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Jul 2, 2022

I write about compassionate leadership. New!Follow this author to improve your content experience. Got it! Got it! Roberts and Ryan The TV show, Billions on Showtime is about characters who exemplify narcissism, consumption, and greed that can be associated with the wealth created on Wall Street. If Showtime were to make a show about Roberts and Ryan , a service-disabled veteran-owned broker-dealer, the network would have the opportunity to shine a bright light on patriotism, generosity, and compassionate leadership, instead. Recently, I had the privilege of meeting with two of their exuberant and heart-centered executives, Brian Rathjen, President, and Pete Clarke, Senior Director, to discuss the unique company culture and social mission. "Service" was at the core of everything we discussed, including providing high levels of return and high-touch support to the Fortune 1000 corporations, private equity firms and asset managers they support. At the same time, their team works exhaustively to give back to veterans and their families. Rathjen’s favorite five words are, “How can I help you?” which he attributes to his parents who were “givers”. Clarke comes from a military family and met Rathjen at the Naval Academy. The firm was founded with the noble purpose of creating a financial engine that could donate a large percentage of its profits to worthy veteran causes in the areas of mental health, wellness, and career transition. The firm donates more money to these not-for-profit partners than they pay out in bonuses, including the forst year when the compnay lost money. To date, they have donated over $1.5M and last year they gave away 25% of their profit. Rathjen and Clarke know the need for supporting our heroes can not be fulfilled by the government alone and want to encourage other leaders to step up and become creative about how they can help these notable families. They offer that being of service in this way is extremely rewarding personally and morale-boosting for their team. For example, The Roberts & Ryan and Robert Irvine Foundation partnership supplies US Veterans who lost their mobility in active duty with the IBOT wheelchair, produced by Mobius Mobility . Unlike other wheelchairs, the IBOT offers its user a multi-modal mobility experience, including all-terrain accessibility, an eye-to-eye view of others, and the ability to go up or down stairs. One of the recipients is completing Harvard Medical School and the IBOT will allow him to better practice medicine. Watch a heartwarming video showing another of the recipients learning that they are being gifted this life-changing technology from celebrity chef and philanthropist Robert Irvine: MORE FOR YOU