Skip to content

Michael Chen headshotMichael Chen, MBA 2003, is a senior managing director and head of capital raising for GEM Realty Capital. His primary responsibility is to develop and execute GEM’s capital raising strategy and serve as a liaison with the investor community. He also serves on the investment committee where he is involved in setting firm-wide investment strategy.

Prior to joining GEM, Chen was a managing director and global head of capital markets at Madison International Realty, where he oversaw global capital raising and investor relations, and served on the investment and risk committees of the firm.

He served as co-head of the capital markets group at the Paramount Group and as an executive director in J.P. Morgan’s real estate investment banking Group, working in both New York and London. He held various positions with Marriott International and Crestline Capital. Chen serves on the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Board. He is an active member of various global real estate organizations and serves on the membership committee of the Pension Real Estate Association.

He received his MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler and his BA from the University of Michigan.

Kristina Chapple headshotKristina Chapple, BA 2022, is a venture investor turned founder; she is currently building an online platform that helps people develop and execute a personal philanthropy strategy as a way of tackling the loneliness epidemic.

Previously, Kristina was a General Partner at 11 Tribes Ventures, an early-stage venture fund that pioneered founder resilience investing. As the firm’s first hire, she scaled 11 Tribes from its inaugural $11M fund through its $46M Fund II, leading investments in companies such as Alloy Market, LegalKarma, GoNanas, and Circadian Risk. In the VC industry, Kristina is known for asking thoughtful and empathetic questions that challenge conventional approaches to diligence and post-investment support.

Her work has been recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 in Venture Capital and Chicago Innovation’s 25 Under 25. Kristina graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Morehead-Cain Scholar.

Brian Manczak headshotBrian Manczak, MBA 2003, is a senior managing director, portfolio manager and head of insurance solutions at PPM America, Inc. (PPM). He is responsible for overseeing the management of Jackson National Life Insurance Company’s general account and is responsible for asset allocation, capital management, risk management and the evaluation of new asset classes for the general account. Previously, he was an investment grade corporate bond portfolio manager and a senior member of PPM’s investment grade private credit team. Prior to joining PPM in 2008, Brian worked in the investment banking department at Lehman Brothers and began his career at Arthur Andersen. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Miami University (Ohio). He is a CFA® charterholder.

 

Cindy Tsai Carden headshotCindy Tsai Carden, MBA 2016, has over 15 years experience in strategy, marketing, and strategic initiatives in the financial services industry.

Her experience includes leading and managing program launches, defining and delivering product roadmaps and customer journeys, marketing and communications strategy, and executing cross-functional projects in the digital space.

Cindy received her B.A. from Dartmouth College and MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two mini dachshunds.