(Keri Tan)
On Thursday, March 2, 2023, TFN resumed in-person programming to much fanfare after a three-year hiatus. The Speaker Series Event welcomed 225 alumni, parents, and friends to JPMorgan Chase & Co. in New York City for a dynamic conversation between Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon, A78, and CNBC Co-Anchor David Faber, A85, A24P. Caroline Genco, Tufts provost and senior vice president ad interim and Jim Glaser, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, attended on behalf of the university.
Since 2005, Dimon has served as chairman and chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co., a global financial firm with assets of $3.2 trillion. For more than an hour, Dimon responded to questions and quips from Co-anchor of CNBC’S Squawk on the Street and TFN Advisory Committee Member David Faber, about finance, capitalism, and politics.
Sitting in two plush chairs and Dimon wearing jeans, the audience felt like they were eavesdropping on an informal chat rather than a public interview. At the end of the discussion, Dimon generously fielded questions from the audience, providing even greater insights into his life and business perspectives.
A Triumphant Return
Eager for the event, attendees spanned all class years and generations, with one recent Tufts graduate arriving an hour early to get a front row seat. “It was terrific to be back in person for a TFN event,” said TFN Advisory Committee Co-chair Kevin Magid, A85. “I’m not sure we could have asked for better speakers or venue.”
TFN Advisory Committee Member Anna Winderbaum, J90, concurred. “I thought the fireside chat with David and Jamie was interactive, personal, and amazingly covered many key topics. There was lots of good humor, too.”
For Magid, one highlight of the evening was the banter between speakers. “You couldn’t help but smile when David asked about succession planning. Jamie gave a solid answer, but let’s face it, if you are serving on the board of JPMorgan, would you want someone other than Jamie at the helm?” asked Magid.
Winderbaum also noted the benefit of catching up with old Tufts friends at the reception. “It was great to be in a room full of Tufts alums, some of whom I am in touch with and others I hadn’t seen in years.”
Broadening the Tufts Finance Community
TFN includes thousands of Tufts alumni, parents, and friends worldwide who work in financial services. In-person events are vital to engaging members and help them make lasting connections in their respective industries. With the pandemic putting events on hold for several years, many professionals are starting to rebuild their networks from scratch.
“If someone were considering attending a future TFN event, I would tell them to come. We are all super busy, but post-pandemic, it is time to intentionally reconnect and broaden our communities, especially with those with shared experiences,” encouraged Winderbaum.
Magid added, “Talking to peers about current events and market trends is always helpful. In addition, attending TFN events provides you with an opportunity to meet industry veterans. Many alumni are seeking to give back to future professionals like current Tufts students and recent graduates.”
As the clock ticked past 9:00 pm, many attendees remained in the reception space, exchanging contact information and recalling anecdotes from the discussion. “It was a perfect event,” said Winderbaum. “I’m looking forward to the next one.”
TFN would like to thank David Faber, Jamie Dimon, and JPMorgan Chase & Co. for generously hosting this event for the Tufts community.
For more information on TFN and future events, visit our website or contact Jeff Winey at jeff.winey@tufts.edu.
To view photos from this event, click here.