In|Vest West 2018 Direct

More about InVest: As new digital tools transform wealth management, the industry’s largest players are rushing to adapt to ever-increasing customer expectations, while smaller firms strive to keep pace. Behind the scenes, many are investing more on technology and hiring to drive growth, but margins remain under pressure. In|Vest West is exploring all the dynamics at play — from front to back office — and the technologies that are shaping the future of the firm. For more, please see: InVest Conference.

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Invest West | Direct
  • Gemma Ros is the chief technology officer at TheZebra.com, the company simplifying the insurance shopping experience. In this role, Gemma leads the engineering, DevOps, and data teams, driving innovation and operational excellence. She is an excellent source on technology innovation in the insurtech space, what it means to be an impactful and effective leader, her journey to the CTO role and more. 

    Gemma is a senior technology executive and business strategist with more than 20 years of experience in financial services and product development. Gemma began her career as a developer at a bulge bracket investment bank, where she gained deep expertise in building robust, scalable, and low-latency trading and risk management systems in dynamic environments. After eight years on Wall Street, she co-founded a technology startup, then expanded her expertise to insurtech and private lending before joining TheZebra.com in 2022.

    Throughout her career, Gemma has been recognized for delivering high-impact technology solutions, building and scaling high-performing teams, and attracting and retaining top engineering talent.

    She holds a master's degree in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College. Outside of her professional experiences, Gemma enjoys spending time with her kids, reading, and adding to her ever-expanding Lego collection.

    October 12
    Headshot of Gemma Ros.
  • Brad LaPorte is chief marketing officer at Morphisec and a former Gartner analyst. He is a seasoned cybersecurity expert and former military officer specializing in cybersecurity and military intelligence for the U.S. military and allied forces.

    October 12
    Brad LaPorte of Morphisec
  • Anurag Shah heads Newgen's Products & Solutions Division in the Americas, including the Caribbean, South, and Central American regions. He also leads GSI relations as well as consulting and pre-sales in the Americas. He has been with Newgen for over 22 years. In his previous role, he led and managed delivery and professional services for enterprise customers.

    October 11
    Headshot of Anurag Shah
  • Mark Pinsky is president and founder of CDFI Friendly America. He previously served as president and CEO of the Opportunity Finance Network and Current.

    October 11
  • Oswaldo Acosta is CEO of City First Enterprises, a Washington, D.C., community Development Financial Institution.

    October 11
  • Mike joined Simply Business in April 2018 and is Vice President of Insurance Panel and Partnerships and a member of the US Executive Leadership Team.  In his role, Mike is responsible for driving product growth with new and existing panel insurance carriers as well as expanding Simply Business's distribution reach through strategic partners. Collaborating with insurance carriers, Mike's team helps bring new insurance products to market that benefit business owners while meeting small business customers where they are via distribution partnerships.
    Mike brings 20 years of commercial property and casualty experience to Simply Business, having had previous underwriting and distribution roles at Liberty Mutual Insurance.  Mike earned his bachelor's degree in finance from Bentley University in 2003 and his CPCU designation in 2009. Mike resides in the Greater Boston area with his wife and two sons.

    October 11
    Headshot of Mike Carvalho
  • Solita Marcelli of UBS discusses wealth management's future, leadership, and why risk management is the heart of the industry.

    How wealth management is handling today's challenges
  • Oden, the U.S. Head of International Wealth and Private Banking at HSBC, details what her clients are asking about today.

    HSBC's Racquel Oden on the Great Wealth Transfer and the power of financial advice
  • October 9
  • Some financial advisors may still hesitate to get on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or TikTok. But experts say growing firms need to be on the social platforms.

    October 9
    A woman is drawing a box around the words "social media" on a clear board with other terms like "share," "SEO" and "content," symbolizing social media business strategies