About the Talk:

What more can finance professionals do with AI? Join Sarah Friar, CFO of OpenAI, and Jagdeep Singh Bachher, Chief Investment Officer and Senior Vice President of Investments at the University of California, for a fireside chat about how AI can augment human skills in finance. The conversation will focus on why UC invested in AI, how finance professionals can use AI to take on more complex work, and why strategic thinking and analysis are becoming increasingly important.

About the Speakers:

Sarah Friar, Chief Financial Officer @ OpenAI

Sarah Friar is the CFO of OpenAI, overseeing financial strategy and operations. Previously, she was CEO of Nextdoor from December 2018 to May 2024, where she took the company public and tripled its user base. Before Nextdoor, Sarah was CFO at Square, leading its IPO and increasing its market capitalization by $30 billion. She also held senior roles at Salesforce, Goldman Sachs, and McKinsey. Sarah serves on the boards of Walmart, Consensys, as well as the Stanford Board of Trustees, and several advisory boards. She co-founded Ladies Who Launch, and earned degrees from Oxford and Stanford. She holds an OBE for services to entrepreneurship.

Jagdeep Singh Bachher, Chief Investment Officer @ University of California

Dr. Jagdeep Singh Bachher is the University of California’s Chief Investment Officer. He is responsible for managing over $210 billion, which includes the UC endowment,pension and retirement savings, and working capital. Bachher has been a champion for change in the investment industry and gained an international reputation as an innovator. In his role as Chief Investment Officer, he created a collaborative culture known as The UC Investments Way that is embodied by 10 pillars that guide investment decision-making for the benefit of university stakeholders and the broader UC community. Before joining the UC system, Bachher was an executive vice president of venture and innovation for one of Canada’s sovereign wealth funds, Alberta Investment Management Corp. (AIMCo). He also served as the corporation’s Deputy Chief Investment Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to his position at AIMCo, Bachher served as president at JH Investments LLC and worked in the U.S. wealth management, Canadian, and investments divisions of Manulife Financial. Bachher received his Ph.D. and Master’s degrees in management sciences and B.A.Sc.degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Waterloo. Bachher currently serves as the University of Waterloo’s 12th Chancellor, a ceremonial role.