FICTIONAL STORY | Meet Maya Chen, who started as a summer analyst and now leads our ESG investment strategy team
Maya Chen remembers exactly where she was sitting during her Xponance internship interview in the summer of 2010—a conference room overlooking Walnut Street in Philadelphia, nervous but determined, armed with a resume that showed promise but little practical experience in investment management.
“I was a junior at Wharton, interested in finance but unsure if I’d find a place in the industry that aligned with my values,” Maya recalls. “My parents had immigrated from Taiwan when I was five, and I’d grown up watching them work multiple jobs to build a better life. I wanted to work in finance, but I also wanted to do something meaningful.”
Fifteen years later, Maya sits in that same building—now as Managing Director and Head of ESG Investment Strategy, leading a team of twelve professionals managing over $3 billion in environmentally and socially conscious investment strategies. Her journey from uncertain intern to senior leader embodies Xponance’s commitment to developing talent, embracing diverse perspectives, and proving that career growth stems from opportunity, mentorship, and perseverance.
Summer 2010: The Beginning
Maya’s path to Xponance was neither obvious nor straightforward. As an undergraduate studying economics and environmental studies, she found herself at the intersection of two worlds that rarely spoke to each other.
“Wall Street and sustainability felt like opposites,” she explains. “But I believed capital markets could be a force for positive change—I just didn’t know how to bridge that gap.”
Her professor, aware of Xponance’s reputation for championing diverse managers and unconventional thinking, suggested she apply for the firm’s summer analyst program. At the time, Xponance (then still operating as FIS Group) was a $5 billion firm known for identifying emerging managers and taking risks on unconventional talent.
The interview was conducted by McCullough Williams III, then President and COO, and Sumali Sanyal, a senior portfolio manager. Rather than grilling her on technical finance questions, they asked about her perspective on global sustainability trends and how she thought about risk.
“They wanted to understand how I thought, not just what I knew,” Maya remembers. “McCullough asked me: ‘If you could invest in solving one global problem, what would it be and why?’ That question told me this wasn’t a typical firm.”
Maya spent that summer analyzing emerging market managers, learning portfolio construction, and discovering that finance could indeed be purposeful. By August, she had a full-time offer.
2011-2015: Foundations and Mentorship
Maya joined Xponance full-time after graduation in 2011, starting as an analyst on the global equity multi-manager team. The timing was fortuitous—the firm was expanding rapidly, and junior team members were given significant responsibility.
“I was terrified and exhilarated,” she admits. “At 22, I was conducting manager due diligence calls with portfolio managers who had decades of experience. But Xponance’s culture was ‘we hired you because we believe in you, so we’re going to trust you.'”
Her mentor during these formative years was Sumali Sanyal, who became not just a professional guide but a model for how to lead with both conviction and empathy.
“Sumali taught me that being a successful investor requires intellectual humility,” Maya explains. “You have to have strong views but hold them loosely. You have to listen more than you talk. And you have to be willing to admit when you’re wrong. Those lessons shaped everything that came after.”
Maya’s analytical rigor quickly became apparent. She developed a reputation for thorough manager research and for identifying subtle signals in portfolio construction that others missed. By 2013, she was promoted to Senior Analyst, leading due diligence on international equity managers.
But it was a chance assignment in 2014 that changed her career trajectory.
2014: The ESG Awakening
A large pension fund client inquired about incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into their portfolio without sacrificing returns. At the time, ESG investing was still considered niche—often dismissed as “values-based” investing that prioritized ideology over performance.
Maya was asked to research the landscape and prepare a recommendation. What she discovered surprised her.
“The data was clear: companies with strong ESG practices had better risk management, more sustainable business models, and often generated alpha over time,” she recalls. “It wasn’t about sacrificing returns—it was about better understanding risk and opportunity.”
Her 60-page research report caught the attention of CEO Tina Byles Williams, who saw both the analysis and the analyst’s potential. Tina called Maya into her office.
“She said, ‘You’ve made a compelling case. Now I want you to build it,'” Maya remembers. “I was 25 years old, and she was asking me to develop an entirely new investment strategy for the firm.”
2015-2018: Building the ESG Platform
With Tina’s backing, Maya spent the next three years building Xponance’s ESG investment capabilities from the ground up. It was unglamorous work—developing screening methodologies, identifying specialized ESG managers, educating clients, and overcoming skepticism from both colleagues and the broader industry.
“There were moments I doubted myself,” Maya admits. “ESG was still seen as a nice-to-have, not a must-have. But Tina kept pushing me: ‘You’re not wrong about this. Stay the course.'”
The breakthrough came in 2017 when Xponance launched its first dedicated ESG multi-manager strategy. Maya, now an Associate Portfolio Manager, led the manager selection and portfolio construction. The strategy allocated to nine emerging ESG-focused managers, blending quantitative ESG integration with thematic investments in clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, and social impact.
The results validated her thesis. In its first full year, the ESG strategy outperformed its benchmark by 180 basis points while maintaining comparable volatility. Client interest surged.
“That performance gave us credibility,” Maya reflects. “We proved you could ‘do well by doing good’—but the real insight was deeper: ESG factors are material risk factors that many investors ignore. We weren’t sacrificing returns; we were finding alpha in more complete risk analysis.”
By 2018, the ESG platform had grown to $800 million, and Maya was promoted to Portfolio Manager.
2018-2021: Leadership and the Pandemic Challenge
As Xponance underwent its transformation—acquiring Piedmont Investment Advisors and rebranding in 2020—Maya’s role expanded. She was now managing client relationships, supervising analysts, and representing the firm at industry conferences.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented an unexpected test. As markets collapsed in March 2020, ESG-focused portfolios were scrutinized: Would these strategies hold up in crisis?
“It was the ultimate stress test,” Maya recalls. “But our ESG managers actually performed better during the downturn. Companies with strong governance, employee practices, and supply chain resilience navigated the crisis more effectively.”
The ESG portfolio declined 18% during the first quarter crash, compared to 20% for the broader market, and recovered faster. By year-end 2020, the strategy had outperformed by 320 basis points.
That performance, combined with accelerating institutional interest in ESG, led to explosive growth. The strategy reached $1.5 billion by the end of 2020.
In recognition of her leadership, Maya was promoted to Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of ESG Strategy in early 2021, overseeing the entire ESG platform.
2022-Present: Managing Director and Industry Leader
In 2022, at age 33, Maya was promoted to Managing Director—one of the youngest in Xponance’s history. She now leads a team of twelve investment professionals managing over $3 billion in ESG strategies across equities, fixed income, and alternatives.
“The team I lead now is larger than the entire firm was when I started,” she marvels. “But what makes me proudest isn’t the assets or the title—it’s the team we’ve built.”
Maya has prioritized hiring diverse talent and creating pathways for professionals who might not have traditional backgrounds. Her team includes former environmental engineers, nonprofit executives, and data scientists alongside traditional finance professionals.
“I remember what it felt like to be unsure if I belonged,” she explains. “I want everyone on my team to know they belong because of their unique perspective, not in spite of it.”
The Mentorship Cycle
True to Xponance’s culture, Maya has become the mentor she once needed. She oversees the firm’s summer analyst program, personally interviews candidates, and makes it a point to meet monthly with junior team members.
“Sumali invested in me when I was nobody,” Maya says simply. “Now it’s my turn to invest in others.”
One of her mentees, James Morrison, started as an intern in 2020 and is now a Senior Analyst on the ESG team. “Maya doesn’t just teach you about investing,” James notes. “She teaches you about leadership, about having the courage to challenge assumptions, and about making sure your work matters beyond quarterly returns.”
Reflections: 15 Years of Growth
When asked what’s made her journey possible, Maya points to three factors: opportunity, mentorship, and organizational culture.
“Xponance gave me opportunities I hadn’t earned yet—that summer internship, the ESG research project, the platform-building mandate,” she reflects. “They bet on potential, not just credentials. That’s rare.”
The mentorship from leaders like Tina, McCullough, and Sumali provided both guidance and permission to think differently. “They showed me that you could be rigorous and values-driven, successful and purposeful.”
But most importantly, Xponance’s culture—employee-owned, mission-focused, diversity-championed—created the environment where someone like Maya could thrive.
“I’ve been recruited by larger firms offering bigger titles and more money,” she acknowledges. “But I stay because I believe in what we’re building. This firm proved that a young woman with an unconventional background could lead. Now I get to help prove it for others.”
Looking Forward: The Next 15 Years
As Xponance celebrates its 30th anniversary, Maya is focused on the future. ESG investing has evolved from niche to mainstream, and she’s positioning the platform for continued growth and innovation.
“The next frontier is integration—not having separate ‘ESG strategies’ but having ESG considerations embedded in all investment decision-making,” she envisions. “We’re also expanding into climate transition investing, social impact bonds, and diversity-focused GP stakes in private markets.”
She’s also passionate about using her platform to advocate for broader industry change. Maya serves on the CFA Institute’s ESG Investment Committee and speaks regularly at industry conferences about sustainable investing and diversity in asset management.
“My parents worked so hard to give me opportunities they never had,” Maya reflects. “I want to honor that by creating opportunities for others. That’s what Xponance did for me, and that’s what I hope to do for the next generation.”
Maya’s Journey by the Numbers:
- 15 years from intern to Managing Director
- $3B+ in ESG assets under management
- 12 team members led
- 320bps average annual outperformance since inception
- 9 industry speaking engagements annually
- 25+ mentees through the summer analyst program
“Your career isn’t linear—it’s cumulative. Every experience, every mentor, every failure builds toward something. The key is finding an organization that sees your potential before you fully see it yourself.” —Maya Chen
