Milken-adjacent Power100 aims to reclaim the finance DEI narrative

The Power100 gathering on the sidelines of the Milken Institute International Convention took on a unique tone this yr as its various leaders in finance attendees battle to reclaim the narrative about individuals of colour and ladies.

“We are attempting to point out the world what success seems like,” mentioned Jacob Walthour, co-founder of Power100 and founder and CEO of Blueprint Capital. “And over the course of the final yr, what success seems like has been redefined in a approach that has not been respectful and never truthful in regards to the contributions of girls and folks of colour.”

President Donald Trump, who campaigned on and speaks usually about rolling again variety, fairness and inclusion measures in each the federal authorities and the non-public sector, was not talked about on the convention, however the influence of his insurance policies have been clearly on the minds of attendees. In his first week again in workplace in 2025, Trump issued a collection of government orders focusing on DEI initiatives at federal businesses and private-sector companies.

The Power100 assembly — in its third yr — is hosted by Blueprint Capital Advisors in Beverly Hills, Calif., convening various leaders in different capital administration, a discipline predominantly led by white males.

In response to a 2025 Authorities Accountability Workplace report, minority- and women-owned corporations solely handle 1.4% of the roughly $82 trillion in belongings below administration within the U.S.

Shundrawn Thomas, founding father of the Copia Group funding agency attended for the primary time this yr, with the objective of constructing networks and alternatives to fight tendencies he sees as regarding.

“We have been via a interval the place there was an implication that capital and alternative was flowing to girls and folks of colour that weren’t certified,” he mentioned. “Sadly, whereas these arguments are happening, we have seen a dramatic decline within the quantity of capital going to rising and various managers.”

“Superman isn’t coming,” he mentioned. “We have to be the brokers of change.”

Walthour mentioned he thinks the top of DEI is one in all two macro tendencies affecting the choice capital administration discipline, together with the start of what many consider will probably be an AI revolution.

The Power100 has modified dramatically because it was began in 2024 by Walthour, Robert F. Smith of Vista Fairness Companions, Ken Kencel of Churchill Asset Administration and several other different leaders in finance. 

From the start, the occasion was positioned to be adjoining to the Milken Institute International Convention to supply networking and entry to agency and leaders that might not afford the registration payment that begins at $25,000 this yr.

The Power100 occasion has since grown into its personal vacation spot with networking occasions, panels and a dinner this yr that featured discussions with David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chairman of the Carlyle Group and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Harris addressed the theme of reclaiming the narrative on the Power100 dinner.

“An underlying assumption is that everybody has equal capability to compete, and that’s simply not the case,” she mentioned. “So the work that we’ve to do, make the promise if you’ll, of capitalism is to deal with disparities that exist and have elevated over a time frame.”

Walthour estimates this yr’s gathering, which ended Monday, included representatives from corporations with the power to allocate roughly $24 trillion, up from greater than $15 trillion in 2025.

“Capital ought to all the time circulate to the very best stewards, the very best concepts, the very best improvements and the individuals who can execute on enterprise plans, Walthour mentioned. “What we regularly hear is ‘I’d make investments with girls and folks of colour, however I do not know the place to search out them.’ We have raised their visibility.”

Roger Ferguson, former Federal Reserve vice chair and 2026 Power100 honoree, sees bettering capital flows as an pressing situation for the broader financial system.

“If we do not get capital within the arms of parents with the very best concepts, no matter what they appear to be, no matter their gender, good concepts will sit on the aspect and the financial system cannot develop,” he mentioned.

Jasmine Richards, head of various supervisor investing at Cambridge Associates and a 2026 honoree, mentioned being within the room supplies wanted entry.

“That is a particularly curated room, the place you possibly can really get collectively and luxuriate in one another different, however you may also get collectively and be purposeful,” Richards mentioned. “Not solely are you able to construct relationships however get offers executed. There’s not many alternatives like that.”

This yr, there has additionally been a higher emphasis on inviting and together with smaller corporations and youthful contributors with the objective of making ready them for alternatives of the long run.

“We have got to speed up their progress to transferring to key seats and transferring to alternative,” Thomas mentioned.

Austin Clements, founding father of enterprise capital agency Slauson & Co. that was based in 2020 mentioned it is important for rising funds and managers to get entry to the connections and conversations at Power100.

“We’re all the time making an attempt to usher in new voices, youthful voices, individuals which can be in tune with what the following wave of innovation, communications know-how is all about,” Clements mentioned. “These are going to be the individuals which can be going to guide us and make the best investments of the long run. That is simply the best way it’s, that is the best way it’s going to all the time be.”