CEO Jacob Walser, Courtney Gibson, and Kamala Harris, the 49th Vice President of the United States, speak at the 2026 Power 100 Winners Dinner held at the Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California on May 3, 2026.
Arnold Turner Getty Images
The Power 100 gathering, held on the sidelines of the Milken Institute World Congress, took on a different tone this year as diverse leaders in the financial industry fought to reclaim the narrative around people of color and women as participants.
“We’re trying to show the world what success looks like,” said Jacob Walther, co-founder of Power100 and founder and CEO of Blueprint Capital. “And throughout the past year, what success means has been redefined in ways that don’t honor the contributions of women and people of color and are contrary to truth.”
Although President Donald Trump, a frequent advocate and vocal advocate of rolling back diversity, equity and inclusion policies in both the federal government and the private sector, was not mentioned at the conference, the impact of his policies was clearly on the minds of attendees. In his first week as president in 2025, President Trump issued a series of executive orders targeting DEI efforts in federal agencies and private companies.
Now in its third year, the Power 100 conference is hosted by Blueprint Capital Advisors in Beverly Hills, Calif., and brings together diverse leaders in the predominantly white, male-led field of alternative capital management.
According to a 2025 Government Accountability Office report, only 1.4% of the approximately $82 trillion in assets under management in the United States are owned by minority and women-owned businesses.
Schundren Thomas, founder of investment firm Copia Group, participated for the first time this year, aiming to build networks and opportunities to counter trends he considers worrying.
“We have been through a period where there was an implication that money and opportunities were going to underqualified women and people of color,” he said. “Unfortunately, while these discussions are taking place, we are seeing a dramatic decline in the amount of capital flowing to emerging and diverse managers.”
“Superman isn’t coming,” he said. “We need to be agents of change.”
Walsaw said he believes the end of DEI is one of two macro trends impacting the alternative capital management space, along with the beginning of what many believe to be the AI revolution.
The Power100 has changed dramatically since it was founded in 2024 by Walsaw, Robert F. Smith of Vista Equity Partners, Ken Kensel of Churchill Asset Management, and several other leaders in the financial world.
From the beginning, the event was positioned adjacent to the Milken Institute Global Conference to provide networking and access for companies and leaders who cannot afford registration fees, which start at $25,000 this year.
Since then, Power100 events have grown into a destination of their own, including networking events, panels, and this year’s dinner featuring a discussion with David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group, and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris brought up the theme of reclaiming the narrative at the Power 100 dinner.
“The underlying assumption is that everyone has the ability to compete equally, and the reality is that’s not the case,” she says. “So the job we have to do, which capitalism promises, is to address the inequalities that exist and have grown over a period of time.”
CEO Jacob Walther speaks at the 2026 Power 100 Winners Dinner held at the Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Wilshire on May 3, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California.
Arnold Turner Getty Images
Walsaw estimates that this year’s gathering, which ended Monday, included representatives from companies capable of allocating about $24 trillion, up from more than $15 trillion in 2025.
“Capital should always flow to the best stewards, the best ideas, the best innovations, and the people who can execute on the business plan. What we often hear is, ‘We want to invest in women and people of color, but we don’t know where to find them,'” Walsaw said. We raised their awareness. ”
Roger Ferguson, former Federal Reserve Vice Chairman and 2026 Power 100 honoree, believes improving the flow of capital is urgent for the entire economy.
“If capital is not in the hands of the people with the best ideas, regardless of their appearance or gender, good ideas will be sidelined and the economy will not grow,” he said.
Jasmine Richards, Head of Diversity Manager Investments at Cambridge Associates and 2026 recipient, said being in the room gives her the access she needs.
“This is a very curated room where you can actually come together and enjoy each other’s company, but you can also come together and be purposeful,” Richards said. “Not only are you building relationships, you’re also closing deals. Opportunities like this don’t come around very often.”
Small investment companies and young asset management companies
This year, there is also a focus on inviting and engaging small businesses and young participants, with the aim of preparing them for future opportunities.
“We have to accelerate their progress toward moving to important seats and moving to opportunity,” Thomas said.
Austin Clements, founder of venture capital firm Slauson & Company, founded in 2020, said access to Power 100 connections and conversations is essential for emerging funds and managers.
“We’re always trying to bring in new voices, young voices, people who are in tune with the next wave of innovation, communications technology,” Clements said. “They will be the people who will lead us and make our biggest investments in the future. That is what is and always will be.”
