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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
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“Shall We Talk About the Jets”

Mohamed El-Erian was floated for Fed No. 2 in the fall. Exactly. A Jets fan for the No. 2 “most powerful person in the country?” OK, much has changed since the Volcker/Greenspan era, but still—a Jets fan? A loser? Well even an inveterate Giants lifer concedes Jets fans are mostly cool, other than Gate D crew. So it’s cool that one of the most prominent economists, money managers of this generation, one of ours here in OC, prominently roots for the Namath-cursed Jets and could become more prominent. I’m still riding the longshot. In our hour-long interview, Peter J. and I heard no denials (see headline), and the chief economic adviser at Allianz is as sanguine on this economy—and the economy’s commander in chief?—as a dismal scientist gets. Loves the tax cut, promise of a boost from an infrastructure bill. What flattening yield curve? And as you know or will learn from Peter J’s page 1 story, Mr. E. is quite the influencer on Sosh. Hmmm. Who else fancies himself an influencer?

“Think like a man, act like a woman, work like a dog …” Odd week for Mary Ann Brown, very-recently ex-Pacific Life EVP, Insurance Hall of Famer and 2018 Business Journal honorable mention businessperson of the year. This week, she didn’t go to work, first time in 52 years, as she likes to say, “I haven’t worked more than full time.” In the go-go ’80s in go-go Manhattan, Brown used her valuation skills overtime, a consultant at Tillinghast-Towers Perrin—“Our office worked on new insurance innovation—worked M&A—you get a call, and you’re gonna work 24/7 for weeks … and it was exciting.” And as a boss, a lady boss in a man’s profession, she gave as well as she gave of herself. “Asked … no, told my people to cancel vacations … paid vacations. All the time.” In the ’70s, ’80s Brown was a trailblazer. Canada Life put its first female actuary on the cover of its magazine: “I looked forward to when it’s commonplace … and now I’m ending my career, and that’s the case.” At PacLife there are more female interns than male. Along the climb, she never got comfy … “Become proficient in one area, change and start something else … get out of your comfort zone—later in your career you’ll be able to view all aspects of a company.” In the middle? “Do what you can to help others, mentor—don’t be afraid to hire better than you.” 40 years in she’d punched her ticket to Shangri-La. “Always heard Pacific Life was one of the best companies—never dreamed of working for them.” She leaves on top, helping Jim Morris remake the 150-year-old firm…. put The Whale into reinsurance, now one of its most profitable segments. Brown regrets some of the sacrifice, the long, long hours. But it was noticed, along with her talent and her stand-up character. “When I was retiring, it was great to hear all the nice things people said.” Now golf? “Not a golfer. I’ll try to be.”

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