Charles Towle

Managing Partner, US Capital Global

40 Under 40 Category: Investment Banker/Advisor

Charles Towle is managing partner of global private financial group US Capital Global. With offices in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Dubai, and London, US Capital Global provides global investment banking, asset management, and capital formation services. In addition, Charles is CEO and licensed principal of the group’s broker-dealer affiliate, US Capital Global Securities LLC. He also serves as co-managing partner of the group’s investment management division, overseeing its credit fund loan strategies and providing co-lending opportunities for ABL partners.

To date, Charles has overseen the origination and closing of over $6 billion in transactions. Over the past 15 years, he has helped transform the group into a global FinTech investment bank and industry leader in debt and equity financing and capital formation services for the lower middle market. Championing a new values-driven approach in investment banking, Charles has helped build the group’s strong focus on sustainable, impact, and ESG investing.

Charles lives in San Francisco with his wife, Laura, and three children.

How do you define a good leader?

For insight on leadership, I draw my inspiration especially from India’s rich heritage of ancient yoga texts, such as the Bhagavad-gita. 

Thousands of years ago, the rishis, or sages of India, understood the importance of exemplary leadership and of the quality of a leader’s decision-making. They therefore developed teachings designed specifically for kings and queens, to help them rule wisely. These wise and effective leaders were known as raja-rishis, “philosopher-kings.”

We live in a world that is increasingly characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. This arena is not dissimilar to a battlefield. The Bhagavad-gita is a dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and his friend and mentor, Krishna, that likewise takes place in the middle of a battlefield. The premise is how we, as leaders on this field, can act skillfully amidst chaos and uncertainty. Krishna defines this skill as yoga (yoga karmasu kaushalam, “yoga is skill in action”).

Beyond mastery of a particular profession or industry, such as investment banking, a skillful leader has self-awareness. They are able to see what is driving and coloring their own decision-making. Rather than reacting from a place of fear, anger, frustration, impatience, or attachment, they have the ability to draw on higher qualities, such as clarity, integrity, patience, discipline, courage, agility, kindness, and vision. The Bhagavad-gita describes these qualities as the “wealth of the gods and goddesses” (daivi-sampad).

This kind of reflexive, inward-looking personal approach to leadership requires a meta-perspective of what motivates our actions and decision-making. Leaders who neglect such inner work, focusing solely on outer targets and objectives, end up developing large blind spots that adversely affect what they do. Conversely, those who enter the arena of action from a place of inner strength and introspection are able to lead by example and inspire loyalty from those around them.

What advice do you normally give to the junior talent you mentor?

Get yourself a high-quality pen and a notebook, and take careful notes. This improves retention.

Listen carefully. Be willing to accept critical feedback.

Demonstrate integrity. You can be highly skilled in your field but, if others don’t trust you, it will hold you back.

Develop a passion for learning. Spend as much time as you can with your seniors. We learn so much more by interacting directly with the CEO or other highly experienced professionals in a business. It is by far the best way to advance one’s career. One of the greatest losses of working remotely during this pandemic has been the lack of opportunities to interact directly with mentors.