Breaking Barriers in Finance and Politics: A Conversation with Janet Cowell

In this episode of Trust Company Talks, hosts Bill Noble and Burke Koonce sat down with Janet Cowell, former State Treasurer of North Carolina and a current candidate for mayor of Raleigh.The conversation covers a range of topics, from Janet's unexpected journey into public service and her influential tenure as treasurer to her insights on investing, the importance of diversity in finance and her current endeavors with the Dix Park Conservancy. Janet also shares her experiences and challenges as the first female Treasurer of North Carolina and offers advice to young women aspiring to make their mark in predominantly male fields. Specifically, they discuss:Janet's unique background and career trajectory and how it led her to public service.The complexities of NC's pension and health plans, emphasizing the General Assembly's limited grasp and the critical role of healthcare expertise.Janet's political career, including her City Council election in 2001, initiatives on tree protection, the convention center, Fayetteville Street and addressing COVID-19 impacts.Janet's tenure as state treasurer, managing the Great Recession's impact and growing the pension fund from $60 billion to $90 billion.The challenges professional women face in male-centric fields and Janet's advice for navigating gender-based hurdles, such as leveraging mentorship.Janet's vision for downtown Raleigh and her work with Dix Park Conservancy.We hope you enjoy this episode as much we did. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh. You can find more episodes of Trust Company Talks on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Receive the episodes as soon as they premiere by subscribing today.