Brad Coleman ‘82 Shares Career Insights with Students as Executive in Residence

By Siobhan Treacy

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 19, 2025) —  Massry School of Business alum Brad Coleman, currently a partner at alternative asset manager, SLR Capital Partners after a 32-year career in investment banking at Salomon Brothers/Citi, shared his experience and expertise in finance with current students, as Massry’s Executive in Residence. Brad recently visited a class and fielded questions about his professional journey and the lessons he learned through numerous financial cycles and market fluctuations. He also discussed how students should prepare for a career in banking and finance.

How Accounting Shaped His Career

Before entering investment banking, Brad built a foundation in accounting and finance, which he says is critical to success in business. "I tell everybody who asks, if they don't know what they want to major in, study accounting and finance. Accounting is the language of business, and it is helpful to know how to speak that language. You don't have to be an expert, but you should understand how to read and interpret balance sheets, income and cash flow statements.

Evolving Perspective on Wall Street

Students asked Brad how his view of the financial services industry has shifted over his 30-year career. "Wall Street is a much different place than when I started,” he said. “When I started, there were a hundred firms, and most were small partnerships, many were specialized and regionally focused. Today, Wall Street has massively consolidated and most firms are large, extremely diversified and global. Private equity firms were just getting started, now many are globally diversified alternative asset managers. One thing you can be certain of - things will change, and you must stay nimble throughout your career.”

Brad also reflected on how the outlook of new associates has changed, “When I came out of business school, everybody wanted to be a mortgage trader, then a few years later join an internet startup, then a few years later everybody wanted to work at a hedge fund. Today the hot topic is artificial intelligence and how it impacts all industries and professions. I am certain that it will be something else in five or 10 years. I can also pretty much guarantee you that nothing will look the same through your career, especially given the rapid change technology is bringing to every industry, including finance.”

The Future of Investment Banking

When asked how he believes artificial intelligence (AI) will change investment banking, Brad said, “When I was a young accountant, then a young associate in investment banking, there was little computing power, no internet and no cell phones. Technology has made this job different and a lot easier from a processing perspective for junior people. But in some ways, technology has also made the industry more demanding for junior people because now everyone wants and expects things instantly. AI also has the potential and in some ways is already making certain tasks and processes even easier to accomplish, but the more efficient it becomes, the more demanding people can be.”

Brad also made an important point about using AI, “You don’t ever want to be accused of advising investors based on what “AI is telling you to do”. AI can be used as a useful research tool, given the wealth of information it can quickly sort through. You can then use that information as part of your decision-making process. Technology is constantly changing the world, certain professions and how we all work daily.”

Work-Life Balance in a Demanding Industry

Brad was candid when asked about balancing personal and professional life, “Work-life balance is a lot more important today, and it should be. You're expected to work hard, but the years of working 20 hours a day are over. There has been a lot of push back—and with good reason. You must keep work-life balance in mind because you only have one life to live. It's not a dress rehearsal. You want to be successful, but you don't want your whole life to be about work.”

When it comes to working from home, Brad was open, “I think work from home is a not a great thing for young people in the financial services industry, because it is an apprentice business. I remember the camaraderie and friendships I developed in the trenches throughout my career. You don't get that by sitting at home in front of a screen. You're not learning from senior people with experience, or from your peers, and you're certainly not building social and professional networks. So, I encourage you to show up to the office and be willing to learn, be visible. The one caveat, if none of the senior people you hope to learn from are ever showing up to the office—you might want to find another firm to work for.”

What Would You Tell Your College Self?

When a student asked what advice Brad would give his younger self, he said, “Chaos often breeds opportunity. In your career, you will face challenges and experience failures. I've lived through many market gyrations, from recessions to financial crises to COVID. You must try to stay calm and keep your wits about you. When it feels like the world's coming to an end, it usually isn't. It's also often never as bad as it seems and it's never as great as it seems. It’s those who stay calm and find the right balance during these highs and lows that find the greatest degree of opportunity and often success. Also, try to not make decisions based on pure emotion (might be fear or greed, for example) and don't make decisions based on what the news is in the last 10 minutes. Finally, try to take advantage of the opportunities that such ‘chaos’ may bring.”

Brad recalled a moment when he took advantage of a challenging situation. “As a young associate at Salomon Brothers in the early ’90s, we had a recession and a major scandal at the firm resulting in many senior people leaving. So, here I was, a young associate, suddenly tasked with doing things I never dreamed I could handle and accomplish so early in my career. Leadership threw me into the open water, and it was a sink or swim moment. I luckily swam and survived and had a lot of fun doing it.”

Closing Thoughts

Brad’s discussion was inspiring and practical, offering students a potential roadmap for navigating the competitive world of finance. His journey — from a UAlbany graduate to running a global franchise at Citi, to becoming a partner at two alternative asset managers and serving on a public co board— is a testament to the power of hard work, continuous learning, strategic career moves, good mentorship and of course a bit of good luck.

His message was clear for business students in the room: "The world is your oyster. There is an incredible amount of opportunity out there, but nothing that is true today may be true tomorrow. Especially for your generation, because the world is moving so quickly. Stay flexible, stay informed, stay relevant.”