In this second Best Of compilation, our team distilled the most powerful insights from 2025, and some from 2024—of Investing in Integrity. Spanning leadership, culture, and purpose-driven finance and investing, this special edition brings together defining moments from more than 40 conversations with some of the world’s most thoughtful executives, investors, and builders.

Rather than a simple highlight reel, this episode revisits key voices across multiple dimensions of leadership — reflecting how the same principles show up differently in how we lead, how we build culture, and how we deploy capital. Selecting these moments was no easy task, but each was chosen for its ability to inspire us to think more deeply our lives and our work. It’s divided into three sections:

Leadership That Transforms: We begin with reflections on leadership at its core — how leaders think, grow, and show up when stakes are high. Featuring Howard Marks, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Oaktree Capital Management; Bill George, former Board Director at Goldman Sachs, Executive Education Fellow at Harvard Business School, and author of True North; Doug Kimmelman, Senior Partner at ECP; and Steve Ellis, Co-Managing Partner of The Rise Fund at TPG, this section explores humility, self-awareness, conviction, and the evolving nature of values. Together, these insights illuminate what it truly means to lead with character in complex environments.

Culture, Purpose & Integrity: We shift into the essential work of shaping organizational culture through the experiences of Bei Ling, CHRO at Wells Fargo; Pamela Alexander, Head of Corporate Citizenship at KKR; and Howard Marks (returning), this section reveals how trust is built, how purpose is operationalized, and how integrity becomes a guiding force inside the world’s most influential institutions.

Finance as a Force for Good: Finally, we explore how leadership and culture translate into action — particularly in the world of finance. Featuring Steve Ellis (returning), Trae Stephens, General Partner at Founders Fund, and Greg Shell, Partner at Goldman Sachs, this closing section demonstrates how capital, when aligned with long-term thinking and human impact, can be a powerful force for good. These voices challenge us to move beyond profit alone toward outcomes that expand opportunity and strengthen communities.

In closing, Howard Marks shares a final reflection on generosity, underscoring the importance of giving back as a cornerstone of purposeful leadership.

Whether you're leading a team, shaping culture, entering finance, or striving to grow personally and professionally, this episode is designed to accelerate your development and deepen your sense of purpose.

This compilation isn’t just a highlight reel — it’s a blueprint.

A blueprint for leadership anchored in character.

A blueprint for careers aligned with purpose.

A blueprint for a financial system that lifts society up.

We’ve curated this episode to equip you with actionable insights you can carry into your work, your relationships, and your life.

In this episode of the Investing in Integrity podcast, Ross Overline, CEO and co-founder of Scholars of Finance, welcomes Jennifer James, Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Investor Relations & Marketing at Thoma Bravo, to uncover how one of the world’s largest software-focused private equity firms grew from $8B to over $180B in AUM while staying true to its core values. Jennifer shares how trust, transparency, and culture form the foundation of Thoma Bravo’s enduring success, from nurturing long-term LP relationships to leading through market volatility.

She reveals the firm’s people-first principles, including the “Four Eyes in the Room” approach to authentic connection, and how disciplined, values-driven leadership shapes lasting impact. Listeners gain actionable insights on scaling without losing integrity, building cohesive teams, and redefining work-life balance through seasons rather than perfection.

Meet Jennifer James:

Jennifer James is Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer, and Head of Investor Relations & Marketing at Thoma Bravo, based in San Francisco. With over two decades of experience in private equity and venture capital, she leads the firm’s global operations, investor relations, and industry communications programs. Recognised by The Wall Street Journal and San Francisco Business Times for her leadership in fundraising and influence, Jennifer previously held senior roles at Sofinnova Ventures and Alta Partners. She holds an MBA from Northwestern and an AB in History from Bowdoin College.

In this episode of the Investing in Integrity podcast, Ross Overline, CEO and co-founder of Scholars of Finance, welcomes Jonathan Weiss, former CEO of Corporate and Investment Bank at Wells Fargo, and former MD of JPMorgan Chase, to reflect on leadership, trust, and ethics across a 45-year career in finance. From his unlikely start as a romance languages major to leading a $20B business, Weiss shares lessons on building ethical cultures, leading through influence, and navigating shifting political and market dynamics.

He offers candid insights on rebuilding institutional trust, fostering transparency, and prioritizing customers’ best interests, not just avoiding harm. Listeners will learn how humility, emotional intelligence, and consistent values shape resilient leadership and sustainable success. Whether you’re early in your career or leading teams at scale, this conversation offers deep insights into balancing performance with integrity in today’s financial world.

Meet Jonathan Weiss:

Jonathan Weiss is the former CEO of Wells Fargo Corporate & Investment Banking, where he led a $20 billion revenue business before retiring in June 2025 after two decades with the firm. Over his 45-year career, he also headed Wells Fargo’s Wealth & Investment Management and Wells Fargo Securities divisions, following 25 years at J.P. Morgan and its predecessors. A Princeton graduate in Romance Languages, Weiss is recognised for his ethical leadership and service on boards including Youth I.N.C., the Lawrenceville School, and the National Humanities Center.