I had the pleasure of moderating Anthony’s talk with Penn alumni where he shared his inspiring journey, transforming from wall street banker and hedge fund manager to entrepreneur and educator.

I found his talk especially touching and impactful because Anthony has a very genuine and candid style of delivery that doesn’t try to sugar coat details. He wasn’t shy to talk about getting fired – matter of fact, he framed it as the perfect opportunity to deviate from the standard path and start his hedge fund.

Anthony connected well with his audience of ambitious mid-career bankers and investors because he understood the crossroads that most of them were facing – they’re unhappy and perhaps even disillusioned with the current path that everyone has always told them will be the lowest risk way to success. When comparing the risks between working an uninspiring corporate job vs starting a business, Anthony shared a piece of truly invaluable insight: no matter how well paid or prestigious a job, you’re always at risk of getting fired, so you might as well take your future into your own hands and bet on yourself.

A very close friend of mine in the audience told me that after hearing Anthony’s talk, he finally found the courage to accept that his current career path has been a mismatch with his life goals, and he’s ready to make a change. This takeaway wasn’t unique to just him; many left that talk realizing that the world is much bigger than what we’ve allowed ourselves to see, and we’re capable of much more than we give ourselves credit for.

Anthony has a unique perspective that is definitely worth sharing to a broader audience. There’s no shortage of anxious over-achievers that are feeling stuck on a seemingly never-ending hamster wheel. Whether they’re thinking about advancing in their current firm or industry, or pivoting to a completely different world, it’s worth hearing Anthony’s story, which I hope will help many find the courage to pursue their dreams.