Navigating Unexpected Obstacles
A Career Discussion Exclusively for Toigo Alums!
Join us for a conversation on how to navigate the job market during these uncertain times.
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Whether you are re-entering the market after years away; navigating an unforeseen career gap; addressing a recent job loss; or experiencing organizational changes that adversely impacts your role and responsibilities, this session will feature Toigo alum who will provide an opportunity for you to hear new perspectives and strategies to take advantage of the talent market.
Wednesday, March 5 | 4 PM PST; 7 PM EST
Session Speakers
Moderator

Adebola Osakwe
CEO & Executive Coach, Osakwe Consulting | Toigo Career Coach
Leveraging two decades of experience in Human Resources focused on Recruiting, Learning and Development and Diversity and Inclusion, Adebola Osakwe is an expert around recruiting, developing, promoting and retaining talent. Having worked across sectors in Investment Banking, Private Equity and Hedge Funds, she has been successful at creating global strategies, driving outcomes and building sustained efforts that have positively impacted the human capital function and the bottom line.​ Mostly recently, as the Global Head of Talent and Diversity and Inclusion, Adebola led Millennium Management’s talent management and diversity efforts, focusing on enhancing their recruiting efforts, establishing and executing their learning and development strategy, and building their diversity and inclusion initiatives. Prior to Millennium, as the Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at KKR, she built and developed their diversity and inclusion strategy and advised portfolio companies.  She worked closely with her learning and development colleagues to ensure a diversity and inclusion lens was integrated into the performance management, engagement, promotion, and succession planning processes.  She began her career in the finance industry at Morgan Stanley, where she held roles in recruiting and diversity and inclusion and advanced engagement, development, and retention across the firm.  She started her career as an Admissions counselor at Barnard College and then subsequently moved to New York University.
Panelists

Ivelisse Rodriguez Simon
Managing Director, Avante Capital Partners | Harvard, 2004
Ivelisse Rodriguez Simon is a Managing Partner of Avante Capital Partners. Based in Los Angeles, Ms. Simon is responsible for identifying, executing and managing investment opportunities. She currently manages the fund’s portfolio and new deal activities. Ms. Simon joined Avante in 2009 as a founding member of the firm. Ms. Simon has over two decades of middle-market debt and equity investment experience. Prior to Avante, she held positions at Palladium Equity Partners, Reliant Equity Partners and various investment banks including Salomon Brothers. Ms. Simon serves on the board of several companies including Quest, LLC. Ivelisse is a longtime advocate and champion for women, minorities and the underserved and underrepresented. She holds leadership roles in several local and national non-profit organizations, including The Robert Toigo Foundation, The Hispanic Scholarship Foundation and Westside Family Health Center in Los Angeles. In addition, Ivelisse and her two sisters launched a philanthropic organization called We Will to support and empower underserved women and minorities in the areas of healthcare, education and financial literacy.

Sháka Rasheed
General Partner, Open Opportunity Fund | Harvard, 2001
Sháka Rasheed is a distinguished leader at the intersection of finance and technology who serves as General Partner at Open Opportunity Fund, where he leads Capital Development and Portfolio Value Creation, while also serving on the Investment Committee. Open Opportunity Fund is a technology venture capital firm focused on investing in software companies founded by outstanding diverse founders. Before joining Open Opportunity Fund, Sháka’s career included nearly half a decade of leadership stints within SaaS technology companies and over 25 years on Wall Street. In technology, he served as Senior Vice President of Strategic Banking & Wealth Management at Salesforce, where he scaled a billion-dollar sales organization and managed complex enterprise transactions. Prior to that, he was Managing Director and General Manager at Microsoft, leading digital transformation initiatives across global financial institutions and serving as an Advisor for M12, Microsoft’s Venture Capital Fund. His leadership helped fintechs, investment banks, asset managers, payment companies, exchanges, and regulators modernize through technology-driven solutions. Sháka also brings expertise from his tenure at top-tier financial services firms, including Bridgewater Associates, Citadel, Lazard, and JPMorgan Chase. Across these experiences, he successfully engaged the largest, most sophisticated institutional investors worldwide and realized billions of dollars in fundraising success. His deep industry acumen spans investment banking, debt & equity capital markets, asset & wealth management, and alternative investments, including hedge funds and private equity.

Angie Solomon
Founder & CEO, A. Solomon Recruits & Growth Academy
Angela Solomon is a visionary leader and workforce transformation expert with over 25 years of experience in staffing, coaching, and professional development. As the founder and CEO of A. Solomon Recruits & Growth Academy, she has built a nationally recognized brand known for its innovative approach to inclusive staffing, leadership development, and career empowerment. Born in the Bronx and raised in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Angela’s journey was shaped by her parents—a public schoolteacher in Brownsville, Brooklyn, and an accountant—who instilled in her the values of education, resilience, and community. These values fuel her mission to foster inclusion and create opportunity. Angela’s approach is rooted in empathy and understanding, making a lasting impact one placement at a time, one individual at a time, helping both people and organizations thrive.
Recordings
Navigating Unexpected Obstacles​
Live Session: March 5, 2025
