Deacon Spotlight: Elliot Ivey

Elliot Ivey (2003, BA in Economics)

Private Equity Operations at Pathway Capital Management in Irvine, CA

Tell us about your current job role and employer. What are you currently working on?

I’m currently the Manager of Operations at Pathway Capital Management, a $85B AUM private equity firm. I lead a 9-person team responsible for strategic operations and technology integration across our portfolios.

Right now, I’m focused on scaling our operational infrastructure by implementing proprietary financial and treasury systems that streamline workflows, reduce manual effort, and enhance accuracy. A recent initiative saved the team hours of overtime per week by automating firmwide wire processing.

I also designed a centralized dashboard to increase transparency across the investment lifecycle and ensure compliance. My work directly supports the firm’s ability to scale efficiently while preserving operational excellence during periods of market disruption or rapid growth.

What key personal and/or career experiences led you to where you are today?

I’ve built my career around solving complex problems and leading teams through growth and transformation. Starting at firms like Lehman Brothers and Deutsche Bank, I developed a strong foundation in execution and attention to detail. But it was my time building out middle-office operations in Tokyo that really shaped my approach – working across cultures and time zones taught me how to lead with flexibility, empathy, and a focus on outcomes.

I’ve always gravitated toward roles where I can improve systems, collaborate with people, and create scalable solutions that make a meaningful impact. Whether I’m mentoring a team or aligning processes across departments, I strive to be a person who helps bring clarity to complexity.

Earning my MBA at USC Marshall has helped me step back and view challenges through a broader, more strategic lens. It’s given me the tools and perspective to lead not just within operations, but across the organization—connecting day-to-day execution with long-term growth.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job? How do you navigate that challenge?

The most challenging aspect of my job is leadership—specifically, inspiring people to take pride in the quality of their work while also motivating them to show up as strong teammates. Striking that balance isn’t easy. Everyone responds to different leadership styles, and what drives one person might not resonate with another.

I navigate that through adaptability. I try my best to be self-aware and make a conscious effort to understand what each individual needs to do their best work. Some thrive with trust and independence; others need more structure and consistent feedback. My goal is to create an environment where people feel ownership, value, and connection to the bigger picture.

What advice would you give to Wake Forest graduates about developing their personal life habits after college (finances, health, values, work/life balance)?

The best advice I can give is to focus on building achievable habits. Goals are important, but they’re just destinations. It’s your habits, the small, consistent choices you make every day, that will carry you from one goal to the next, and then beyond that. Whether it’s managing your finances, taking care of your health, or setting boundaries between work and life, start with realistic habits you can sustain. Master those, and everything else becomes more feasible.

Also, don’t forget to be present. It’s easy to chase the next milestone or look back with nostalgia, but life is happening right now. Make time to be grateful for where you are, who you’re with, and what you’re learning along the way. Those moments, not just the big wins, will define the life you build.

We know that relationships are important for any kind of development. How do you build and maintain your network?

For me, building and maintaining relationships isn’t just part of the job, it’s something I genuinely enjoy. Put me on a cross-country flight with a stranger, and I’ll either walk off with a new friend for life…or a very polite enemy. Either way, I can’t help myself because I love talking to people, swapping stories, and finding that random detail we have in common.

That instinct to find common ground has helped me build relationships that feel real, not transactional. Whether I meet someone in LA who went to school in North Carolina or spot a Wake Forest tie-in, I can always find a way to make it personal.

And I make an effort to stay in touch. Not because I’m networking, but because I care. I follow up, make introductions, and try to be someone who adds value. To me, a strong network isn’t about quantity, it’s about community. And that starts with showing up with curiosity, energy, and authenticity every time.

Tell us about your mentoring relationships. What impact have these relationships had on your career and life?

I haven’t formally been asked to mentor often, but whenever someone comes to me for advice or guidance, I’m all in. I genuinely love teaching, and I think sharing what we’ve learned, while still staying open to learning ourselves, is one of the most fulfilling parts of life.

I’m also a big believer that mentoring doesn’t have to follow a formal structure. Some of the most valuable mentorship I’ve received has come from unexpected places, especially from older people who have lived through things we can’t even imagine. I absolutely love hearing their stories. They’re full of wisdom, perspective, and humor, and they remind me to slow down and enjoy the moment. I think too often we dismiss the elderly, when really, they’re walking libraries of life experience.

Whether I’m offering advice to someone early in their career or learning from someone decades ahead of me, I see mentorship as a two-way street. It’s about connection, curiosity, and being generous with what we know. You may inadvertently change the trajectory of someone’s life for the better.

What advice would you give to current Wake Forest students and/or young alumni who are interested in working in your industry?

Explore the many corners of financial services before going all in. People often get caught up in buzzwords like “hedge fund” or “private equity,” without realizing how many roles exist behind the scenes. I’ve had plenty of conversations with folks surprised that my job has little to do with picking investments.

Finance has a wide range of paths—some analytical, others people-focused, creative, or operational. The key is finding what energizes you. Do you like leading? Doing things solo? Solving problems? Building relationships? There’s a role that sits at the intersection of your strengths and interests. Be patient and picky and don’t be afraid to pivot. I’m 45 and still figuring out what I want to be when I grow up.

What’s next for your career? What future goals or plans are you pursuing?

What’s next? I’m looking for a role where I can keep driving meaningful change while working with people, not just processes. I’ve led transformations, navigated bank shutdowns, and cleaned up more operational chaos than I’d care to admit.

I gravitate toward roles in investor relations, client strategy, or change management—anything where I can solve real problems, build strong relationships, and tell a good story or two along the way.

Story published in April 2025. For current updates about Elliot, visit his LinkedIn.