Meet The CEO Behind This $90 Million Plan Expanding HBCUs In Private Finance

Marcus Shaw, CEO of Alt Finance, discusses the importance of investing for wealth building and his organization's mission to diversify the private investment space by creating a talent pipeline from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). He emphasizes that in America, working alone isn't enough to achieve wealth; investing must be a core strategy. Alt Finance, a nonprofit founded in 2021 with a 10-year, $90 million commitment from partners like Apollo, Ares, and Oaktree, aims to introduce HBCU students to private equity, private credit, and venture capital. Shaw highlights the evolving landscape of finance, particularly the impact of Artificial Intelligence. He believes AI will augment human productivity rather than replace jobs, creating new opportunities for those who learn to leverage it. Alt Finance prepares students to use AI as a tool from their freshman year, ensuring they are equipped for the future of the industry. Reflecting on his own investment philosophy, Shaw prefers buying assets on sale, viewing market volatility as an opportunity. His portfolio includes technology infrastructure plays, venture deals, and real estate. He strongly advocates for buying real estate early, sharing his personal experience of buying a home shortly after college, living in it, and then renting it out, which provided a foundation for wealth building. To explain his work to third graders, Shaw uses simple analogies, focusing on concepts like ownership, utility, and how businesses make money. He likens his role at Alt Finance to helping individuals understand and participate in the capitalist system, which is fueled by capital and investment. He stresses that understanding how investments drive businesses, campaigns, and educational institutions is crucial for young people who aspire to be decision-makers and influencers. Alt Finance's apprenticeship program provides industry-driven education, mentorship, and access to industry players for HBCU students. In its first five years, the program has seen over 250 participants go on to work at major investment firms. The organization supports academic institutions with capacity building and provides co-curricular education to prepare students for roles in alternative investments. Shaw notes a significant increase in student interest and awareness of alternative investments since Alt Finance's inception, with subsequent cohorts showing even greater engagement and preparation than the first. Addressing the current climate of DEI rollbacks, Shaw emphasizes Alt Finance's focus on talent. He draws an analogy to the NBA, where diverse talent from around the world has led to increased competitiveness and MVP recognition, rather than a specific DEI focus. Similarly, Alt Finance identifies and develops talent at HBCUs, believing these institutions are capable of producing exceptional professionals for the finance industry. As a nonprofit CEO, Shaw views his role as maximizing stakeholder value, which includes funders, students, and universities. He is driven by the challenge of meeting the diverse needs of these stakeholders and aligning their objectives with Alt Finance's mission. His leadership style, influenced by a coaching background, emphasizes direct communication, "hard coaching," and being present with his team and partners through challenges. Shaw's biggest positive surprise has been proving the thesis that great talent exists at HBCUs and can be successfully integrated into the financial services industry. He cites feedback from esteemed presidents who acknowledge that Alt Finance has validated this concept. Conversely, his biggest negative surprise, or rather what keeps him up at night, is the realization that not all students who enter the program will ultimately choose to pursue careers in finance. However, he views this not as a failure but as an opportunity for these students to gain valuable understanding of the industry, which can benefit them and society in other capacities, much like the broader impact of Teach for America. Reflecting on his background, Shaw grew up in Maryland, experiencing the vibrant culture of the D.C. area. His father's Navy service and subsequent Ph.D. in psychology, along with his mother's career as a schoolteacher, instilled in him values of respect, intelligence, and toughness. He believes the world of finance, like the military, can expose individuals from diverse backgrounds to new opportunities and broaden their perspectives. His own educational journey, with degrees from Morehouse, Georgia Tech, and Duke, underscores his intellectual curiosity. Shaw shares a humorous anecdote about his time as a field goal kicker at Morehouse, where he famously missed a game-winning field goal. He learned from this failure the lesson that "you really don't lose until you quit," which continues to fuel his drive for purposeful contributions. When asked about investing $10,000, Shaw would focus on infrastructure plays, particularly modernization of the U.S. electrical grid and other critical infrastructure. He believes investing in physical and human capital is essential for America's aspirational population. Shaw identifies his superpower as being a good reader of people, drawing parallels to Professor X's ability to understand and guide others. He enjoys using AI tools like Claude and Perplexity, noting their rapid advancements. His biggest money management advice is to ask for advice rather than money, as this fosters engagement and investment from others. He believes that people are naturally inclined to cheer for others and that bringing them into your narrative is key to gaining support. Comparing a good apprenticeship program to a great one, Shaw emphasizes the importance of "hard coaching"—investing in individuals beyond technical skills to develop leadership, resilience, and the ability to navigate disappointment. Such programs, he argues, create more committed and effective professionals who can drive better outcomes and returns in the investment world.