Gabriel Castro Email & Phone Number

San Diego, California, United States

New York, New York, United States

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Promoted from phone banking volunteer to South Philadelphia’s leadership team for the #BackToBluePA and Biden for President campaigns due to my professional and entrepreneurial experiences in the Greater Philadelphia area.Organized, engaged, and inspired hundreds of voters in the greater Philadelphia area through a grass-roots and data-driven campaign from August through Election Day 2020. Led numerous virtual phone banks, in-person canvassing and election day operations for South Philadelphia. Our team was ultimately recognized by the campaign for driving >30K more votes than the 2016 election with fewer people and resources than other sections of the state. Selected by the Democratic National Party to participate in Georgia’s two run-off elections this in early January due to these efforts. Successfully campaigned for both Senators Reverend Warnock and Jon Ossoff to be elected into Senate.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Virtually supported Biden for President campaign through multiple phone banking sessions. Previously canvassed for Bloomberg 2020 primary campaign in South Philadelphia.

Malvern, Pennsylvania, United States

Developed Vanguard’s software-as-a-service strategy to transform legacy IT stack around cloud-based applications. Designed and consulted with >15 executives within SaaS companies to deliver a three-year transformation blueprint.Co-managed the due diligence process to bolster Vanguard’s $400B financial intermediary business by aligning a top four consultancy to Vanguard internal business partners (e.g., Legal, IT, Marketing, and Sales).Standardized communication across all stakeholders (including consultants) to increase velocity of decision making in a rapidly consolidating market. Led weekly senior management meetings and was often sought after for expertise at a junior level.Recruited as leader of Financial Advisor Services “Innovation Leadership Team” and tasked with increasing our division’s ability to use lean business and human-centered design problem solving skills.

Malvern, Pennsylvania

Joined Vanguard’s highly competitive, first generation corporate innovation firm trained in human-centered design, agile methodology, and software development to create Vanguard’s next generation of client experiences, services, and products. Co-created two pivotal products as a lead business strategist with a team of UX designers and developers; 1) designed, market-sized, and developed software enabling children and parents to better learn about financial literacy and 2) led market research and corporate strategy to understand investors’ desire for highly customized portfolios using direct indexing technology.Intense focus delivering both “proof of concepts” by collaborating in pod structures to market size opportunities, design the front-end user experience, and develop “blueprints” that my team and I pitched to Vanguard’s board of directors and C-Suite.Led numerous design thinking and agile methodology workshops for Vanguard employees and Philadelphia’s start-up community in my role as a change catalyst to promote the use of these business methodologies.Led, designed, and executed market research studies to validate components of our proof-of-concepts at various stages of development to meet stage gate requirements set by senior staff.

Malvern, Pennsylvania, United States

Developed a five year human capital development plan for Vanguard's high net worth division to better address the needs of their clients. Created a group of subject matter experts within the organization to systematically change the division's procedures and policies from the ground up.

Malvern, Pennsylvania, United States

Led Vanguard’s team of junior corporate governance analysts in proxy voting and engaging with the C-Suite executives and directors (~13,000 portfolio companies at the time).Doubled as a senior analyst through two proxy seasons by analyzing public company filings (e.g., DEF-14’s, 10K’s, 10Q’s) in preparation lead engagements with portfolio companies ahead of proxy votes (most notably Trian Management vs. DuPont, among many others). Recognized by Vanguard Senior Staff for leadership, analytical ability, and having a “player-coach” mentality necessary to evolve Vanguard’s proxy voting operation during a time of public scrutiny. Led numerous efforts to improve my team’s analytical abilities and efficiency. Examples include the development of a re-training program on corporate governance philosophy, an equitable manner of dividing “contentious voters” (i.e., contested mergers, proxy fights, etc.), and key performance indicators to hold all team members accountable regardless of seniority. Dually managed Vanguard’s class action litigation function returning >$10B to owner of Vanguard funds by proactively identifying class action lawsuits within our portfolio companies and partnering with internal and external counsel to litigate. Developed Vanguard’s first recommendation to “opt-out” of a class action lawsuit against an international oil company returning ~ $2B to Vanguard funds. Managed Vanguard’s proxy voting operations including setting up new funds for voting (e.g., Vanguard funds, SMA’s), maintaining relationships with external vendors (i.e. ISS, Broadridge, Glass-Lewis), and working with senior analysts digitize Vanguard’s proxy voting process.

Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

A 15-month rotational program that emphasizes leadership, upstanding client service, lean business, and investment analysis. I held the following roles throughout the program:Project Administrator in Flagship Services (Client Experience Office)Developed a mathematical model that measured our division's investment in human capital and helps senior leadership make informed decisions on hiring. Researched the competitive landscape for money market fund alternatives and their viability for our company. Investment Analyst in Portfolio Review DepartmentAssumed analyst responsibilities for Vanguard's Windsor Fund ($17B in AuM) which included performance / attribution analysis of the fund's portfolio managers and communication of this analysis to our CEO and Senior Staff. Conducted oversight meetings with prospective portfolio managers in the domestic and international value space to understand their investment strategies and potential fit to the Vanguard. Supervisor in Personal Advisor ServicesCo-led a team of crew members responsible for implementing personalized investment portfolios for our high net-worth clients. Developed and conducted training programs for large numbers of newly on-boarded members in a rapidly growing division of Vanguard.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Established a private LLC that uses a portion of revenue generated from DJing to help small businesses, creatives, and non-profits in Philadelphia.I also leverage my experiences across finance, design, and data analytics to coach business partners in improving their entrepreneurial and personal outcomes (at no cost). Raised >$3K to support creatives, live music venues, restaurants, barbershops and other struggling small business at the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic. Raised >$1.5K to eliminate the stigma of homelessness by supporting Pheed Philadelphia in first annual “Hands Up” festival. Coalesced Philadelphia’s top DJ’s, artists, and personally performed at the event.Efforts mentioned above allowed me to partner exclusively with the Philadelphia Eagles, Damari Seville, Joan Shepp, and other small businesses in the greater Philadelphia area to raise >$250K for Big Brothers Big Sisters North East region.

Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

Expanded Mebane Faber's research in "A Quantitative Approach To Asset Allocation" and it's possible application to the Juniata College Endowment.Co-Authored “Can You Beat the Market? A Further Test of Faber’s Tactical Asset Allocation Strategy”Chosen to present research at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research in March of 2012Chosen to present research on Capitol Hill (74 selected out of 850 college students that applied)Presented research to Juniata College's Board of Trustees Investment Committee. The researched strategy is in the process of review for inclusion by the Investment Committee.

Communicated with and provide information to prospective students about Juniata CollegeProvided tours of the college for visiting students and their parents for many eventsManaged data entry and inventory of publications for the Prospective Student Specialist

Managed and analyzed a $100,000 student managed portfolio.Learned about Modern Portfolio Theory, asset classes, financial vehicles and principles of investing.Enacted strategies to regain over 80% of the losses incurred during the 2008 crisis Gained a Teacher’s Assistant position for the highest level finance class in our curriculum because of this position

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Worked on H.R. related projects with a team of interns and I.R.S employees from across the countryHad weekly networking sessions with senior personnel at the I.R.S and other government agenciesGained experience of work in a federal agency and a bureaucratic organizational structure

Finance, Economics

Activities and Societies: Tau Pi Phi National Business Honorary Juniata College Honor SocietyPresentations and Research 2011 - "Can You.

International Business (Study-Abroad Experience)