A distinguished service member and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Presidents Bush and Obama from 2007 to 2011, Admiral Mullen embodies sacrifice, service, and selflessness.

“Admiral Mike Mullen truly exemplifies the values of a soldier and a citizen. As a soldier, he has given over 40 years of military service to our nation at the highest levels of leadership. As a citizen, he has done significant work in the financial services industry, held numerous board positions with both for-profit and nonprofit organizations, taught national security decision-making policy as well as ethics and leadership, and has received a long list of distinguished awards. Much of his work with nonprofit organizations is related to assisting military veterans and their families. It was an honor to nominate Admiral Mullen for this award in recognition of his sacrifice, success, and service.”

 ~John M. Howard, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of The American College of Financial Services 

Admiral Mullen served as the 28th Chief of Naval Operations from 2005–2007 and the 17th Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff for Presidents Bush and Obama from 2007 to 2011. He led the military during a critical time of change and transition, advancing the rapid fielding of innovative technologies, championing emerging and enduring global partnerships, and promoting new methods for countering terrorism. He spearheaded eliminating the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, ushering for the first time in U.S. military history the open service of gay and lesbian men and women. 

After his retirement from the United States Navy in November 2011 after 43 years of honorable service, Admiral Mullen joined the corporate boards of General Motors from 2013–2018 and Sprint from 2013–2019. He continues to serve on numerous boards, including Bloomberg Philanthropies, Naval Academy Foundation, Naval Postgraduate School Foundation, Harvard Business School, and a wide array of nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the growth, development, recovery, and transition of military veterans and their families. 

Additionally, he taught National Security Decision-Making and Policy at the Woodrow Wilson School of International and Public Affairs at Princeton University from 2012– 2018 and continues to teach advanced ethics and leadership at the U.S. Naval Academy. 

Currently, Admiral Mullen is president of MGM Consulting, which provides counsel to global clients on issues related to geo-political developments, national security interests, and strategic leadership. Admiral Mullen is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a distinguished graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School, a distinguished alumnus of Harvard Business School, a member of the National Academy of Engineering and served as a trustee at Caltech.

Rodriguez has spearheaded multiple efforts across the industry to help diversify the industry and narrow the wealth gap, including leading the development of the Financial Alliance for Racial Equity (FARE), which is focused on increasing the number of black financial professionals entering the industry and filling the voids to help retain them.

By all measures, they are an attractive market. Yet they are under-represented as advisors, and the mostly male profession has largely focused its attention on male clients; even among married clients. 

To date, wealth managers and advisory firms have been slow to respond to the demographic and social changes that are transforming the market for financial advice and many are missing the significant market opportunity that women represent. 

While women essentially need the same services as men, they do have some specific preferences and needs that firms have, so far gone unmet. Some leading firms have realized the opportunity, and are changing how they approach women as clients. Firms can learn about the changing trends in this important market segment, and how best to realize the opportunity.

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Specifically, the group examined the role big data plays in the financial services world and the potential ethical dilemmas that arise when data collection comes into conflict with profit and ethics regulations. Participants also looked at case studies dealing with data privacy and shareholder vs. stakeholder interest. 

Read the full 2020 Forum report here.