‘Running With Grace’: How Lori Van Dusen took on Wall Street

In a world where success is often measured by accolades and achievements, Lori Van Dusen’s journey stands as a testament to resilience, authenticity, and finding purpose amidst life’s challenges. Her memoir, “Running with Grace: A Wall Street Insider’s Path to True Leadership, a Purposeful Life, and Joy in the Face of Adversity,” offers readers a raw and candid glimpse into the highs and lows of her personal and professional life.

From humble beginnings marked by adversity and loss to navigating the cutthroat world of Wall Street, Lori’s story is one of triumph over adversity. In the pages of her memoir, she shares pivotal moments that shaped her journey, from the challenges of 1980’s Wall Street to the heartbreaking loss of her husband during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout her career, Lori defied conventional norms and charted her own path, driven by a deep-seated desire to make a meaningful impact. She pioneered a radical approach to financial advising, prioritizing integrity and empathy over short-term gains. Her journey is a reminder that true leadership is rooted in authenticity and a genuine desire to serve others.

In this exclusive interview, Lori Van Dusen opens up about her memoir, the process of sharing intimate moments, and the invaluable lessons she hopes readers will take away from her story. From navigating personal tragedies to finding resilience and joy in the face of adversity, Lori’s insights offer a beacon of hope for anyone grappling with life’s uncertainties.

Join us as we delve into the pages of “Running with Grace” and discover the profound wisdom and inspiration that lie within.

Your memoir, “Running with Grace,” has been described as a page-turner that delves into key touchstone moments in your life. Can you share one of these moments that had a profound impact on your journey, whether it was navigating the challenges of 1980’s Wall Street or facing the personal tragedy of losing your husband during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Very early on in my career, I realized there was something very wrong in the financial services industry.  The business model–selling products-seemed not only unethical, but obtuse.  The entire industry was based on short term sales versus any kind of long-term strategy or recurring revenue model.  I had no idea that I was pioneering a radical approach to my work whichwas ultimately industry changing.  I simply wanted to build a book of business that reflected my moral compass.  

I decided that listening and solving problems was my real job—not selling financial products. From my first days in the financial industry, I knew I could make an impact if I sat on the same side of the table as my clients and helped manage their assets. Making money was never my driving force. It still isn’t. For me, it has always been, “How can I best help this person?” I knew if I provided value, my relationships would strengthen, and the money would follow naturally.

At the time, my approach marked a radical shift. No one else was doing holistic wealth management as it is known today; they were just selling products—mutual funds, stocks, or proprietary products, many with heavy fees. Stockbrokers were making substantial livings through commissions on these products, even though the fees and commissions often were not disclosed to clients. I did not want to work this way and felt the industry’s business model was deeply flawed. Brokers could make a lot of money while their clients might not make any—in fact, their clients could even lose money! It wasn’t right. I felt a more integrated approach would be exponentially more valuable for clients and ultimately more lucrative.

Yet in the late ’80s and early ’90s, this way of thinking was considered crazy; no one even knew what financial planning was. After analyzing all the client answers to my questions, I uncovered a real problem: More often than not, people were just collecting investments without a baseline strategy. Much like today’s Robinhood and Reddit investors, these brokers seemed to just be following the herd. They did not have anyone helping to position their assets or to align them with their objectives and goals. Identifying this problem led to a prime opportunity. The more I filled this void as a financial advisor, the more my business would grow.

The title suggests a theme of finding joy and purpose in the face of adversity. How did you approach weaving these life lessons into your memoir, and what motivated you to share your experiences in such a raw and candid manner?

My book, Running with Grace: A Wall Street Insider’s Path to True Leadership, a Purposeful Life, and Joy in the Face of Adversity Began as a journaling exercise recommended by a therapist as a way to move forward, because I was in a place where I felt I had only two choices continue to suffer because of my grief or begin  living again. I needed to find a way  to integrate my loss and begin the process of healing.  At the time, I had no plans to publish this work –it was too deeply personal. 

As I journaled, I could tell that I had begun healing, and about three months after I lost my mother, I realized that I wasn’t meant to go through all these experiences and profound loss without a way to pay it forward.  Although, it wasn’t until I was able to write about my husband in a way that honored him but that was also truthful and with integrity, that I really considered publishing the book to a wider audience. 

Our culture and social media can really distort perception.  From the outside, I had an amazing life–an incredible career and the perfect marriage.  I realized I wanted to share my story–as a way to  show others that they were not alone in facing trials and hardship.  And no matter what it looks like from the outside, the reality could be very different.

At this point, I was ready to share the manuscript with a couple of readers.  In addition to my sons, I chose two people, from widely different backgrounds, who were avid readers and people I trusted.  My sons and my readers were in emphatic agreement.  I needed to share my story to the wider world. 

I began working with an editor to shape my journaling into a book–and with each story I shared, the lessons of resilience and grace kept coming through.  

Throughout your career and personal life, you’ve faced both professional challenges and personal loss. How do you believe these experiences have shaped your perspective on leadership and the broader lessons you share in Running with Grace?

I recognize that when discussing the most important traits in leaders, that most people rate skill and competence above all else.  Yet I have always placed a higher value on integrity.  Through the adversity and loss I’ve experienced,  I have developed a much deeper empathy for people and resilience in both my professional and personal life. I’ve learned wisdom and I’ve been able to help others navigate complex situations in alignment with their values and principles. 

Throughout my career,  I have always  felt a greater sense of purpose around what the clients and industry needed versus what I personally needed.  Sometimes that was really challenging for me, and even though I knew it was the right decision-but wasn’t the trodden path–it was a lonely and difficult road to get to where I am today.  I have struggled and made mistakes, but I know now that I would not  be the person I am today without those failures and losses.  

The memoir is relatively concise at 150 pages, yet it promises to be rich with life lessons. How did you decide what aspects of your journey to include, and what do you hope readers take away from your story?

When this project transformed from a personal journal to an actual book for publication, I had to clarify my intent.  I had to decide who my core audience was and what I hoped they would gain by reading the book. This exercise allowed me to highlight certain stories and balance lessons with specific stories from my life. I wanted to include successes and failures in ways that could be relatable.  

The book’s narrative is structured around my personal experiences and professional journey, starting from my early days in finance to becoming a seasoned Wall Street executive. I wrote it as a contiguous book and wanted to use my gift as a storyteller that I had previously only deployed in boardrooms and on stages at financial events to bring the reader into a particular place, time, scene.  I wanted them to be immersed in these experiences and for this to work, I needed to include the powerful (and sometimes quite awful) things that actually happened. 

Running with Grace is a candid and honest portrayal of the events of my life. I wanted to show that it’s possible to be a successful leader in a highly competitive industry while also remaining true to one’s values and principles. I wove the challenges I’ve faced, both professionally and personally into the narrative as a way to share valuable teachable moments. I wanted to remind readers that resilience and the ability to find joy in the face of adversity are essential qualities for both personal and professional growth.

Writing about personal challenges, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, requires a certain vulnerability. How did you navigate the process of sharing such intimate moments, and what advice would you give to others looking to share their personal stories in a meaningful way?

Showing vulnerability in our society is typically viewed as a weakness.  I believe that sharing vulnerability is ultimately a strength. Understanding why you want to share your story, who you’re sharing it for, and communicating it effectively is key. Be intentional about what you’re sharing.  It might not be obvious after reading this book, but I set a lot of boundaries in this story.  I made the conscious decision to leave out a number of salacious and prurient details.  I realized that even though I am sharing A LOT, I can still keep some things private.  My stories are authentic and detailed and I am intentionally offering them to help and inspire others as they navigate their own challenges and losses. If you believe the authenticity, reflections, and the lessons you have to offer might be valuable to others, then sharing them publicly is not only potentially therapeutic for the author, but hopefully impactful for the greater world.