Masters in Business Building New Financial Products with BlackRock's Stephen Cohen
36 snips
Dec 12, 2025 
Stephen Cohen, BlackRock’s Chief Product Officer, dives into the evolution of investment products, highlighting the growth of ETFs and their global adoption. He shares insights on blending public and private markets, the launch of the Bitcoin ETF, and the operational hurdles of scaling private investments. Cohen discusses AI's emerging role in investment strategies and the importance of ongoing learning and product innovation. Tune in for valuable perspectives on navigating the future of finance and the intersection of traditional and digital assets.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Trading-Floor Moment Sparked Career
- Stephen Cohen first visited a trading floor on work experience and was captivated by the buzz and screens.
- That visit convinced him to pursue a markets career and apply to banks after university.
ETFs Redefined Performance Transparency
- ETFs forced the industry to show what performance actually delivered and lowered costs for investors.
- That transparency made blending indexing and active management a mainstream portfolio approach.
Teach Clients ETF Mechanics First
- Educate clients on how ETFs work and how to incorporate them into portfolios.
- Explain creations/redemptions and show how indexing can sit alongside active strategies.
