Insight certainty 4/5 debate potential 2/5

O'Leary: Professionals often mistake rapid honesty for bluntness

Shannon O'Leary · Shannon O'Leary – Relationship Capital Investing at St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation (EP.435) · Mar 10, 2025 · at 9:24

Shannon O'Leary, CIO of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, discusses how acute awareness of mortality shapes her direct communication style with investment managers.

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“I think that people mistake Rapid honesty with bluntness. And my goal in communication is let's not beat around the bush. We don't know what's going to happen next. We're planning for a long-term relationship with manager ABC. We're planning for these assets to be available to the community in perpetuity. But I'm going to tell you what information I need to convey to you or how I feel about it right now, because the present can be very, very short.”

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