Student group hosts Blackstone professionals at Distinguished Speaker Series event

Future Business Leaders of America recently held its third Distinguished Speakers Series event at Rutgers Business School, featuring four senior professionals from Blackstone.

Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager known for its work in real estate, credit, private equity, and hedge fund solutions. Future Business Leaders of America welcomed Anthony Marone, chief financial officer of the Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust and Blackstone Mortgage Trust; Kathleen Hogan, the firm’s chief internal auditor; Robert Wallace, a managing director working in the Real Estate Debt Strategies Group; and Zeke Pariser, a vice president working in the Hedge Fund Solutions Group.

The panelists discussed how they came into their current role, what their day-to-day responsibilities look like, their personal leadership growth, and rising trends in the industry. John Longo, a distinguished professor of professional practice from Rutgers Business School’s Finance & Economics Department, moderated the discussion before a crowd of 70 students. After the discussion, attendees were able to ask questions.

“It was a privilege to host a group of highly notable individuals from Blackstone who play an integral role at the firm from a very high-level,” said chapter President Michael Shalonov.

The Future Business Leaders of America kicked off the spring Distinguished Speakers Series by hosting Paul Parseghian, the COO of PGIM Fixed Income. A second event featured Brian Fagen, head of Cash Equities at BNP Paribas.

About Rutgers Future Business Leaders of America

Rutgers Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is a professional development organization belonging to the Rutgers Business School in New Brunswick. The organization empowers students in their early career process by hosting workshops, speaker series, and formal networking events. With a particular focus on leadership in business, Future Business Leaders of America strives to build exposure to high-ranking industry leaders while working with students to grow into responsible leaders.

- Michael Shalonov