Caitlin Long
Avanti Financial Group
Cheyenne, WY USA
"The world is gigantic and you don’t have to leave Wyoming to participate in it."
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Caitlin's work combines: Numbers, Business, and Accomplishing Goals
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Follow your dreams but know that you don't have to necessarily leave Wyoming—or other underrated areas—to do so. When I was starting out, I felt that I had to leave to the big city to build my career. Now, your physical location is mattering less and less as industries progress. You can stay in your home town and make a huge difference. Or you can leave, learn, and come back to make a difference. The state is changing. You just have to be willing to roll up your sleeves and lean into it.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Political Economy
University of Wyoming
Graduate Degree
International Trade and Finance
Harvard Kennedy School of Government
Doctorate
Law
Harvard Law School
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in political economy from the University of Wyoming.
2.
I didn’t land a job straight out of college, so I went to graduate school and earned a master’s degree in international trade and finance, as well as a law degree from Harvard.
3.
After graduating, I moved to New York City and made a career for myself on Wall Street.
4.
Throughout my finance career in New York, I kept one foot in Wyoming by sitting on various charitable boards for the state.
5.
While working as a managing director at Morgan Stanley, I started buying and getting more involved with Bitcoin.
6.
After hitting a legal roadblock while trying to donate appreciated Bitcoin to the University of Wyoming, I flew back home and volunteered to help the Wyoming State Legislature correct the issue.
7.
Four years later, I’ve helped Wyoming enact 20 blockchain-enabling laws.
8.
I’m currently working on opening Avanti Bank & Trust, which was formed to bridge compliance between the U.S. dollar payments system and the digital asset industry.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You have to leave Wyoming in order to be successful and make a difference.
How I responded:
Follow your dreams but know that you don't have to necessarily leave Wyoming—or other underrated areas—to do so. When I was starting out, I felt that I had to leave to the big city to build my career. Now, your physical location is mattering less and less as industries progress. You can stay in your home town and make a huge difference. Or you can leave, learn, and come back to make a difference. The state is changing. You just have to be willing to roll up your sleeves and lean into it.