Speakers
Dr Matthew Faulkner , CFA
Eugene Hsieh , CAIA
Dominic Bilotti , CFA, CFP
University Career Conference
Choosing the right financial credential is a critical step in your professional journey. In this session, you'll hear from designation holders and educators who will break down the CFA Program and other leading designations such as CFP, CAIA, and FRM. Learn how each path aligns with specific finance careers and which may be right for your goals, timeline, and interests.
Dr. Matthew Faulkner is a finance professor in the Department of Accounting and Finance at the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business at San José State University. His research interests intersect corporate finance and behavioral finance to understand why and how companies and management make decisions. His private consulting work is in valuation. Dr. Faulkner imparts knowledge to both undergraduate and graduate students in corporate finance and business valuation.
In addition to his academics, he is a CFA charterholder, CFA Institute volunteer, a Trustee for the City of San José pension fund, serves as a FINRA arbitrator, and a volunteer coach with First Tee. Dr. Faulkner holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from UNC-Wilmington, an MBA in international finance and investments from the University of Valencia, Spain, and UNCW, and a doctoral degree from Florida Atlantic University.
Eugene Hsieh is the Director of Capital Raising and Client Relations at EQT Group, Americas Private Wealth covering the Western Region. Eugene Hsieh, CAIA® serves as a consultant to RIAs, family offices, private banks, and other private wealth intermediaries on the subject of private markets and alternative investments.
Prior to joining EQT in 2022, Eugene spent 12 years in similar roles during his time at Victory Capital Management, Natixis Investment Managers and Putnam Investments. Eugene is a CAIA San Francisco Chapter Executive Committee Member and has previously volunteered as a CAIA exam grader. He is also a Board Member of the Seattle Alternative Investment Association and an ERG Steering Committee member for the Association of Asian American Investment Managers.
He graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a degree in Economics.
2025 - 2026 CFA Society San Francisco MPAC Co-Chair
Mr. Bilotti is a Director for Apollo Global Management. Previously, he served as a Vice President and Regional Consultant for SPDR ETFs for State Street Global Advisors in the Bay Area, consulting on strategies relating to business development, capital market insights and potential product solutions.
Prior to joining SSGA, Mr. Bilotti spent time at both Vanguard and T. Rowe Price, mainly in distribution roles, as well as participating in a company-sponsored leadership rotational program.
Mr. Bilotti holds a bachelor's degree in finance from San Diego State University and is a Bay Area native. He holds the CFA designation, is an active member of CFA Society San Francisco and is Co-Chair of the Member Programming Advisory Council. He also holds a CFP designation along with Series 7 and 63 licenses with FINRA.
2025 - 2026 CFA Society San Francisco MPAC Co-Chair
At BlackRock, Sheng Xu leads AMRS regional network connections and previously co-chaired BlackRock’s Global VP network, delivering over 100 events and interviewing more than 10 senior executives. She collaborates with senior leadership to drive strategic initiatives for the firm’s investment and trading platform.
Ms. Xu has also held various roles across data, analytics, product, and client relationships, and also played a key role in establishing networks across Latin America and Asia Pacific. Ms. Xu is a passionate advocate for Web3, and has over seven years of experience in the blockchain sector. She also serves on the Advisory Board of Lair East Labs, a top 100 startup accelerator worldwide per Crunchbase.
Ms. Xu co-chairs the CFA Society San Francisco Member Programming Advisory Council. She holds a BS in Applied Physics from China, an MBA, and an MS in Finance from Drexel University. Outside of work, she is a PADI professional diver who enjoys traveling and exploring the underwater world.
:
imsheng