a team of 10 Regional Investment Consultants in the Northeast. Prior to her current role, M.L. was a Regional Investment Consultant, covering the Eastern Pennsylvania territory, where she worked directly with Financial Advisors to help inform and communicate T. Rowe Prices investment capabilities and market views.
Before joining T. Rowe Price, M.L. was with J.P. Morgan Asset Management as a National Accounts Relationship Manager and a Client Advisor. She has also previously held roles in distribution at Alliance Bernstein and Lord Abbett.
M.L. earned a B.S. in economics from Penn State University, and she has earned the CERTIFIED INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ANALYST (CIMA)®.
Loren Fox
FUSE Research Network, Director of Research
Loren Fox is the Director of Research at FUSE Research Network, a provider of business intelligence and consulting for investment management firms. He’s responsible for leading the research team and managing client support, as well as contributing to the firm’s research publications and interfacing with industry executives.
Before joining FUSE, Loren spent nearly 10 years as the director of Ignites Research, a unit of the Financial Times and complement to the Ignites news site that produced original research on strategic issues in the asset management industry; he also created and ran the annual rankings of US financial advisors that appeared in the Financial Times from 2013 through 2020. Previously, he was a senior research analyst at Strategic Insight, producing market intelligence on the mutual fund industry. Prior to that, Loren was a business journalist for many years, having worked at Institutional Investor, Business 2.0, and other publications, and he is the author of the book Enron: The Rise and Fall (2002).
As an industry expert, Loren has spoken at numerous conferences and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and other publications. He earned his BA from Johns Hopkins University and his MS from Columbia University.
Hazem Gamal
The SME Forum, COO
In 2018 Hazem took over the SME Forum and focuses most of his efforts there. Since its founding more than 15 years ago, The Forum has been a growing dynamic community of practitioners from the Asset Management industry who have roles in supporting the Sales, Marketing, Operations and Technology departments of their respective organizations. The deep degrees of trust in sharing best practices, avoiding pitfalls, and learning from one another are hallmarks of how valuable this community continues to be for each firm and the individual employees.
As one of the original members, he has been a continual driver of the Forum’s growth and maturity since its inception in 2003. Initially the senior representative for OppenheimerFunds, he grew to be a leader in the development of the CRM Forum, providing guidance, mentorship, facilitation and participation in various aspect of the organization’s events over the years. Hazem took over ownership and primary responsibilities for running the organization in 2018. He also continues to provide consulting services to the industry under his Thoth Advisory Services organization.
Prior to the Forum, Hazem spent more than fifteen years at OppenheimerFunds in several different roles, always as a proven change agent to help define and implement appropriate and necessary improvements to propel the business. He worked most closely with the sales and marketing divisions directing their technology needs and adoption, onboarding third-party services, in addition to portfolios such as data management, reporting and analytics, business continuity and disaster recovery, among other responsibilities.
Mario Gallato
Markets Intelligence, State Street Global Advisors
Is a member of the Markets Intelligence Group at State Street Global Advisors (SSgA). Prior to joining SSgA for the second time, Mario was the Sole Proprietor of MGallotto Consulting, LLC, Head of Business Intelligence for SPDR ETF’s. and Managing Director of Business Intelligence for John Hancock Investments.
Megan Hopps
Divisional Sales Manager, John Hancock Investment Management
Megan has over 23 years of investment management experience. She joined John Hancock Investment Management in 2024 from Hartford Funds. For the past 10 years has been a divisional manager working with Wirehouse, Independent, and RIA advisors. Prior to that she was an external wholesaler in the New England region at Janus Henderson for 8 years.
She earned her B.S. from the Towson University in Towson, Maryland and her M.B.A from the University of Colorado in Denver. She holds her Series 7, 63, 66, and 24 licenses. She gives back to the community by supporting he GEANCO Foundation and the Greenland Central School robotics program. Megan resides in Greenland, NH with her husband Scot and three daughters Isabel, Charlie & Brooks. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling to great locations to ski, kitesurf and scuba dive.
Bill Hortz
Institute for Innovation Development, Founder and Dean
Bill Hortz is a business innovation writer, independent business consultant, and Founder/Dean of the financial services business innovation focused Institute for Innovation Development.
Bill has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry including creatively restructuring and developing internal/external sales and strategic account departments for 5 major financial firms; entrepreneurially pioneering new markets in the early days of the financial advisor fee-based movement and financial alliance programs in the US; and created many non-traditional and engaging advisor educational events with major financial firms including OppenheimerFunds, Neuberger&Berman, Peregrine Asset Management (HK), and Templeton Funds Distributors.
His wide-ranging experiences have led Bill to a strong belief, passion and advocation for strategic thinking, innovation creation, and strategic account management as the nexus of business forces needed to address a business environment challenged by an accelerating rate of change.
Bill loves working with senior executives, sales/strategic account departments, and financial advisor teams in developing effective ways of using innovation resources and developing innovation skills. He considers himself a life-long “student of human nature” and is well known for his enthusiasm, creativity, and resourcefulness.
Bill is married, with two grown children (and 2 grandchildren!), living in the Tampa Bay area. He enjoys reading, engaged conversation, bicycling, spelunking, and traveling with his family.
Little known facts: Bill worked on the last remaining docks of NYC as an underage teen, worked for the man in Hong Kong that the book Tai-Pan was based on, and constantly seeks out off-off-off broadway theatre, performance art, live music performance, and modern art museums.
Lee Kaworski
SS&C Technologies, VP, Head of Distribution Solutions
Lee Kowarski is a Vice President with SS&C Technologies, overseeing the firm’s Distribution Solutions products and services, including data management (SalesConnect), analytics (WalletShare), research, and consulting. This team is focused on helping asset and wealth managers find opportunity amongst disruption.
A graduate of New York University’s Stern School of Business, Lee entered the asset management industry as part of RSM McGladrey’s consulting practice before co-founding kasina in 1999, which was subsequently acquired by DST Systems’ in 2015 and then a part of SS&C’s acquisition of DST in 2018.
Lee and his wife, Melinda Miller, live on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and are active in the hospitality world, including supporting Rethink Food and the James Beard Foundation.
Lynda Koster
Co-founder and Managing Partner, Growthential
Lynda is the co-founder and managing partner at Growthential, a New York City-based firm dedicated to equipping business and marketing leaders with innovative strategies and actionable plans that drive growth.
Known for balancing immediate results with sustainable growth, she is a trusted advisor to senior executives and mentors emerging industry talent. Lynda frequently speaks on grounded, strategy-led generative AI initiatives and advises select health and wellness startups, helping them shape go-to-market strategies and navigate the challenges of launching in a competitive landscape. Her work demonstrates her commitment to innovative and sustainable business growth.
Francisco J. Quevedo
Assistant Professor, Marketing Department at Rutgers University, and Executive Director of the Center for Marketing Advantage, Advancement, and Action
Francisco J. Quevedo is an Assistant Professor with the Marketing Department at Rutgers University, and the Executive Director of the Center for Marketing Advantage, Advancement, and Action. He is a University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1978 graduate in economics and got his doctorate in Marketing, MBA, and CAGSB at Pace University, New York, NY. He was an Adjunct at Pace and NYU before moving to Rutgers full-time in 2020.
He has 46 years of corporate experience and has consulted in banking and insurance, manufacturing, retail, including Fortune 100 firms, NGOs, and government agencies in Japan, Andorra, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Honduras, Saint Lucia, and the US. He has taught Marketing for over 15 years. His research focuses on consumer choice and non-profit marketing, having been published thirteen times since 2019 with two more papers awaiting Editors’ comments and another one in the pipeline. He received the 2023 Dean’s Meritorious Award for Teaching Innovation at Rutgers. As Executive Director of the CM3A, he coordinates consulting projects that allow graduate and undergraduate students to interact with real-life firms, NGOs, and government agencies from the US and abroad.
Dominick McPeake, CIMA
Co-Head of National Sales, Lord Abbett
Dominick McPeake is the Co-Head of National Sales responsible for leading the U.S.Retail distribution effort for the western states. In this role, he is responsible forleading a team of external wholesalers focused on sales leadership.
Mr. McPeake joined Lord Abbett in 2015. Prior to his current role, he served asSenior Regional Manager focused on serving the wirehouse, bank and independentchannels, and played an active role in training and mentoring new regional managersin the field. His previous experience includes serving as Regional Business Consultantat Curian Capital/Jackson National Life. He has worked in the financial servicesindustry since 2005.
He earned a BS from the University of California, Davis. He also is a holder of aCertified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation.
Lyndsay Noble
Director of Analytics Programs, Rockhurst University School of Business & Technology
Lyndsay Noble serves as the Director of Analytics Programs at Rockhurst University, where she is responsible for the design, development, and oversight of innovative graduate programs in data analytics and emerging technologies. With over 8 years of experience at DST/SS&C, she led the Data Science Center of Excellence and the advanced analytics consulting practices, working with top-tier clients in the asset management space.
Lyndsay holds a master’s degree and is ABD in Applied Statistics, with a deep focus on predictive modeling, data visualization, and AI. Her passion lies in helping organizations align their analytics departments with strategic objectives, facilitating a seamless blend of technology, people, and processes. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes adaptability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Beyond her role in academia, Lyndsay actively contributes to industry forums and conferences, sharing insights on best practices in business intelligence, data science, and AI. She is also committed to building collaborations between Rockhurst and leading industry partners to provide experiential learning opportunities for students. Looking forward, she is focused on expanding the university’s offerings to include cutting-edge certifications in AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity, ensuring that graduates are well-equipped to meet the demands of the modern workforce.
Charles Novicki
Data & Analytics, Head of US Product, Broadridge
Charles leads product strategy for Broadridge’s global portfolio of data & analytics solutions for the asset & wealth management industry. With deep expertise in financial market data, analytics, and technology solutions, Charles is responsible for product innovation efforts in AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics that promote effective growth and distribution for investment managers.
Charles joined Broadridge in 2020 and has over a decade of experience delivering analytics, information, and workflow solutions to financial services clients. He holds an undergraduate degree in Finance and an MBA from Providence College.
William Safarik
Director of Client Platform Mgmt and Analytics/Sales Enablement, Wellington
As the Director Business Intelligence/Sales Enablement for the Client Platform, Bill is responsible for the program to drive growth and better retain business through the development and implementation of sales enablement technology and data & analytics across the Client Platform. Bill is an experienced leader in asset management focusing on sales enablement solutions and client data and analytics with a strong track record of effective global leadership – successfully implementing numerous solutions, including: Relaunching a sub-optimal global enterprise Salesforce CRM and gaining 100% adoption by enhancing the data and building functionality and making the CRM the golden source of truth and a beneficial and necessary tool in serving clients, prospects, and consultants; Establishing a centralized data source for all client data and analytics by bringing together siloed data elements to better support management reporting, data-driven insights, and business insights, enabling management to run the business more effectively and understand business trends while allowing client-facing teams to enhance the client experience.
Kevin Sawchuk
Head of Distribution Business Intelligence, Allspring Global Investments
Kevin has over two decades of experience in the asset management industry, currently serving as Head of Distribution Business Intelligence for Allspring Global Investments where he is responsible for reporting and analytics, dashboard development and implementation of data-driven strategies. Prior to joining Allspring in 2023, Kevin spent 22 years at BlackRock, where held diverse roles across Investments, Distribution, Finance and Board Governance.
Kevin holds a B.S. in Finance and a B.A. in Cinema Studies from Binghamton University. He resides in New Jersey with his wife Julie and their three children, Aiven, Liam, and Claira. In his spare time, Kevin is an avid culinary explorer, cookbook enthusiast, and tomato garden cultivator.
Hiren Shah
Award Winning, Empathetic, Strategic Transformation Leader with expertise in Portfolio, Program Management
Hiren is an award-winning strategic, empathetic transformation leader with expertise in Project & Portfolio Management/Finance Technology. He has led large-scale digital transformation programs for various Fortune clients, including his experience working for a Global Asset Management and Big-4 Consulting Firms.
He currently heads the Finance Technology and Global Corp Tech & Data Portfolio for the world’s largest pure-play consumer health company. But above all, he is also proudly known as the father of Sparsh Shah.
Sparsh Shah
21-year-old prodigy, singer, rapper, songwriter, music producer, inspirational speaker, philanthropist and Guinness World Records holder
Sparsh Shah (a.k.a Purhythm) is a 21-year-old prodigy, singer, rapper, songwriter, music producer, inspirational speaker, philanthropist, and Guinness World Records holder.
Born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a condition that makes his bones extremely fragile, Sparsh has endured over 150 fractures and multiple surgeries, yet his spirit remains unbreakable. Gifted with a divine voice and a sharp mind, Sparsh has spoken and performed in over 350 live/virtual events in 9 countries, appeared on several TV and radio shows, amassed over 400 million views on all social media, helped raise over 4 million dollars for various non-profit organizations and continues to inspire millions across the globe. His vision is to “Sparsh” (touch) the hearts of people worldwide.
You can find additional information about Sparsh on www.SparshShah.com.
Nathan Stevenson
CEO, ForwardLane
Nathan Stevenson is the CEO and founder of ForwardLane, rated globally by KPMG/H20 as a top 100 fintech and one of the world’s most innovative wealthtech technology providers.
An entrepreneur and speaker with a background in quantitative finance, computer science, and applied artificial intelligence, Nathan has grown Forwardlane to become the essential insight platform used by financial professionals for personalized conversations. He has been featured as a speaker and thought leader on the application of AI in wealth and asset management in Forbes, Institutional Investor, Euromoney, and at the World Economic Forum, Yale International School of Finance, MIT, Finnovasia, and InVest.
Previously, Nathan worked in quantitative research at CQS, a top five global alternative asset manager, as well as in fixed income at BNP Paribas. He also served as an enterprise architect at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, where he worked with NYSE, Nasdaq and CME Group on large-scale trading technology projects. As an entrepreneur, Nathan co-founded two successful startups, including the travel technology startup, HotelsByDay, which was featured on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” and the music publishing and licensing firm, Songs for Film and TV.
Leah Swanson
The SME Forum
Leah is a strategic sales and marketing leader with over two decades of experience in asset management and financial services. Most recently, she served as Director of Sales and Marketing Enablement at Thornburg Investment Management, where she led the firm’s sales enablement function—integrating CRM strategy, data intelligence, and technology to advance distribution and marketing objectives. In this role, she developed data-driven sales strategies, client segmentation, and enhanced alignment across sales and marketing.
Previously, Leah was Managing Director and Director of Strategic Relationships, overseeing partnerships with top-tier wirehouse, independent broker-dealer, and custodian firms representing over $15 billion in AUM. She was responsible for strategic planning and relationship management across firms. Earlier in her career, she served as Vice President and Marketing Director at Thornburg Mortgage, where she led comprehensive marketing initiatives for the firm’s national home loans business.
Leah is known for driving cross-functional collaboration, leadership and turning complex data into actionable strategy. Her expertise spans strategic planning, national accounts, sales enablement, data strategy, and integrated marketing. She is the founder of Thornburg’s award-winning Pathways internship program and a committed advocate for talent development and access in financial services. Leah holds a BA from Cornell University and currently serves as Chair of the Santa Fe Community Impact Board, supporting expanded college access for New Mexico students.
Rajan Wadhwa
The SME Forum
Rajan Wadhwa is a seasoned Data & Analytics executive with a proven track record of leading transformative initiatives in Asset Management. During his decade-long tenure at Franklin Templeton Investments, he spearheaded the global data and analytics team for sales and marketing functions, supporting diverse distribution channels across the U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, and Australia. He built a foundational analytics ecosystem that supported strategic capabilities like customer segmentation, sales performance, competitive intelligence, and digital interaction insights—directly driving client engagement and asset growth. As a hands-on leader, he established robust BI infrastructures and data ownership frameworks, playing a critical role in the firm’s transition to a Big Data architecture, and launching the first Data Ops team in the asset management space.
Rajan’s leadership during Franklin Templeton’s acquisition of Legg Mason exemplifies his ability to execute at scale. He led the integration of multiple data, reporting, and analytics platforms across the two firms, delivering the analytics component of the merger within a nine-month window. As a technology evangelist, he introduced and institutionalized advanced tools including Tableau, Power BI, Databricks, and PowerApps, fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making. His success stems from a blend of strategic foresight and operational execution, coupled with an ability to align emerging technologies with evolving business needs.
Currently an entrepreneur, Rajan is building an organization that intends to serve Asset management industry by providing high quality and cost effective ways of managing the data and analytics value chain using technology and AI.
Jonathan Wang
Van Eck, CTO
Jonathan Wang is the Chief Technology Officer at VanEck Associates, a global asset manager with offices in US, Europe, Australia and China. Before joining VanEck, Mr. Wang was a partner and Chief Technology Officer at Antecapio LLC, a multi-strategy hedge fund in New York.
Mr. Wang holds a MS in Computer Science from Yale University, and MBA in Finance from New York University.
Solutions Providers
Alphix Solutions
Alphix Solutions is the marketing technology arm of Fundamental Group. Specifically developed for the investment management industry, Alphix Solutions is an award-winning marketing intelligence suite that combines unparalleled sector-specific data with true transparency and rapid AI-powered activation.
Alphix Solutions
Alphix Solutions is the marketing technology arm of Fundamental Group. Specifically developed for the investment management industry, Alphix Solutions is an award-winning marketing intelligence suite that combines unparalleled sector-specific data with true transparency and rapid AI-powered activation.
Learn More: https://alphix.com/
part of Fundamental Media Group: www.fundamentalgroup.com
Bluprintx
Bluprintx
Strategically-minded, data-evidenced, technology-empowered. Stop guessing, start growing. By design.
Learn More: www.bluprintx.com
Broadridge
Broadridge, a global Fintech leader with over $4 billion in revenues and part of the S&P 500® Index, enables corporate governance, powers capital markets and helps wealth and asset management…
Broadridge
Broadridge, a global Fintech leader with over $4 billion in revenues and part of the S&P 500® Index, enables corporate governance, powers capital markets and helps wealth and asset management firms grow. We provide communications, technology, data and analytics that help enrich engagement, navigate risk, optimize efficiency and drive revenue growth. We process $5 trillion in fixed income and equity trades daily, manage shareholder voting in 90 countries and deliver essential communications for 5,000 brands. From our unique vantage point, working side by side with our clients, we help businesses get ahead of today’s challenges and capitalize on what’s next.
Learn More: www.broadridge.com
Nasdaq eVestment
The Source for Institutional Intelligence
Nasdaq eVestment provides institutional investment data, analytics and market intelligence covering public and private markets. …
Nasdaq eVestment
The Source for Institutional Intelligence
Nasdaq eVestment provides institutional investment data, analytics and market intelligence covering public and private markets. Asset managers and general partners reach the institutional marketplace through our platform, while institutional investors and consultants rely on eVestment for manager due diligence, selection and monitoring. Nasdaq eVestment brings transparency and efficiency to the global institutional market, equipping managers, investors and consultants to make data-driven decisions, deploy their resources more productively and ultimately realize better outcomes.
Learn More: www.eVestment.com
ForwardLane
ForwardLane is an applied artificial intelligence company that accelerates digital advisory and distribution in wealth management, asset management and commercial banking. We do this by…
ForwardLane
ForwardLane is an applied artificial intelligence company that accelerates digital advisory and distribution in wealth management, asset management and commercial banking.
We do this by synthesizing vast quantities of collective firm intelligence and market data, dramatically accelerating the productivity of financial services professionals.
Learn More: http://forwardlane.com/
Hey Dan
Serving 5,000+ wholesalers in the asset management industry from firms with over $7.6 trillion in total market capitalization, Hey DAN (formerly Dial-A-Note) is the premiere voice to CRM solution…
Hey DAN
Serving 5,000+ wholesalers in the asset management industry from firms with over $7.6 trillion in total market capitalization, Hey DAN (formerly Dial-A-Note) is the premiere voice to CRM solution. Salespeople simply dictate and Hey DAN deposits the information directly into your CRM. Drop-down menus, check boxes and other unique fields are quickly filled out, without the salesperson’s help. Hey DAN is the first voice to CRM solution that combines technology and intelligence, ensuring meeting note entry is fast, accurate, and complete.
Hey DAN is also the only voice to CRM solution that passes all security requirements within the asset management industry.
Beyond CRM entry, Hey DAN has built a sterling reputation for low-cost, high quality data management solutions. From expense entry to data scrubbing, list building and data mining, Hey DAN does the work behind the scenes so your sales team and support staff can work on high value tasks resulting in a phenomenal ROI.
Hey DAN was founded in 2006 specifically to support the asset management industry. It has since launched its own nonprofit foundation helping deliver relief to the poorest of the poor around the globe. To learn more visit http://www.feathersproject.org/
Learn More: https://heydan.ai/civicom/
HSO
For more than 30 years, HSO has focused on helping organizations get sustainable results through the use of technology. We have grown into one of the world’s leading Microsoft partners, supporting local and international businesses in pursuit of digital transformation…
HSO/AKA
For more than 30 years, HSO has focused on helping organizations get sustainable results through the use of technology. We have grown into one of the world’s leading Microsoft partners, supporting local and international businesses in pursuit of digital transformation. We use state-of-the-art technologies, including Microsoft Dynamics 365, Azure cloud platform, and our unique, industry-specific solutions, along with expert cloud services, business process consulting, and custom application development to help you get to where you want to be.
Ready to pave the way to innovation? Whatever you’re ready for, we have the people, experience and solutions to make it happen.
Learn More: https://us.hso.com/
ISS Market Intelligence
Institutional Shareholder Services group of companies (ISS) empowers investors and companies to build for long-term and sustainable growth by providing high-quality data, analytics and insight. ISS Market Intelligence (MI) division provides critical data and insight to global asset managers…
Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS)
Institutional Shareholder Services group of companies (ISS) empowers investors and companies to build for long-term and sustainable growth by providing high-quality data, analytics and insight. ISS Market Intelligence (MI) division provides critical data and insight to global asset managers, insurance companies and distributors to help them make informed, strategic decisions to manage and grow their business.
Through its industry-leading combination of proprietary and integrated datasets, in-depth global research and reliable executive engagement, ISS MI delivers solutions for market sizing, competitor benchmarking, product strategy and opportunity identification across a wide range of financial products including funds, annuities, insurance, mortgages, and other instruments. The ISS MI group includes the industry-leading data platforms Simfund, BrightScope, Local Market Share, and Financial Clarity, as well a full collection of global research and analytic services including Investor Economics, Market Metrics, and Plan for Life.
Learn More: https://www.issgovernance.com/si-joins-iss/
Kyloe
Kyloe is a software provider with an exclusive focus on Salesforce solutions for Asset Managers. Kyloe’s offerings include end-to-end Salesforce overlays and modules for Institutional and Intermediary Distribution Sales and Marketing, as well as pre-built Salesforce integrations…
Kyloe
Kyloe is a software provider with an exclusive focus on Salesforce solutions for Asset Managers.
Kyloe’s offerings include end-to-end Salesforce overlays and modules for Institutional and Intermediary Distribution Sales and Marketing, as well as pre-built Salesforce integrations for many of the leading data providers servicing the Asset Management Industry. Our team has been delivering Salesforce solutions since 2004 for many of Salesforce’s leading financial services clients.
Learn More: www.kyloe.digital
Olmstead Associates
Olmstead is a data-centric consulting firm with an exclusive focus on the asset management industry. We provide consulting expertise to help with operational transformation and sales enablement solutions. We have the data management expertise that makes all those solutions play nicely together…
Olmstead Associates
Olmstead is a data-centric consulting firm with an exclusive focus on the asset management industry. We provide consulting expertise to help with operational transformation and sales enablement solutions. We have the data management expertise that makes all those solutions play nicely together.
Our experience is deep and includes sales and marketing enablement, client reporting and communications, CRM, distribution & customer intelligence, and digital/web projects. Our Operations, Technology, and Data experts, along with proven methodologies and leading-edge tools help our clients make better decisions and lower project risk.
Seismic
Olmstead is also the only certified Seismic implementation and development partner. Our focus on the asset management industry allows us to deliver best practices and develop industry-specific solutions based on practical use cases. We have a deep understanding of how the Seismic solution can integrate with your suite of distribution solutions and deliver the full value of the tool.
Salesforce
Seismic
Marketo
PowerBI
Tableau
Solution Architecture
Data Lifecycle Management
Data Warehouse
Data Governance
Modern Data Strategies
If these ideas resonate with you, please contact Scott Kasper. Scott is a 15-year member of the SME Forum and recently joined Olmstead. Please visit the Olmstead website for additional information about our practice and blog entries about many of these topics.
Learn More https://www.olmst.com/
SalesPage
SalesPage Technologies partners with asset managers worldwide to enable data-driven distribution by mastering data, integrating intelligence, and building solutions that help achieve your business objectives. Asset managers must rely on data they receive from a myriad of sources at different times in numerous formats to provide insight into a variety of business lines…
SalesPage
SalesPage Technologies partners with asset managers worldwide to enable data-driven distribution by mastering data, integrating intelligence, and building solutions that help achieve your business objectives. Asset managers must rely on data they receive from a myriad of sources at different times in numerous formats to provide insight into a variety of business lines. Ultimately, this information must be synthesized and integrated seamlessly with CRM, analytics, and BI tools, and your firm’s internal proprietary data to enable asset managers to make intelligent, value-driven decisions firmwide. SalesPage is the catalyst that makes that transformation possible. Excellence in client service, deep industry knowledge, technical strength, and extraordinary teamwork are what have defined us for over 40 years. As the industry continues to evolve, SalesPage is adapting continuously to new challenges, embracing innovation, and staying ahead of emerging trends to ensure we remain leaders in our field.
Learn More: https://www.salespage.com/
Contact:
SS&C Technologies
SS&C is a global provider of services and software for the financial services and healthcare industries. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, and has offices around the…
SS&C Technologies
SS&C has been helping investment and financial firms of all types gain that advantage for more than 30 years. Grounded in our deep knowledge and understanding of your business, our technology-powered solutions and services help you run your operations more efficiently, compete more effectively and grow more profitably. Through data management, market share services, advisor practice analysis, industry research and consulting, we provide you with distribution intelligence and expertise to manage your data, gain insights and ignite growth in your business.
Learn More: www.ssctech.com
XALT Sales Optimisation
XALT is an industry-leading sales optimisation platform for global Asset Managers which puts data and insights at the heart of Asset Management distribution and enables digital-first sales teams to deliver maximum value to their clients…
XALT
XALT is an industry-leading sales optimisation platform for global Asset Managers which puts data and insights at the heart of Asset Management distribution and enables digital-first sales teams to deliver maximum value to their clients.
Winner of Best Use of Data at the Investment Week Innovation Awards 2020 and a FinTech Start-Up award at the Digital Client Engagement Summit 2019, XALT currently supports global Asset Managers with over $4tn of assets across 15 countries and 5 continents, transforming sales teams so they have greater insights, can go further for their clients, and deliver asset growth.
XALT delivers three core benefits to global Asset Managers:
1. Deeper sales intelligence – providing the technology to unite all relevant data to generate timely and relevant insights.
2. Stronger client experience – enabling more personalised, digital-first client-specific communications before sales opportunities are missed.
3. Better business results – delivering data-led insights that help maximise impact on asset retention and growth.
XALT helps its clients stand out from the crowd and achieve profitable growth through a combination of technology and human insights powered by deep industry expertise and data knowledge.
XALT is a PureGroup application. PureGroup is a UK-based financial technology business focused on empowering global Asset Managers to grow assets, increase profitability, and become tomorrow’s leaders.
PureGroup was established in 2013, has its HQ in London, and development centres in Portugal and Lithuania.
Website: https://xalt.io/
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