#66 - The Executive Secrets to Leadership & Effective Risk Management: Bradford Hu (Executive Vice President & Chief Risk Officer @ State Street)

In this episode of Investing In Integrity, Ross Overline speaks with Bradford Hu, the Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer at State Street. With almost 40 years of experience, Bradford is an international leader in financial services, risk management, and financial regulation.

Bradford previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Citigroup before becoming the Chief Risk Officer of State Street. His curiosity and love for learning have helped define his career. 

Bradford’s role at State Street involves mitigating risk while encouraging growth and innovation within State Street. Bradford is a believer in taking intelligent risks and emphasizes the need for a principles-based approach to risk management. He encourages open and honest conversations with business leaders to align on risk appetite and set boundaries.

The current landscape of risks includes the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, the upcoming US presidential election, the end of historically low interest rates, and cybersecurity. Bradford shares his insights on the importance of understanding vulnerabilities and developing alternative action plans to ensure operational and financial resilience.

Effective risk management requires strong leadership that curates a culture of risk awareness and accountability. Leadership is crucial in effectively implementing risk management strategies and integrating them within the organization. Bradford highlights elements leaders should be aware of such as: setting the tone at the top, establishing an appetite for risk, investing and promoting education in risk, and encouraging collaboration and communication. An open dialogue facilitates timely risk identification and resolution.