Guest Bill Tovell, Dartmouth ’96, left for college shortly after Hurricane Andrew ripped through Miami and destroyed his boyhood home and everything in it. He went as far as he could, to the wilds of New Hampshire, and looked for something new. He tried new things, such as rugby, and even set aside some preconceptions he had about a life in medicine. Economics and corporate recruiting took him into banking in New York despite a tantalizing set of discussions with the CIA. His work within financial services seemed fairly typical. But again, he was looking for something new and took an opportunity in Bermuda. A bounce back to his old organization in San Francisco seemed like a good move, but became less fun a little while later when the dotcom bubble burst and his entire team—except him—was let go. He was asked to move back to Manhattan, which he did on September 7, 2001.

The morning of September 11, Bill found himself on the 50th floor of 60 Wall Street, from where he saw the second plane hit the World Trade towers. The immediate aftermath of that event stayed with him and ultimately led him to take a year to travel around the world. When he came back, he was fired up to take some action.

In this episode, find out from Bill how looking for meaning after disaster strikes requires forging one’s own path.…on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode's Guest

Bill Tovell has been working in global corporate and investment banking with a variety of clients across a diverse set of industries with the same financial services firm—off and on—for the last quarter century. For the last twenty years, he has been involved with the organization Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. As a civilian board member, he champions the efforts of post-9-11 veterans, specifically around mental health and PTSD. He lives in Dallas with his wife and two sons.

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Independent Streak: Bill Tovell on finding the new after disaster strikes and forging one's own path

Roads Taken