Mike LaMena ’95 was always envious of his fellow Notre Dame students who knew what career they wanted to pursue from the start. He, like many, thought the ladder to success was a linear one.
But over time, LaMena discovered that career paths often have many loops and lateral steps.
LaMena, who majored in English, is now the chief executive officer of Wealthspire, an independent financial firm that serves clients across the wealth, institutional, and retirement markets. Collectively, the organization manages or advises on more than $580 billion in assets and is a dynamic leader in the independent wealth space.
Previously, he held positions as president and chief operating officer at Bronfman Rothschild, president and COO at HighTower, and executive director at Morgan Stanley.
Clearly, LaMena knows business, especially for someone who didn’t focus on business as an undergraduate. What was central to his success, though, was a passion for and skill in translation — connecting components together and synthesizing the best way to achieve people’s goals.
“When someone doesn’t know where to start, we listen,” LaMena said. “It’s not just technological and spreadsheets — advisors help their clients, whether that’s business owners or families, navigate life and learn how to make their life or business meaningful. Being a trusted advisor means we provide comfort and guidance.”
Finding his fit
During his time at Notre Dame, LaMena found himself envisioning multiple opportunities and perspectives, but eagerly pursued his interest in English.
He didn’t want to be a one-dimensional student, though. He had a work-study job and was involved with interhall sports and student government, serving as class treasurer.
As he thought about his future, he liked the idea of giving back and gravitated towards teaching. After graduation, he volunteered as a ninth-grade teacher in the Bronx for the Marist Brothers. He felt fortunate to have received financial support to attend Notre Dame and wanted to pay it forward in his community.
After his teaching stint, LaMena went to Wall Street, where he fell in love with financial planning. The experience was eye-opening as he discovered how financial advisors focused on helping clients achieve their goals and lead their most impactful and fulfilling lives, and LaMena wanted to integrate his stewardship mindset into his personal and professional life.
A Notre Dame classmate helped him interview with Morgan Stanley’s private wealth management group, and LaMena found the financial business to be surprisingly human. Although a large part of the job requires financial familiarity, other traits are also essential — including interpersonal and effective listening skills, which he honed through his liberal arts education.
“There’s a value in generalists in a world that’s increasingly specialized,” he said. “I know how to ask good questions, how to synthesize information from several sources, and my greatest impact is in connecting the dots.”
LaMena’s 14-year career with Morgan Stanley also pivoted at points, from a client-facing position to a more behind-the-scenes one in technology. In that role, he developed technological skills and was eventually asked to move to Asia to lead and build a new business and technology platform, which proved to be a period of extreme professional growth.
“It was basically a blank sheet of paper,” he said. “Being exposed to different cultures and working to build a business from the ground up was the first time I was given the space to envision and create a better model to serve clients. This period really helped me become comfortable taking bigger risks.”
Growing confidence
As LaMena’s career progressed, he became more comfortable with taking professional risks and recognized that growth occurs outside one’s comfort zone.
Although it didn’t happen overnight, LaMena attributes part of that ease to being fostered by the course Shakespeare in Performance, taught by Paul Rathburn, then-professor of English and founder of the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival.
“Life is a gift. Explore, follow your passions. Have a reflective mindset and follow that.”
In the class, students gained a deeper understanding of the words and meanings of the plays by performing scenes. The premise intrigued LaMena, but he doubted his skills and continuously asked himself, “Why am I doing this? I’m going to have to actually act out scenes.”
LaMena stuck with the course and became more comfortable speaking in public and performing. Eventually, he performed in several plays while at Notre Dame, and he still draws on those skills in his work today.
“As I gained confidence to be comfortable with public speaking, I realized that growth is its reward,” he said.
Through his Arts & Letters education, LaMena was pushed outside his comfort zone, and he recommends that move for others who might feel like their life or career is getting stale.
“Life is a gift. Explore, follow your passions,” he said. “Have a reflective mindset and follow that.”
Right time, right place
Ultimately, LaMena credits his study of the liberal arts for providing him with a well-rounded perspective and the skills to ask good questions, whether with clients or with team members. He encourages those entering the workforce to be like a sponge and “ask good questions.”
Those foundational translation skills he learned have come into play with his leadership roles, especially in bringing a “cohesiveness in building an effective team.”
“I realized I’m not going to be the smartest person in the room, but that’s OK. I have all these experts in all these subjects around me,” he said. “My job is to synthesize their knowledge. My role is around the breadth of knowledge, not depth.”
The road to success is not a linear path, LaMena said, and his success is due to his varied background. Today, he mentors individuals who are working toward their next promotion, striving to reach the next “rung on the ladder of success,” even if that step may feel unfamiliar or unusual.
“Notre Dame gave me an environment at a critical point where I could formulate and solidify some values that are not negotiable for me,” LaMena said. “A lot of people just focus on outcomes. Values matter, and the ends do not justify the means. We start with values as the foundation.”
In November, LaMena participated in the inaugural Notre Dame Wealth Management Symposium, sharing his passion for the industry and exposing students and young professionals to the meaningful and impactful careers it can provide for individuals from diverse educational backgrounds.
“At the end of the day, it’s not about having the most linear resume,” LaMena said. “It’s about curiosity, courage, and values. If you’re willing to ask good questions, take risks, and stay grounded in who you are, the path tends to reveal itself, and often in ways you never could have planned.”
