• Alternative Investments

Get to Know Deshawn Peterson of PPB Capital Partners…

He’s been to the other side of the world and back … literally. Deshawn Peterson joined PPB Capital Partners in June, so it’s the perfect time to see what inspired him to become a world traveler and what he sees on the horizon.

Deshawn’s experiences over the last decade have shaped how he supports PPB’s client-facing associates to coordinate business development, data capture and administrative operations.

He took time to answer 15 thought-provoking, ice-breaking questions to help us see what makes him tick…

 

Name: Deshawn Peterson

Title: Assistant Vice President, Advisor Relations

Hometown: Detroit, Michigan

College: Western Michigan University

Years at PPB: 1st

1. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
   You should travel overseas and see what happens. That is, by far, the most rewarding advice I’ve ever received. I did it and it literally turned my world upside down. Seven years later, after doing it, I am a better person with a lot more empathy for people in general.
2. Think about your favorite teacher or professor from high school or college. What was it about them that made an impression on you?
   Mr. Henry, my 10^th– and 12^th-grade math teacher. He was the one teacher who gave me permission to succeed or fail. He always said, “I will never tell you that you need to do the homework, study for the test, or come to class, but I will fail you.” I earned a 99% in the class because he challenged me instead of treating our class as an obligation.

3. What did you find to be the biggest surprise of working with alternative investments?
   It was like discovering a new investment multiverse. We all are familiar with public markets (i.e., stocks, bonds and cash), but alternatives, as the other side of the coin, are just as exciting. I’m learning something new every day every.

4. In your opinion, what is a fundamental characteristic of a good person?
   How one treats the people who serve them food is a huge indicator of one’s character.

5. If you could invite 3 famous people (living or dead) to your house for a dinner party, who is on the guest list, and what would you serve?
   New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, Robert F. Smith and Kobe Bryant. I would serve Chinese food from Hunan

6. What is the one book you would recommend to anyone (and why)?
   Contagious by Jonah Berger. It is one of my favorite books in general, because it breaks down why some things go viral or spread socially (i.e., speakeasy bars or social media companies).

7. How would you describe your job to a classroom of 4th graders?
   I make sure names, addresses, and everything about you are spelled right before a presentation.

8. What is a non-work-related goal you are working toward right now?
   Redefining my relationship with fitness to give myself more flexibility and bring the fun back to it. I plan to complete the Spartan race trifecta (completing the Spartan Sprint: 3 miles, 20 obstacles; Spartan Beast: 13 miles, 30 obstacles; Spartan Ultra: 30 miles, 60 obstacles in one calendar year).

9. Which movie scene will always give you goosebumps?
   I’ll give you two scenes:
   At the end of “Avengers Endgame,” Sam Wilson is speaking to Captain America and says, “On your left.”

   At the end of “Edge of Tomorrow,” Tom Cruise’s character sees Emily Blunt’s character and he begins to tear up as the song “Love me again” by John Newman starts playing.

10. If you had to send a Disney princess on a spy mission to save the world, whom would you choose and why?
    Mulan, because she’s a natural born warrior.

11. Describe an experience that took your breath away or left you speechless.
    Walking the streets of Shanghai for the first time and being overwhelmed with how loud, crowded and bright the city was. It was a joyous moment.

12. You’re out on the town with your friends and it’s karaoke night. What song are you choosing?
    Al Green – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”

13. If you could receive credit for any invention in history, what would you choose?
    The iPhone

14. If Hollywood were to make a movie about your life, which genre would it be, and who would play you?
    It would be a sci-fi dramady and Michael B. Jordan would play me.

15. If you could only have 3 apps on your phone for the rest of your life, which ones are you keeping?
    Chrome
    Mail
    YouTube