SPEAKERS:
Moderator: Deborah Eades, CFA
Deborah Bielicke Eades is Co-Chair of the Women’s Network Advisory Group of the CFA Society Chicago and a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the CFA Society Chicago. Debby has been a shareholder in the Investment Services Group of Vedder Price P.C. since 1999. Prior to joining Vedder Price P.C., Ms. Eades served as in house counsel at Janus Capital (now known as Janus Henderson). Ms. Eades has over 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry representing closed-end funds, open-end funds, and asset management firms with a particular focus on complex fund and adviser transactions, product development and design, and regulatory and compliance matters. Ms. Eades is a CFA and has earned the Certificate in ESG Investing.
Kimberly A. Flynn, CFA
Kimberly Flynn, CFA is a founder and President of XA Investments where she is responsible for all product and business development activities. XA Investments has a proprietary closed-end platform and a consulting practice to assist clients with developing US and UK registered closed-end funds. Previously, Kim was Senior Vice President and Head of Product Development for Nuveen Investments’ Global Structured Products Group. Kim received her MBA degree from Harvard University and her BBA in Finance and Business Economics, summa cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame in 1999. Kim earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society of Chicago. Kim serves on the Notre Dame Wall Street leadership committee. She also serves as chair of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Women’s Board 2025 Symphony gala. She is an active member of the Harvard Club of New York City and the University Club of Chicago where she serves on the Finance Committee.
Shana Sissel, CAIA
Renowned as "The Queen of Alternatives," Shana Sissel is the founder and CEO of Banríon Capital Management, empowering independent financial advisors with innovative alternative investment solutions. With over 25 years of industry experience, she is a recognized leader in asset and wealth management.
Her career includes senior roles at Ariel Investments, Orion Advisor Solutions, Fidelity Investments, Mercer, and Spotlight Asset Group, where she managed a $500 million covered call portfolio and developed the firm’s alternative investment platform. Since 2007, she has been focused primarily on alternative investments, as both an allocator for both institutional clients and wealth managers. Her passion lies in helping advisors grow their businesses through the innovative use of alternative investment strategies and technology.
A trusted industry thought leader, Shana frequently appears on CNBC, Bloomberg, and Fox Business. She holds a BS from UMass Amherst, an MBA from Bentley University, and the CAIA designation. Named a Top 20 WealthTech CEO in 2025 and a Rising Star by RIA Intel in 2023, she continues to influence the industry through her leadership, speaking engagements, and product launches.
Michael O'Shea, CFA
As director and head of private wealth solutions, Michael leads the firm’s capital raising initiatives, oversees the sales strategy, and develops strategic partnerships with Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) to expand Origin’s investment platform.
Previously, Michael served as the head of Origin Exchange, the firm’s 1031 Exchange Platform. Since entering the alternative investment industry in 2007, he has served in various capacities with real estate sponsors and has assisted in the syndication of more than $10 billion of commercial real estate, including over $500 million of 1031 tax deferred exchanges.
Michael earned an MBA, summa cum laude, with a dual concentration in Finance and Real Estate Investment from DePaul University and received his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University. He is also a CFA® charterholder.
This event is hosted by the CFA Society Chicago Women's Network