Leadership isn’t just about making decisions—it’s about listening deeply, building trust, and having the courage to grow through challenges.
In this episode, Carrie Hansen, President and COO of AssetMark, shares her remarkable journey from a field hockey scholarship at Berkeley to leading global operations, scaling teams, and shaping the culture of a $130B investment platform.
Carrie opens up about what it really means to lead with heart. She reflects on her early days navigating financial services, the pivotal leadership lessons she learned managing teams in Japan at 28, and how humility, discipline, and a deep belief in people have shaped her career. You’ll learn why failing fast is a strength, how to cultivate a high-performing team, and how authenticity builds lasting influence—no matter your title.
Key Takeaways:
- Why confidence must be balanced with humility to build trust and loyalty
- The mindset shift required to scale sustainably and bring people with you
- How leading by example creates strong culture and long-term success
- The power of showing up—early, organized, and with intention
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Highlights
The key moments in this episode are:
[00:00] Introduction to Beyond Barriers Podcast
[01:20] Carrie Hansen's Career Journey
[02:41] Early Career Challenges and Lessons
[06:04] Leadership and Team Building
[06:52] Navigating Cultural Differences in Japan
[13:33] Balancing Confidence and Humility
[17:27] Decision Making and Risk Taking
[22:36] Staying Ahead in the Financial Industry
[24:14] Staying Informed and Learning Continuously
[25:35] Balancing Work and Personal Life
[28:45] Leading by Example
[33:05] The Power of Community and Relationships
[37:47] Lightning Round and Final Thoughts -
Lightning Round
Q: What book has greatly influenced you?
A: Grit By Angela DuckworthQ: What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?
A: People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel - Maya AngelouQ: What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?
A: AuthenticQ: What is one change you've implemented that made your life better?
A: Get up early and get goingQ: What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?
A: Get the party started - P!nk -
Quotes
In Japan, I learned my idea shouldn’t be the first idea. I’d ask for collaboration, but once I shared my solution, that became the direction—even if it wasn’t the best one. I realized that letting others speak first built confidence in them and led to better outcomes. Since then, I’ve worked hard to lead with curiosity, not conclusions.
Carrie Hansen
Relationships are my superpower. I still have the same best friends since sixth grade, and the people at AssetMark mean the world to me. Our leadership team has been here a combined 200+ years. When you know your team has your back, it makes taking risks easier. That kind of trust—that’s the fuel for doing big things.
Carrie Hansen
Every one-on-one I have starts with the personal—then we get into work. I want to know people beyond the tasks they do. When people feel cared for, they show up in ways you can’t measure. It’s not about getting more hours—it’s about building a culture where people give their best because they know they matter.
Carrie Hansen
I grew up with my dad saying, ‘Show me a good loser, and I’ll show you a loser.’ So I want to be a winner. I think it takes a lot of grit. And I’m worried we’re losing it a little bit. You can do hard things.
Carrie Hansen
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About
Carrie Hansen
EVP, COO, President - Mutual FundsCarrie is responsible for leading the firm’s service and operations functions, including advisor service, trade operations, account operations, reporting, billing, and facilities, while also overseeing all custodial relationships. Carrie also serves as President and Chairman of the Board of AssetMark's proprietary mutual fund family. Carrie joined the firm in 2000 and has held various key roles including Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to joining AssetMark, Carrie worked for Barclays Global Investors where she headed the Investment Operations Group in the Tokyo, Japan office. She also spent several years at Coopers and Lybrand where she was an Audit Manager. Carrie received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley. She is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and holds her series 6 and 26 licenses.