Building Value, Giving Back: Don Opatrny on Wall Street Wisdom and Community Impact

In this episode of the Valley Investors Podcast, Don Opatrny shares his path from Cleveland to Cornell, through Wall Street and eventually to philanthropic leadership in Arizona. Don reflects on a dynamic career at Goldman Sachs that spanned corporate finance, international restructuring, and asset management. Now based in Phoenix, he's channeling his expertise into nonprofit investment strategy—especially through his work at the Arizona Community Foundation. From practical insights on endowment management to stories about building impactful cultural and educational institutions, Don offers a masterclass on financial stewardship and civic engagement.   Key Discussions in This Episode:  00:00 – Intro & Background 03:07 – Career Journey Begins 05:56 – A Global Career at Goldman Sachs 10:22 – A Return to Roots with Endowment Work 14:51 – Arizona Connection 15:22 – Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) 19:31 – Inside the ACF Portfolio 28:55 – Private Equity in Endowments 36:58 – Market Views & Risk Management 44:38 – Broader Economic Shifts 47:02 – Beyond Finance: Arts, Environment, Education 51:28 – Why Arizona?   Links:  Arizona Community Foundation: https://www.azfoundation.org/ Nathan Erickson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanferickson/  Don Opatrny on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-opatrny-544069268/