The Ramp Up

A podcast by Octaura

What does it take to ramp up a market? How do you migrate an idea into a thriving business? The Ramp Up podcast tells the inspiring stories of thought leaders, founders and experts in financial services and technology. 

 

Zeroing in on the leveraged loan and structured credit markets, your host Brian Bejile brings a unique perspective to the conversation, backed by the extensive experience gained while running trading desks at Citi and leading fast-growing fintech Octaura as CEO.

 

Come for inspiration. Stay to learn how you can ramp up your next big thing.

Brett Jefferson Episode - Website Tile

Brett Jefferson

On refusing to fail

This month, Brett Jefferson, Founder and Co-Chief Investment Officer at Hildene Capital Management, joins your host Brian Bejile, CEO of Octaura, on The Ramp Up. Brett has charted an impressive career by looking at things differently. From the early days of navigating his education and passion for lacrosse at Syracuse University to landing on Wall Street and teaching himself the world of structured credit, Brett's refusal to fail and his focus on innovation has led Hildene to become a multi -award winning asset manager, and there's a lot more on the horizon for the firm.

 

About Brett

 

Mr. Jefferson is the Founder and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Hildene Capital Management, an asset management firm specializing in structured finance investments. Mr. Jefferson oversees all firm investment decisions and strategies. With over 25 years of combined experience in the structured finance market and the option arbitrage industry, Mr. Jefferson led Hildene to the Wall Street Journal (formerly Barron’s) Top 100 Annual Hedge Funds list for a seven-consecutive year period.

 

Prior to founding Hildene, Mr. Jefferson was a Senior Portfolio Manager of the Marathon Structured Finance Fund, which had no down months during his tenure. Prior to Marathon, he worked in the Structured Credit Products groups at Salomon Smith Barney and Chase Securities.

 

Mr. Jefferson graduated with a BA from Syracuse University and an MBA from J.L. Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Mr. Jefferson serves on the board of SILAC Insurance Company. Additionally, Mr. Jefferson is very active in the community. He is a member of the board of directors of the Tewaaraton Foundation, which annually awards the Tewaaraton Trophy to the best college lacrosse player in the nation; as well as a board member of the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). In 2023, Mr. Jefferson was awarded the Syracuse University Letterwinner of Distinction in recognition of his success after graduation and his mark on the athletics program.


Andy Gordon Episode - Blog Post

Episode 3: Andy Gordon on being intellectually curious

Andy Gordon, co-founder, former CEO, and current Executive Chair of the Board of Managers at Octagon Credit joins Brian Bejile on The Ramp Up. Andy has had an illustrious career on Wall Street. From being one of the first analysts on the leveraged buyout desk at Manufacturers Hanover Trust to successfully spinning out Octagon – he did all of this while finding opportunity through two recessions and building a business that champions diversity and inclusion.  

 

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Tom Majewski Episode - Hubspot Blog Post

Episode 2: Thomas Majewski on doing things differently

Thomas Majewski, Founder and Managing Partner at Eagle Point Credit joins your host Brian Bejile, CEO of Octaura on The Ramp Up. Tom has been at the center of some of the most impactful innovations in the CLO market. On this episode, we cover a wide spectrum – including how Tom executed one of the earliest known CLO equity trades and what led him to start one of the first CLO equity funds.

 

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Scott McKay - The Ramp Up

Episode 1: Scott McKay on being "the guy"

What do you say when someone asks you if you want to “be the guy?” On this month’s episode of The Ramp Up, Scott McKay, Head of Blue Owl Liquid Credit, fills us in on what he said next and shares why long-lasting relationships and perseverance were key to his career thus far. 

 

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