The Spider Way: In Print

The following is an interview with Rob Blandford B'79, president and chief investment officer of Spider Management Company LLC.

What did you study at the University of Richmond and what were your post-graduation plans?

I have a B.S. in business from the Robins School of Business with a concentration in finance.

My post-graduation plans were simply to get a job. I wanted to stay in the Richmond area so I concentrated my search on local employers. I looked at both corporate finance and investment related jobs.

What did you actually do after graduation and what is your current position?

I was fortunate enough to get a job with the Virginia Retirement System, a state pension fund, as a fixed-income credit analyst. I was poring over annual and quarterly reports, crunching coverage ratios for each of the bond holdings in our portfolio.

My current position is president and chief investment officer for Spider Management Company. We manage the University of Richmond's Endowment, along with the endowments of 22 other non-profit organizations.

What is a typical workday in the life of Rob Blandford?

There is no typical workday in the investment world. Financial markets are changing every day. It is one of the things I like best about my career path. It's exciting, intellectually challenging and exhilarating to have constant change.

What do you know now (career-related) that you wish you knew as an undergraduate student?

The value of networking and the value of internships in your chosen field, just to get your foot in the door and have the opportunity to prove yourself.

What is your most valuable networking technique?

Pick up the phone; use your current network to expand the network. Ask for introductions. You never know where your next opportunity will come from.

What is the most played song on your iPod?

"Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison. I am afraid I am dating myself here.

The Spider Way: In Print highlights the career path of UR alumni. For additional career advice and tips, visit spiderway.wordpress.com or call Career Services at (804) 289-8547 to make an appointment.