Remembering Ben

I am not a genius. Not even close. I was not the brightest in the class. But I managed pretty good grades and got through both college and graduate school. I never considered myself pedigree until Ben Seiver told me in his email a couple of months before he died.  He was a boss that believed in me when I was not sure what I could become.  He lent a hand when I was about to be fired from GE Edison from the AIG acquisition.  For that, I was forever grateful.  I remember I met up with Ben about half a year before his death.  I was in New York City, and we were able to meet up for lunch.  We had a long good talk.  My heart was heavy, I knew he was not well until the moment we parted, and we hugged each other.  Then, I felt Ben was skin and bones.  I knew there was not a lot of time left for Ben.  My next visit to New York City would not be till another year.  I knew when I waved goodbye to Ben outside the restaurant; it was not farewell.

Ben has always believed in me.  He told me one day. I would be a good investment officer.  Unlike him, I never did see myself having the authoritative quality.  Ben was one of the most brilliant chief investment officers that I have worked under.  He was also the first MBA graduate that AIG's Hank Greenberg ever hired.  I looked up to him, and I did not mind being in his shadows.  For reasons I did not know, he gave me a chance to work for him.  That changed my career and my life.  Fast forward 18 years, I am at the peak of my career as a chief investment officer.  From time to time, I still remember my days working for Ben.  Now I am in Ben's shoes; I know how tough his job was.  I  feel the burden he had to deal with.

We went through some difficult times together as a team during the Great Financial Crisis.  If there is anything I learned from Ben was that he taught me to be patient and humble.  Do not overreact.  Just stay calm and look at the situation before making a decision.  Most of all, listen to people.  There are always good answers if your mind is clear—a calm mind filters out the wrong ideas.  In the near twenty years since Ben passed away, his voice, hug, and email to me still linger on vividly in mind.  There is a part of me.  Ben's style will always be a part of me.   

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