From the Trading Desk to Treasury: Alex Doane on Leading with Curiosity

Episode notes

What happens when a curious kid glued to CNBC grows up to run treasury strategy at one of the nation’s top insurance companies? In this episode, Alex Doane of Lincoln Financial shares how a career that began on a trading desk evolved into leading cash management and bank partnerships across a highly complex financial ecosystem. From navigating leadership transitions to simplifying cash stories across dozens of legal entities, Alex opens up about how curiosity, storytelling, and strategic communication shape his day-to-day - and why empowering his team to struggle through tough questions is one of his favorite parts of the job. Curiosity is the real power skill: Whether you’re managing $50 or $50 million, intellectual curiosity - paired with the drive to find answers - is what sets standout finance professionals apart. Managing up and across is just as strategic as managing down: Building internal credibility and strong banking relationships both require empathy, clear communication, and understanding what motivates your stakeholders.

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