Afsaneh Beschloss
Founder and CEO, RockCreek
Leadership is in those moments where there is something difficult, and you go with what you think is right, not what you think somebody else thinks is right.
Summary
This week on Leadership Matters, Alan was joined by a transformative leader and economist who has used her career to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges through the lens of sustainable finance, Afsaneh Beschloss. The founder and CEO of RockCreek, Afsaneh previously held key roles as both Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer at the World Bank, where she spearheaded pioneering energy projects and advanced policies to support developing countries.
In their conversation, Afsaneh shared insights into her remarkable career, including her groundbreaking work in renewable energy, the economics of natural gas, and her influential shift to sustainable and impactful investing at RockCreek. Together, Alan and Afsaneh discussed her early influences, her commitment to ethical investment, and the personal and professional lessons that have defined her journey from economist to leading philanthropist and thought leader.
Mentions & Resources in this Episode
Guest Bio
Afsaneh Mashayekhi Beschloss is Founder and CEO of RockCreek. Previously, she was Managing Director and partner at the Carlyle Group. As the World Bank’s Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer, she led the Bank’s investments, balance sheet management, ratings, borrowings, and innovations in financial products. Prior to this, she led the World Bank’s investments and policy work for renewable energy, power, and infrastructure, as well as pioneering investments in wind and solar energy. Previously, she worked in corporate finance at JP Morgan.
Afsaneh has advised governments, central banks, and regulatory agencies on financial policy and energy policy. She serves on the board of trustees of the Council on Foreign Relations, Georgetown University, as well as the Rockefeller Foundation, and National Geographic, where she chairs their Investment Committees, and chairs the PBS Foundation.
She was recognized by Carnegie Corporation in their “Great Immigrants, Great Americans 2020” list, received the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award and the Institutional Investor Lifetime Achievement Award, and been listed among the “Most Powerful Women in Banking” by American Banker. She is the co-author of The Economics of Natural Gas (Oxford University Press) and author of numerous journal articles on innovations in finance, energy economics, and renewable energy investing.
Afsaneh holds an MPhil (Honors) in Economics from the University of Oxford, where she taught international trade and economic development.
Episode Transcript
Alan Fleischmann
I’m joined today by a transformative leader and economist who has dedicated her career to tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges through the lens of sustainable finance. Afsaneh Beschloss is the founder and CEO of Rock Creek, a global investment firm specializing in renewable energy transition and diverse, women-owned firms.
Before founding Rock Creek, Afsaneh was a partner at Carlyle and served at the World Bank for 20 years, where she led energy investments, policy work on oil, gas, natural gas, renewables, and clean energy projects. While at the World Bank, she founded the Natural Gas Group to help accelerate the transition to reduce carbon emissions and served as the World Bank’s Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer. In 2020, Afsaneh was chosen by the Carnegie Corporation of New York for its list of Great Immigrants, Great Americans.
She has received the Institutional Investor Lifetime Achievement Award, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award, and has been listed among the Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker. She’s also the co-author of The Economics of Natural Gas Pricing, Planning, and Policy. I’m thrilled to have Afsaneh on the show today.
She’s a friend and someone I’ve admired as a CEO and leader who has the courage to speak up and speak out. Today, we’ll discuss her upbringing, early influences, fascinating career, and the many lessons in leadership she’s learned along the way. Afsaneh, welcome to Leadership Matters. It’s such a pleasure to have you on.
Afsaneh Beschloss
I’m truly honored to be here, Alan, and you yourself are such an important leader in so many ways. I can’t tell you how excited I am to be together.
Alan Fleischmann
Well, you’re very kind. I thought it’d be great to start with your early life. You were born in Tehran, Iran, and spent part of your childhood there. Tell us about your early years—what life was like at home, what your parents did, your siblings, and anything special about the place where you grew up.
Afsaneh Beschloss
Alan, the Iran I grew up in was very different from what we see in the news today. Women were on par with men in many ways. My father was president of Iran’s largest, oldest university, training teachers nationwide, and his deputies included women. There were women senators and doctors. Growing up in Iran, I never felt that being a woman was unusual or second-class. My mother took care of us but was ambitious for her daughters—she made sure we worked hard and had time to study. She would buy me comic books to improve my English, so I was reading Archie as a kid! Both my parents believed deeply in education. Even though they had three daughters, not sons, we received the best education possible. At 15, I decided I wanted to come to the States and joined the American Field Service program, which brought me to Concord, Massachusetts, as an exchange student.
Alan Fleischmann
And that was during your junior year in high school?
Afsaneh Beschloss
Yes, I was a junior. Our education system in Iran, especially at the International School in Tehran, was considered better. I transferred to Concord-Carlisle High School as a senior. It was a wonderful experience. The family I stayed with was academic—my host father taught at MIT. Across the street lived Bob Solow, a Pulitzer-winning economist, and many physicists and mathematicians were our neighbors. We lived near Walden Pond, which was inspiring.
Alan Fleischmann
When my older daughter wanted a daddy-daughter weekend, we picked that town because she loved reading and felt something special there.
Afsaneh Beschloss
I was fortunate to have that early experience. Years later, when I married, our American host family threw us a clambake and invited friends, teachers, and lifelong friends from that time.
Alan Fleischmann
Wow. Are you still in touch with them?
Afsaneh Beschloss
Yes, though sadly the parents have passed. The kids are mostly in Massachusetts, and we stay in contact.
Alan Fleischmann
Did you go back to Iran after that year?
Afsaneh Beschloss
I returned to finish my International Baccalaureate and then went to university in England. Since then, I haven’t lived in Iran, though I’ve kept up with the changes. The Iran I grew up in was very different—a rapidly progressing place. Interestingly, despite the changes, amazing people still emerge. For example, the first woman to win the Fields Medal in mathematics was born in Iran, came to Stanford and Princeton, and remains the only woman to have won it.
Alan Fleischmann
Iranian culture has a deep tradition of poetry, one of the few cultures known for celebrating poets across centuries.
Afsaneh Beschloss
Yes, and many poets wrote subversively about democracy and against autocratic rulers of their time. They often blended themes of love and politics in subtle ways to avoid persecution.
Alan Fleischmann
Did your parents stay through the revolution?
Afsaneh Beschloss
My father worked as university president until the last day of the revolution. He was optimistic that the Liberal Democrats, not the religious faction, would lead post-revolution Iran, but he was wrong. He and his colleagues who had supported a democratic Iran faced challenges when the religious right took power. He eventually had to go into hiding, then was allowed to leave and spent his last years between Washington and Geneva, where my sister lived, remaining active in writing and speaking with former students.
Afsaneh Beschloss
My father was president of the university in Tehran, and he worked until the last day of the revolution, because he was very optimistic and positive. He thought that after the revolution, the Liberal Democrats would take over, not the religious faction. He was wrong. He and a lot of his friends who’d been pro-liberal democracy in Iran were unfortunate, as it was the religious right that took over instead of the intellectual democratic forces. My father had to go into hiding. Eventually, he was allowed to leave, and he lived the last 10 years of his life between Washington and Geneva, where my sister lived, staying active in writing, publishing, and talking to many of his old students.
Alan Fleischmann
Wow, that’s great. So everyone in your family got out at some point, but you were already at the University of Kent, studying for your bachelor’s degree in economics.
Afsaneh Beschloss
Yes, all of us were out before the revolution. We would just go back and visit. I decided to study economics; it was somewhere between science and social science, with some formal, quantitative work but also a social dimension. In England, when you study a subject, you focus entirely on it—unlike in the US, where you get a broader education. So my studies were narrow, with only one or two non-economics courses. I found that I enjoyed it and applied for my master’s and later my doctorate at Oxford, at Saint Anthony’s College. I completed my master’s in economics, loved it, and started my doctoral thesis, but then the revolution happened, and I had to go to work. One day, I hope to go back and finish it.
Alan Fleischmann
You’ve never gone back, right? You’ve never gone back since 17.
Afsaneh Beschloss
Not back to Iran, no. I went with the World Bank a few times, maybe like 30 years ago, maybe 15 or 20 years ago, but not since. As for Oxford, I do go back from time to time. So, yes, maybe one day I’ll go back and finish that thesis.
Alan Fleischmann
Yes, for Oxford, you just have a little bit to go. When you said you needed to start your career and go to work, was that what brought you to the United States?
Afsaneh Beschloss
Right. So I was at Oxford, teaching international trade and economic development at Queen Elizabeth House while working on my thesis. But I wasn’t receiving any funding, and at that time, foreign students in England couldn’t work to make a living. So I applied to two kinds of jobs. One was at Amherst College to go teach and finish my thesis, and the other was at JP Morgan. I didn’t expect the situation in Iran to last, so I thought I’d learn about banking and finance—about which I knew nothing. I went to JP Morgan, first to their London branch and then moved to New York.
Alan Fleischmann
That must have been an interesting transition after being in the UK for a few years and getting quite acclimated. How was moving to New York?
Afsaneh Beschloss
It was great. Living in New York is wonderful. As an exchange student, I first came to the U.S. with the American Field Service, and we all arrived in New York. My first visit to Manhattan was at 16; I walked through Central Park alone, not realizing it was a risky thing to do back then.
Alan Fleischmann
Especially at night—that’s usually not advisable. Where did you live while working at JP Morgan?
Afsaneh Beschloss
I lived across from Lincoln Center on the west side. It was fantastic. We had a year-long training program, and I met incredible friends. The JP Morgan of that time was very focused on creating teams and a strong team spirit.
Alan Fleischmann
They were famous for that. Both JP Morgan and Chase Manhattan Bank had strong training programs. They didn’t just teach finance; they included other areas of training as well.
Afsaneh Beschloss
Yes, it included finance, accounting, corporate finance, and a lot of case studies, plus a focus on ethics in finance. It was a unique experience. I think it represented a high point in finance regarding ethics.
Alan Fleischmann
They actually focused on ethics rather than treating it as an afterthought. That sounds fascinating. And that program lasted a full year?
Afsaneh Beschloss
Yes, it was a one-year program, and then you transitioned into a job. I went into corporate finance. One of my professors at Oxford, Robert Mabro at St. Antony’s College, had started the Oxford Energy Institute, and I was his assistant. I learned a lot about energy from him, including attending meetings with CEOs of Shell, BP, and other major oil companies. He influenced me to study energy as an economist, even mentioning natural gas as cleaner energy. So, at JP Morgan, I worked on several energy-related M&A deals.
Alan Fleischmann
That’s great. You were working in an area that has only grown in importance over time. Did you go to the World Bank after JP Morgan?
Afsaneh Beschloss
Right, right. Exactly, exactly. So, yeah, go ahead.
Alan Fleischmann
Yeah, how did that happen? Had the World Bank already been on your mind at that point? You’d been at JP Morgan for a few years, right?
Afsaneh Beschloss
Yes, I’d been at JP Morgan a couple of years, but while I was at Oxford, I had actually applied to the World Bank for an internship. I did an internship there while I was still a student, and I really loved it. What I appreciated about the Bank was that you could work in a specific area—health, education, energy, or finance—but there was also a mission to help low-income countries, which I was passionate about. After my experience at JP Morgan, while it was great, I felt a strong drive to work in countries similar to where I was born—places with low-income populations where we could make a difference. So I applied to the Young Professionals Program at the World Bank. They take about 25 people; I think the program is still around.
Alan Fleischmann
It’s very hard to get into.
Afsaneh Beschloss
I was very fortunate to get in, and I was one of the youngest people accepted. They put you in two different rotations; it’s not really training—they just throw you in. My first assignment was in health, and I learned so much, working with experts on policies to improve health in low-income countries, especially in Africa. We traveled together, and I saw firsthand how the lack of health infrastructure impacted economies. Diseases like malaria and TB were major barriers, holding people back from attending school or work.
Alan Fleischmann
That’s incredible. So you got a broad view through that program. Then, when you went into natural gas, did you seek out the energy sector?
Afsaneh Beschloss
Yes, exactly. After health, I could choose my next area, and I connected with people in the energy department. DeAnne Julius, who became a mentor, was one of them.
Alan Fleischmann
DeAnne, who you later co-authored a book with, right?
Afsaneh Beschloss
Yes, exactly. I just saw her at the World Bank annual meetings this week. She’s been an incredible influence, having served on boards like BP, Shell, and Roche, and was also chief economist at Shell and part of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee. She was running energy policy at the World Bank, so I went to work for her. I hadn’t specifically sought a woman boss or the energy sector, but it worked out that way, and she was an inspiring person to work with.
Alan Fleischmann
Did you work with her on projects or within her division full-time?
Afsaneh Beschloss
I worked in her division, the Energy Policy Division, and then I started the Natural Gas Group. Later, we expanded into solar and wind investing, even when it wasn’t yet economic. The idea behind natural gas was that many developing countries sit on reserves of it, like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Bolivia—not just major exporters like Russia or Iran. Although not perfect, natural gas was a cleaner alternative to coal. By using it domestically, these countries could reduce coal imports and shift to a more sustainable fuel.
Alan Fleischmann
That’s fascinating, especially considering today’s energy debates. Did the U.S. Treasury or other agencies advise against investing in natural gas for environmental reasons?
Afsaneh Beschloss
Yes, as of about a year ago, the U.S. Treasury encouraged institutions like the World Bank to focus on renewables over natural gas. While I support renewables, the conversation often overlooks that a mix of energy sources is needed for growth. Developed countries use a combination of oil, gas, solar, wind, coal, and nuclear, while developing countries are sometimes pressured to skip straight to renewables, which isn’t always feasible. This approach has slowed development in regions like Nigeria and Indonesia, where a balanced energy strategy could allow them to grow more sustainably.
Alan Fleischmann
Especially since these countries have their own natural resources. Natural gas could serve as a bridge, rather than a cliff.
Afsaneh Beschloss
Exactly. I spoke recently with Nigeria’s finance minister, who expressed frustration that G7 governments and development institutions are not supporting their energy development. It’s limiting their access to power and slowing their progress. The book I co-authored with DeAnne, which used case studies from Pakistan and Bangladesh, remains relevant today. Developing natural gas for domestic use is still a critical option for many countries.
Alan Fleischmann
It shows that, even 34 years later, there’s still room for progress with better planning.
Afsaneh Beschloss
Absolutely. In my early research, we looked at nuclear energy too. It’s something that, even today, we don’t fully embrace, though it’s gaining traction here in the U.S. and is better understood elsewhere.
Alan Fleischmann
Yes, nuclear energy is becoming a more prominent topic, but it’s still underutilized in the U.S.
Afsaneh Beschloss
Initially, I was against nuclear energy. Many countries were pursuing it for reasons beyond power generation. There were concerns over safety, with incidents in places like Japan, the U.S., and Russia. But now, with modular nuclear reactors under development, there’s potential for safer and more sustainable nuclear energy. My day job at Rock Creek involves exploring these, and they could be transformative, not just in data centers here but also in developing countries.
Alan Fleischmann
And they’re cleaner, too.
Afsaneh Beschloss
Yes, and a friend of mine who founded a company in modular nuclear says waste management is also easier with this technology.
Alan Fleischmann
So, nuclear, wind, and solar—when you first began investing in renewables at the World Bank, was it a hard sell? Was it viewed as something for the future, rather than a priority?
Afsaneh Beschloss
So Alan, it was so interesting. There were people focused on traditional energy, like oil and coal, and they weren’t eager to shift. So yes, pushing for natural gas as a young economist, rather than an engineer, was challenging. I’m reminded now of how hard it was to convince those with vested interests—those whose jobs revolved around coal and oil projects at the World Bank. It was actually easier to work with engineers on-site who were unfamiliar with someone like me but open to change. Initially, progress was slow, and honestly, some of that resistance still lingers for different reasons. For a long time, the benefits of combined cycle power plants weren’t widely understood—just as, today, the low costs of solar and wind aren’t fully appreciated in many places. Some states, like Texas and California, get it, but others are slower to adapt to these economic changes.
Alan Fleischmann
Yeah, and technology is changing with it, right? That impacts the adoption as well?
Afsaneh Beschloss
Absolutely.
Alan Fleischmann
So how did you become Treasurer? Did that role come about directly after you established yourself in energy, or was there a different path?
Afsaneh Beschloss
It was a complete shift. Just as today, we’re going through an election in the United States, back then, a new president came in, appointing a new World Bank president who felt that oil companies should handle energy development for low-income countries. It was a shock—going from energy being a vibrant area at the Bank to a diminished focus. This president believed that World Bank projects might deter private investment, rather than attract it, which I felt was misguided. A friend from the World Bank’s trading floor suggested I move into their Treasury area, saying that, as an economist with experience in energy—a major macro issue—I could learn trading. Despite having no trading experience, I transitioned to the trading floor to learn fixed income trading, eventually leading the derivatives group and becoming Chief Investment Officer.
Alan Fleischmann
And you worked under Jessica Einhorn, right?
Afsaneh Beschloss
Yes, Jessica Einhorn was a hugely important mentor. She was the first woman Treasurer of the World Bank and didn’t hold it against me that I came from the Energy Group. Eventually, I moved up to become Chief Investment Officer. My background was somewhat unusual—having worked on both direct project investments and in fixed income. We managed substantial assets, about $160 billion in derivatives and close to $800 billion overall, ensuring the Bank maintained its AAA rating. We also developed a program to invest on behalf of central banks and train their teams. One memorable client was the newly formed Norwegian Oil Fund, which has since grown to trillions. I remember advising them on diversifying from fixed income to other asset classes, which was a big step for them at the time.
Alan Fleischmann
That’s incredible. And so, you spent quite a while in the Treasury and investment world before you became Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer.
Afsaneh Beschloss
Yes, and it was a period of innovation. We applied our financial strategies to support countries, particularly in Eastern Europe, which was undergoing major changes. We collaborated with many central banks to help them develop investment programs, work that my successors continue and have even expanded today.
Alan Fleischmann
You were there under Jim Wolfensohn’s presidency, right?
Afsaneh Beschloss
Yes, and those who worked with Jim loved it. He was a transformative leader.
Alan Fleischmann
It was an extraordinary time, as the Bank repositioned itself globally.
Afsaneh Beschloss
Absolutely. Jim reminded everyone that our clients were the countries we served. He emphasized urgency in supporting them and put the Bank on the map internationally, helping to increase resources and visibility. His wife, Elaine, was an influential educator who brought new energy to areas like education, which hadn’t previously been a priority.
Alan Fleischmann
Elaine Wolfensohn was indeed a major force at the Bank.
Afsaneh Beschloss
Yes, and a great friend of mine.
Alan Fleischmann
I have enormous respect for them. They were like Renaissance figures, passionate about so many things—big and small, cultural and transformative. Their approach showed how resources could drive meaningful change.
Afsaneh Beschloss
And during that time, I also met your wonderful partner, who has been an incredible influence on me, you, and so many others with her pioneering work in areas like climate and the private sector.
Alan Fleischmann
Yes, she spent 20 years at the World Bank and the IFC. She thrived working with you, especially as the IFC’s private sector arm became such a catalyst for positive impact.
Afsaneh Beschloss
Exactly. And she continues to do exciting work.
Alan Fleischmann
Lauren still drives transformation daily. We should have her on the show too! And then you went to Carlyle, which must have been a significant transition. How did that come about?
Afsaneh Beschloss
I had been entrepreneurial within the World Bank, starting programs in natural gas and central bank partnerships. But I realized that if I didn’t leave to try something new, I’d likely stay another 20 years. I was approached with two senior roles in New York, and my husband was very supportive. Then, David Rubenstein offered me a position as Carlyle’s 12th partner. Carlyle was much smaller back then, so joining them was a unique opportunity. I learned a lot, particularly from Bill Conway on the investment committee, but post-9/11, it was challenging to grow a new group. That led me to start Rock Creek—a decision that was a bit of a leap but ended up being the right one. My backup plan was to go back to a large institution if it didn’t work, but fortunately, it did.
Alan Fleischmann
What was your vision for Rock Creek back then, and has it changed since 2003?
Afsaneh Beschloss
The vision is still the same: finance as a force for good, a value ingrained from my time at JP Morgan and the World Bank. I wanted to create an investment firm where we, having been on the client side, understood what clients needed—plus, we aimed to be impactful. My guiding principle was, and is, to do no harm and hopefully do good while generating returns. Many still see maximizing returns and impact as opposing goals, but my experience has shown they can coexist. At Rock Creek, we invest in areas like climate, health, affordable housing, and education, always with an economic perspective to drive returns while making a positive impact.
Alan Fleischmann
Do you invest differently by sector, or do you take a consistent approach?
Afsaneh Beschloss
We have a team that primarily invests through funds, often acting as the Chief Investment Officer for endowments or foundations, across all asset classes. We also have a group focused on direct investments in companies, working quite independently. Some clients are incredibly innovative; one university client, for example, is pioneering AI in education and owns one of the first quantum computers in academia. These partnerships are exciting and enhance our own work at Rock Creek, allowing us to work smarter and better as a team while developing solutions that benefit others.
Alan Fleischmann
Your reach is impressive. I often see Rock Creek represented at important global gatherings where thought leaders are shaping the future. It’s striking that your firm has such global influence despite being relatively small. How many people work at Rock Creek?
Afsaneh Beschloss
Actually, it’s the smallest team I’ve ever managed, close to 80-90 people. But early on, we leveraged technology—something I learned at the World Bank, which had a sophisticated approach to tech in finance. At Rock Creek, we developed tools with a strong focus on software and quant work. We were early adopters and investors in OpenAI, which allows us to operate efficiently and maintain a startup culture while staying connected with the outside world. It’s not about size; it’s about relevance, reliability, and being trusted as a partner.
Alan Fleischmann
You’re listening to Leadership Matters on SiriusXM and at leadershipmattersshow.com. I’m your host, Alan Fleischmann. I’m here with Afsaneh Beschloss, the founder and CEO of Rock Creek, former Treasurer and CIO of the World Bank, a remarkable leader and thought leader. I think of you as a great philanthropist, Afsaneh. You’ve served on boards of many impactful organizations—currently, the World Resources Institute, the Bretton Woods Committee, the PBS Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation. You were also on the board of the Ford Foundation, if I recall, and you’re a board member of National Geographic, which is respected globally. You’ve chaired the investment committee for many of these institutions over time. I’m curious—you’re not afraid to speak up on the values and issues that matter today. I marvel at how you manage to be the CEO of Rock Creek, serve as a leader on various boards, and still seem to be everywhere that counts. How do you do it? That’s quite a skill.
Afsaneh Beschloss
Well, I think maybe it’s a skill I’ve learned from you and some of our mutual friends, Alan. For me, the work really reinforces each other. On a board, you contribute in specific ways, but you also learn from fellow board members and colleagues in the institution. It’s a two-way street, and that has been the exciting part of serving on different boards. I’ve focused on areas I care about—climate, education, and health. Also, a big focus for me is impactful investing. In traditional endowments, there’s sometimes a stigma around “impact”—as if it’s second-rate. In my work at Rock Creek, and in my philanthropy, I aim to show that the best investments can be those that prioritize long-term value, risk management, and often, better wages. For instance, Walmart’s move toward sustainability—reducing emissions by sourcing locally—was not only good for the environment but also for their bottom line. This approach is critical for foundations and endowments to avoid damage that others will then have to work to fix.
Alan Fleischmann
That’s great. And I should mention—you have two incredible sons, both of whom went to Williams, and a well-known husband, Michael Beschloss. With all this leadership in your household, what are conversations like around the dinner table? Do you talk about leadership lessons often?
Afsaneh Beschloss
Honestly, we probably talk more about mundane things, like who’s doing the dishes. But with Michael’s background in presidential history, there’s always a historical perspective. My father used to say history was a gap in my education, so it’s helpful having a historian around. Our sons are also very different from each other—one majored in history and is in medicine, and the other is an entrepreneur focused on youth research. Our conversations are multidisciplinary; we don’t always agree, and I’m sometimes seen as the irrational one. But, as you said, it’s about love and family. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my career, it’s the importance of making time for loved ones, which my kids continually remind me of. This new generation understands that balance well.
Alan Fleischmann
I can relate—I always say that the best hairdressers have no hair and the best dentists have no teeth. You, however, truly live by your principles. You’re a hands-on leader and a mentor who isn’t afraid to get involved. That’s powerful. And yes, spending time with loved ones is essential. It nourishes us, builds community, and reminds us what’s important. You’ve stayed connected with people throughout your career, including your first boss at the Bank. If you had one piece of advice for aspiring CEOs or entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Afsaneh Beschloss
Number one: know what’s truly important to you. You’ll get conflicting advice from various people, but successful leaders rely on their gut instincts, especially during difficult decisions. Leadership is often about those tough calls and doing what you believe is right, even if others think differently. I remember advice from Barton Biggs, a former Morgan Stanley strategist, who once told me to act decisively in tough situations. His advice was to do what was needed right away to make it easier on everyone involved. It’s tempting to try to please everyone, but staying true to your convictions is crucial. We see the importance of that in both business and politics.
Alan Fleischmann
That’s great advice. Finding your voice and following what you know is right can prevent a lot of regret down the road.
Afsaneh Beschloss
Exactly. And on that note, Marshall Goldsmith, who coached me years ago, often says, “Remember, on your deathbed, you don’t want regrets.” I mentioned that to my mother, and she said, “I’ve been telling you that your whole life! Why pay for that advice?”
Alan Fleischmann
She already gave you the best advice! Well, you’ve been listening to Leadership Matters. I’m your host, Alan Fleischmann. This has been a fantastic hour with Afsaneh Beschloss, founder and CEO of Rock Creek. It’s been a fascinating discussion, and I’m convinced we could do another hour—there’s so much more to explore about the people who influenced you and your journey. I’d love to have you back sometime to dive deeper into those stories.
Afsaneh Beschloss
Alan, it’s been so much fun, and I always learn from you. I’d be honored to come back, though I’m afraid you might get tired of me.
Alan Fleischmann
We’ll never get tired of you. Let’s do it soon.