Ryan Stever built a career across the Federal Reserve, Acadian Asset Management, Citadel, and Aperio before landing at Intech Asset Management, where he's spent years as Chief Investment Officer rebuilding the firm's investment team. In this conversation, he walks through the moves that felt right and the ones that didn't, and the mentor who redirected his path early on when he wasn't sure where he was headed. Ryan talks candidly about the difference between a role that looks good on paper and one that actually fits, the "something's off" feeling that told him when to leave, and why a team's emotional state matters as much as its output. He also gets into how he makes fast calls with imperfect information, what he's learned about mentoring others, and the book he's writing about the trade-off between personal growth and the sense of security people need to take real risks. Trusting the right mentor at the right moment can redirect an entire career, even when it doesn't feel pivotal at the timeA role that's prestigious on paper isn't always the best fit, and that "something's off" feeling is worth listening toBuilding a team that lasts means tuning into people's emotional needs, not just their outputStaying open to what's out there, even when settled, is a useful check on whether you're still supported and growingFast decisions made with imperfect information tend to beat slow ones made with full agreement Ryan Stever, Chief Investment Officer at Intech Asset ManagementLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-stever-896b0735/ If this one resonated, subscribe to Pivotal for more conversations about the moments that changed the direction of someone's career. I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. Maureen and the Pivotal podcast team Connect with Maureen on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureen-fitzgerald-3494a888/ Visit the Movere website here:https://www.themovere.com Listen to Pivotal on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EwDrbfJNwR6iuWCO5ImiVApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gen-gap/id1832947907Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/858936e1-c8ca-4b2d-b054-d3837c70eea3/the-gen-gap #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #business #podcast #podcastshow #talent #retaintalent #newepisode #success #executivecoaching #leadershipdevelopment #womensleadership #organizationalleadership #salesmanagement #assetmanagement #seniorleadership #emergingleaders #newhires #nextgeneration #affinitygroups #genz #millennials Pivotal with Maureen Fitzgerald is a podcast that brings together the most influential voices in asset management and investment banking, CEOs, COOs, and Heads of Distribution with the authority to shape the direction of their firms. In each episode, we unpack how these senior leaders are redefining talent, culture, and leadership during a time of generational transition, AI disruption, and the rise of personal brand dominance. Through candid conversations, we explore how these leaders are building resilient, future-ready firms. Tune in to our episodes and like and subscribe so you don't miss out on any content!