Work Ethic

Ethic
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Work Ethic is an interview series that features candid, in-depth conversations with leaders shaping the future of wealth. Guests share not only the strategies behind their success, but the personal stories, leadership lessons, and hard decisions that shaped their paths. Join our host, Ethic CEO and Co-founder Doug Scott, and take an inside look at what it really takes to build and lead in today’s wealth management industry.

  1. 3d ago

    The Optimist Who Invests Like a Skeptic | Noelle Laing (Builders Vision)

    Today, we're going in depth with Noelle Laing. Noelle is the Chief Investment Officer of Builders Vision, the investment and philanthropy platform founded by Lukas Walton that accelerates solutions across energy, oceans, food, and agriculture. Noelle oversees all of Builders Vision's portfolios across both philanthropic and market-rate investment teams.  In this episode you'll learn: How a CIO builds a portfolio across market-rate, catalytic, and philanthropic capitalWhy Noelle approaches every investment as a skeptic - even as a glass-half-full optimistWhat catalyzing markets means and how Builders Vision invests where others haven't yetWhy mission investing is, in her words, just investing, and the returns myth she keeps debunkingWhat she looks for when hiring investors Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:16 - From Small-Town Roots to Investment Management 06:20 - Finding Purpose Through Investing 09:22 - What Makes a Great Investor? 11:35 - Why you Should Hire for Curiosity 13:09 - Building a Collaborative Investment Team 17:37 - Investing to Transform Entire Systems 20:00 - How Catalytic Capital Builds New Markets 21:21 - How Impact Investing Has Evolved 23:23 - Impact Investing, Returns and the Myth of Sacrifice 25:07 - The Next Generation of Investors 26:26 - Finding Opportunity in Difficult Markets 28:30 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions — Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter https://www.ethic.com/work Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic) Find out more about Noelle and Builders Vision (​​https://www.buildersvision.com/who-we-are/noelle-laing/) Connect with Noelle on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelle-laing-cfa-5b92621/)

    The Optimist Who Invests Like a Skeptic | Noelle Laing (Builders Vision)

  2. Oct 14

    How to Build Success That Compounds | David Wolf (Sequoia Financial Group)

    Today, we're going in depth with David Wolf. David is the CEO of BSW Wealth Partners, a $2 billion multifamily office and wealth advisory firm based in Colorado. BSW is now part of Sequoia Financial Group, a $35 billion wealth management firm with over 30 offices nationwide. In this episode you’ll learn: Why small, consistent wins can compound into extraordinary long-term results in investing, business, and your careerHow to decide whether to build, buy, or partner as a firm growsWhy wealth managers should think beyond portfolio returns and focus on a client’s return on life. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:51 - Lessons from Japan, Iowa Roots, and Mountaineering 05:16 - Learning Entrepreneurship Through Venture Capital 07:22 - “I Love Your Company. I Don’t Like Your Margins.” 09:42 - From Tech Entrepreneur to Wealth Management 12:22 - Be Interested, Not Interesting 15:13 - What Is Wealth Actually For? 17:04 - Building a Culture Around Shared Values 19:32 - The Problems Wealth Can’t Solve 21:23 - From $125M to $2.5B: The Power of Compounding 24:39 - Build, Buy, or Partner? 26:02 - “Return on Life”: The Future of Wealth Management 29:25 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions — Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter https://www.ethic.com/work Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic) Find out more about David and Sequoia Financial Group (https://www.sequoia-financial.com/team/david-wolf/​​) Connect with David on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidcwolf1/)

    How to Build Success That Compounds | David Wolf (Sequoia Financial Group)

  3. Oct 7

    Tech Legend Mitch Kapor: From 1980s Hypergrowth to Coding Again with AI

    Today, we're going in depth with Mitch Kapor. Mitch was the founder and CEO of Lotus Development Corporation, a company that shaped the personal computing revolution, including with Lotus 1-2-3. Mitch was named to Forbes' 2026 list as one of America's 250 greatest innovators. Along with his wife, Freada, he has spent decades investing in the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs with Kapor Capital. In this episode you’ll learn: What hypergrowth taught Mitch Kapor about leadershipHow to approach the next technology revolution and why leaders need to get hands-on with AI to truly understand its opportunities and risksWhy the best founders aren’t necessarily the ones with the best resumesWhy early stage investing is ultimately a bet on people, not plansWhy Mitch is back coding at 75-years-old Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:48 - From Stand-Up Comedy to Tech Pioneer 05:13 - The Apple II That Changed Everything 07:49 - Seeing the Future of Personal Computing 09:43 - Building Lotus Into a Hypergrowth Company 12:34 - Taking Lotus Public at 32 14:29 - The Leadership Mistakes That Shaped Him 16:45 - Jumping Ship 17:16 - Building a Company Culture That Lasts 19:00 - From Entrepreneur to Investor 21:49 - Investing With Your Values 25:56 - What Mitch Kapor Looks for in Founders 28:46 - At Seed Stage, You’re Betting on People 30:12 - AI and the Next Technology Revolution 31:48 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions — Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter https://www.ethic.com/work Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic) Find out more about Mitch and Kapor Capital, and the Kapor Center (https://www.kaporcapital.com/who-we-are/) Connect with Mitch on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchkapor/) Disclosure: No compensation is exchanged in either direction for a guest's appearance. Kapor Capital is an investor in Ethic.

    Tech Legend Mitch Kapor: From 1980s Hypergrowth to Coding Again with AI

  4. Sep 30

    Investing for the Next 40 Years | Jim Dunn (Verger Capital)

    Today, we're going in depth with Jim Dunn. Jim is the CEO and co-founder of Verger Capital, an OCIO focused on serving endowments and foundations. In this episode you’ll learn: Why endowments require a different investment mindset.Why overcoming failure can be one of the most valuable qualifications in a candidate.The benefits of building a high-touch business and how trust compounds over time.How your personal history shapes your professional purpose. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - What Sports Taught Him About Leadership 02:24 - Growing Up Working Class With No Roadmap 03:39 - The Moment He Stopped Coasting 05:35 - Finding His Way Into Institutional Investing 07:35 - The Endowment Mindset: Investing for the Next 40 Years 09:23 - Why He Looks For People Who Have Failed 11:26 - Creating a Culture Where People Can Take Risks 13:04 - Investing with a Mission, Not Just a Portfolio 16:13 - The Early Mistakes of Building a Business 21:02 - A CEO’s Job: Clear the Decks for Your Team 22:02 - Choosing Alpha over AUM 23:00 - The Future of Non-profit Investing 26:04 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions — Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter http://ethic.com/work Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic) Find out more about Jim and Verger (​​https://vergercapital.com/team/jim-dunn/) Connect with Jim on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-dunn-9070731/) The information presented should not be construed as investment advice or a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any security. The information does not constitute an offer to sell any product or service offered by Verger Capital.  Information presented in this episode is not intended to be an endorsement of Verger Capital or its investment management services.

    Investing for the Next 40 Years | Jim Dunn (Verger Capital)

  5. Sep 24

    The Overnight Success That Took 10 Years | Ian Fuller (Westfuller)

    Today, we're going in depth with Ian Fuller. Ian is the co-founder and CEO of Westfuller, an independent wealth management firm that manages and advises on over $3 billion for institutions and families that are seeking to align their capital with their mission.  In this episode you’ll learn: How to build a mission-aligned wealth management firm.The secret to great partnerships.How to attract and retain exceptional talent when you don’t yet have an established brand.What it really takes to build a company from zero, including the years of uncertainty that comes before an “overnight success.” Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:05 - From Art History to Finance 03:42 - Why Ian Walked Away from Goldman Sachs 06:44 - From Merrill Lynch to Founding Westfuller 09:47 - The First Iteration Blew Up 11:49 - How Do You Hire Great Talent Without a Big Brand? 14:26 - Can a Company Actually Live Its Values? 16:47 - The Evolution of Impact Investing 19:08 - Investing for Families vs. Institutions 23:08 - Why Most Partnerships Fail 24:43 - The Secret to a Great Partnership 26:20 - Finding an Underserved Market 32:55 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions — Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter https://www.ethic.com/work Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic) Find out more about Ian and Westfuller (​​https://westfulleradvisors.com/team/) Connect with Ian on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-s-fuller/)

    The Overnight Success That Took 10 Years | Ian Fuller (Westfuller)

  6. Sep 22

    Building Wealth Future Generations Are Proud Of | Morgan Simon (Candide Group)

    Today, we're going in depth with Morgan Simon. Morgan has over two decades of experience in investing to achieve values-alignment and systemic change. She is a founding partner of Candide Group, an impact investing advisory firm that serves families, foundations, and other institutions. In this episode you’ll learn: How investing can be used as a tool for systemic change.How to build teams around shared values and diverse perspectives.A powerful interview technique for discovering how candidates actually think and solve problems.Why the future of impact investing may be shaped by a new generation’s definition of wealth and legacy. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:18 - Lessons from 60 Countries and a Rockstar Dad 05:17 - Why Morgan Chose Finance to Drive Social Change 06:39 - The 19-Year-Old Who Took On Lockheed Martin 07:48 - Finding Gaps and Becoming an Entrepreneur 09:29 - How to Build a Community Around Shared Values 11:26 - The Interview Question that Reveals How People Think 13:34 - What Do Your Employees Need to Thrive? 16:06 - Can You Build a 100% Impact Portfolio? 19:26 - Why Impact Investing and Philanthropy Aren’t Enough 22:57 - The Evolution of Impact Investing 26:34 - How the Next Generation is Redefining Wealth 27:48 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions — Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter https://ethic.com/work Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic) Find out more about Morgan and Candide Group (​​https://www.candidegroup.com/team/morgansimon) Connect with Morgan on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-simon/)

    Building Wealth Future Generations Are Proud Of | Morgan Simon (Candide Group)

  7. Sep 15

    Why Investors Want One Trusted Voice | Michael Outlaw (Rockefeller Global Family Office)

    Today, we're going in depth with Michael Outlaw. Michael serves as the president of Rockefeller Global Family Office, guiding one of the industry's most iconic names into the future. In this episode you’ll learn: Why trust is becoming the most valuable currency in wealth management, and why clients increasingly want one voice they can rely onHow to recruit and build elite teamsHow technology and AI will change the advisor/client relationship Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:27 - The Brutal Lesson Golf Taught Him 03:54 - What Golf Teaches You About Resilience 06:50 - From Law School to Wealth Management 10:24 - The Client He Won By Mowing His Lawn 14:01 - How to Recruit and Build and Elite Team 19:05 - How Great Leaders Inspire People 21:30 - Why Clients Want One Trusted Voice 25:32 - How a Company Like Rockefeller Scales 28:50 - How AI Will Change Wealth Management 31:18 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions — Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter http://ethic.com/work Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic) Find out more about Michael and Rockefeller Global Family Office (​​https://www.rockco.com/bios/michael-outlaw/) Connect with Michael on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-w-outlaw-b13666120/)

    Why Investors Want One Trusted Voice | Michael Outlaw (Rockefeller Global Family Office)

  8. Sep 9

    How Do You Modernize a 100-Year-Old Firm? | John M. Dowd (Fiduciary Trust)

    Today, we're going in depth with John Dowd. John is the chairman and former CEO of Fiduciary Trust International, a global wealth management firm with over $113 billion in assets under management and administration. Have you ever wondered how to lead a traditional organization through disruption without losing its humanity or its principles? This episode is for you. In this episode you’ll learn: How John strategically modernized a 100-year-old firmHow to lead people through changeHow AI is already changing the client relationshipWhere wealth management is headed next Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:45 - John Dowd’s Secret Life as a Guitar Player 03:40 - Why Being a New Kid Can Make You a Better Leader 04:58 - What Churchill Taught Him About Leading People Through Change 07:15 - Why People Don’t Always Make Rational Decisions 09:43 - From Law to Wealth Management 12:38 - How to Get People to Embrace Change 16:06 - The Leadership Philosophy: Be Steady When Things Break 17:34 - The Time John Dowd Fired a Client 19:26 - What is the Purpose of Family Wealth? 21:31 - Why Great Leaders Avoid the “Superman Effect” 23:55 - Where Wealth Management is Headed Next 25:06 - How AI is Already Changing the Client Relationship 26:26 - Why Gen Z Thinks Google Can Manage Their Wealth 27:24 - “It’s Not Your Data. It’s Their Data.” 28:15 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions — Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter http://ethic.com/work Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic) Find out more about John and Fiduciary Trust International (​​https://www.fiduciarytrust.com/meet-our-team/our-profile/john-m-dowd) Connect with John on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-m-dowd-a2409935/)

    How Do You Modernize a 100-Year-Old Firm? | John M. Dowd (Fiduciary Trust)
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5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Work Ethic is an interview series that features candid, in-depth conversations with leaders shaping the future of wealth. Guests share not only the strategies behind their success, but the personal stories, leadership lessons, and hard decisions that shaped their paths. Join our host, Ethic CEO and Co-founder Doug Scott, and take an inside look at what it really takes to build and lead in today’s wealth management industry.

Information

  • Creator
    Ethic
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ethic Inc.
  • Show Website
    Work Ethic

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