Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

As the 2025 BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament unfolded at Madison Square Garden, the Second Annual BIG EAST Investment Summit convened at the New York Athletic Club. The summit, co-hosted by Indus Capital Partners, LLC, and St. John’s University, took place on March 14, featuring discussions on the convergence of sports and investment.

The event brought together officials from the BIG EAST Conference, alumni, institutional investors, and investment managers. It was marked by insights into the financial aspects of sports, with contributions from the BIG EAST Conference Commissioner and discussions on leading financial issues and investment opportunities.

Steven Keating, Chief Investment Officer at St. John’s, coordinated the summit and served as the Master of Ceremonies. “We are honored to have world-class speakers who will share their perspectives on the macroeconomic outlook, public equities, fixed income, credit markets, and investing in the business of sports,” Keating stated, setting the stage for Commissioner Val Ackerman’s address. Ackerman highlighted the strengths of the BIG EAST Conference and emphasized their commitment to success at the national level. “Every one of our schools is heavily invested in college sports and is unified in their commitment to be successful at the national level,” Ackerman declared.

James J. Shannon, a founding Partner and CEO of Indus Capital Partners, facilitated the summit that he helped organize and underwrite. Shannon expressed enthusiasm for the program’s diverse attendance. “We have an exciting program, with many new attendees and some returning ones,” he remarked.

The summit featured keynote speaker Torsten Sløk, Partner and Chief Economist at Apollo Global Management, who presented a macroeconomic outlook and analyzed financial and geopolitical scenarios for 2025 and beyond. The event included networking opportunities and panel discussions on public equities, credit markets, bond investments, and sports-related investments. According to Matthew Warner, a finance major attendee, “Attending the BIG EAST Investment Summit was an incredible experience that offered a deep dive into both public and private markets.”

The summit concluded with a reception attended by guests who were also present at the BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament where St. John’s triumphed over Marquette in the semifinals. James P. Riley, a retired Partner and Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, expressed anticipation for future summits. “What a wonderful event! It was great for St. John’s and the BIG EAST Conference. We need to keep investing in the program and the future of our students’ success,” Riley commented.