On Saturday, September 13, 2025, Pepperdine University will host the third annual Coastal Capital Summit, inviting Pepperdine’s finance community to engage in conversations surrounding the most pressing topics in economics and financial markets.
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Pepperdine University’s Annual Coastal Capital Summit Creates Pathways for Success for Students Interested in Finance
This year’s event will be held in Washington, D.C. at the National Mall. The event is aimed at providing students with a forum to talk about issues that affect them and their families. It will also provide an opportunity to learn from the experiences of others who have gone through the same thing as them. It is the first of its kind, and it will be open to the public, as well as those who want to learn more about the issues at stake. The program is free and open to all, but it is limited to a limited number of attendees. For more information on the event, visit: http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/07/29/30/36/37/3636/18/3736/12/35/38/3836/11/3837/12?storylink=cpy, id=cnn, cnn, twitter, fb, pd, rt, pk, fj, gt, rk, sj, fk, hk, jp, jf, aj, ai, aq, pj, pq, aik, aak, pak,
The summit was founded by recent Seaver College graduate Ulysse Saltiel (’25), who saw a need to provide Pepperdine students interested in finance professional networking opportunities and resources. As a student he established the Pepperdine Finance Society, an organization dedicated to equipping students with the technical skills and connections necessary for success in the financial industry. As the organization grew, so did its impact, leading to the establishment of the Coastal Capital Summit in 2023. Since its development, the event has gone beyond just presenting data and market performance to merging financial knowledge with purpose, highlighting impactful leadership, legacy, and how capital shapes the world.
“This is an opportunity to bring together financial experts who not only embody Pepperdine’s values and mission, but are also deeply invested in advancing our finance program,” explains Saltiel. “By encouraging connections and creating opportunities for the next generation of finance professionals, we aim to position Pepperdine as one of the nation’s leading academic institutions.”
Lindsay Costigan (MBA ’07), managing director and head of Western Region Prime Services Sales at BNP Paribas, will serve as a keynote speaker at this year’s summit and has played a pivotal role in shaping its development. Overseeing the event’s agenda, she has been instrumental in identifying speakers and pinpointing topics that are both timely and approachable. For Costigan, her goal is to create an experience that mirrors the real-world dynamics of the investment landscape while also encouraging mentorship and inspiration for the next generation of leaders.
“This summit is about access—access to conversations, people, and perspectives that students, and alumni, might not typically get exposure to in a classroom,” shares Costigan. “It gives them a front-row seat to how investment professionals think, what trends they’re watching, and how they build careers and portfolios. It’s also a chance for students to build relationships, ask questions, and see how they might fit into, and even improve, the industry. That kind of exposure can be transformational.”
In its three-year history, the summit has strived to gather a distinguished group of accomplished alumni and industry leaders whose values reflect Pepperdine’s mission. Saltiel notes that these connections “offer students a dynamic educational experience that equips them for success in finance and beyond.”
This year’s summit is no exception and will feature an impressive lineup of alumni and financial experts. In addition to Costigan, keynote speakers will include Kevin Gordon (’19), director and senior investment strategist at Charles Schwab; Jack Selby, managing director of Thiel Capital; Rob Copeland, a reporter at The New York Times and a bestselling author; and Seth Haye (’02), managing director, financial advisor, and senior portfolio management director at Morgan Stanley.
Each speaker will address a range of timely and impactful topics that focus on current market trends, innovative investment strategies, and the rapidly evolving financial landscape. Copeland, for example, will discuss his recent book, The Fund: Ray Dalio, Bridgewater Associates, and the Unraveling of a Wall Street Legend, which examines one of the world’s largest hedge funds and the broader implications of ethics in finance. Attendees will also have an opportunity to hear speakers Costigan and Gordon engage in a discussion reflecting on their careers and share their perspectives on asset management. Together, they will explore how hedge fund managers create value, how allocators recalibrate amid shifting macro trends, and where public-market opportunities lie.
“Beyond market mechanics, I’m hopeful the conversation will surface some deeper themes: the ingredients for building a resilient and purpose-driven finance career and how our industry can evolve ethically to serve not just shareholders, but all stakeholders, including society and future generations,” explains Costigan.
According to Saltiel, what makes this summit unique is the University’s focus on exploring the intersection of morality and financial decision-making. With this approach, he believes it’s an opportunity for Pepperdine to establish itself as a “lighthouse in the industry.”
“As the industry continues to evolve, Pepperdine remains an institution that supports only the highest ethics and, with support and resources provided by events such as the summit, aims to prepare students to lead with integrity in a complex financial world,” says Saltiel.
Costigan also believes Pepperdine’s distinct environment and values uniquely position it to positively impact students interested in exploring the finance industry.
“The setting at Pepperdine brings a distinctive energy: it’s thoughtful, but it’s also hopeful and forward-looking.” She adds, “We’re not just sharing information—we’re investing in the next generation of innovators.”
The event is free, but attendees are encouraged to make a gift of $20 or more to help support funding for future Coastal Capital Summit events. To attend, register on the Coastal Capital Summit’s event page.