When you picture someone who works on Wall Street, Joan Solotar probably isn’t who comes to mind. She grew up in Queens, New York, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor and a self-taught mechanic. But with grit, intellect, and determination, Joan built a career at the top of global finance, becoming Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Private Wealth Solutions at Blackstone.
From her first analyst job on Wall Street in the 1980s to leading a multibillion-dollar business, Joan has redefined what leadership looks like in a male-dominated industry. She speaks with Bruna Papandrea about the mentors who shaped her, the sacrifices along the way, and why lifting others has become her life’s mission.
This is a story about ambition, empathy, and what it means to keep climbing, and reaching back to pull others up.
This is Joan’s invisible roadmap.

Invisible Roadmap is a podcast from the Brunaverse.