Michigan Ross Commencement 2026 Guest Speaker: Jenny Just

Why It Matters

Just’s story shows how adaptable, skill‑focused entrepreneurship can turn chaotic beginnings into fintech dominance, offering graduates a pragmatic roadmap for thriving in today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape.

Key Takeaways

• Embrace a “no‑plan” mindset, focus on skill building.
• Turn chaotic experiences into scalable business models for growth.
• Team‑based trading, inspired by simple operational efficiency at Wendy's.
• Learn from failures; risk‑taking fuels long‑term growth in business.
• Fintech infrastructure now powers major platforms like Robinhood.

Summary

Jenny Just, a 1990 Ross graduate and co‑founder of Pig Six Investments, delivered the 2026 commencement keynote, tracing her journey from a chaotic Chicago options‑trading floor to building a multi‑billion‑dollar fintech empire that powers platforms such as Robinhood.

She emphasized a “no‑plan” approach: rather than chasing a fixed roadmap, she accumulated tangible skills, embraced unpredictable roles, and let each experience compound like interest. By turning chaotic moments—like the 1992 Chicago flood and a $70 million custodian crisis—into opportunities, she forged innovative business models, including a team‑based trading system inspired by a Wendy’s lunch line.

Just illustrated her lessons with vivid anecdotes: the disastrous Fisker investment versus passing on Tesla, the rapid pivot to a proprietary trading firm, and the decision to back Robinhood’s backend in exchange for equity. These stories underscore how calculated risk‑taking, learning from failure, and leveraging simple operational insights can generate billions in profit.

For the graduating class, the speech translates into a blueprint: prioritize skill acquisition, treat each role as scaffolding, and remain adaptable as technology reshapes finance. In an era of AI‑driven disruption, her experience signals that building robust fintech infrastructure and a resilient mindset will define the next generation of industry leaders.

Original Description

Jenny Just, BBA ’90, is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of PEAK6 Investments, a diversified financial services and technology firm she co-founded in 1997. For nearly three decades, she has founded, scaled, and led businesses across proprietary trading, fintech, insurance, esports, and financial education.

In addition to her investment and operating work, Just is focused on expanding access to financial capability and leadership opportunities, particularly for women. In 2020, she co-founded Poker Power with her daughter, Juliette, using poker as a tool to build strategic thinking, risk intelligence, and decision-making skills. She has also created initiatives at PEAK6, including the Women’s Trading Experience and Women’s Technology Experience.

Just serves on the Women and Public Policy Board at the Harvard Kennedy School and is a Champion at JOURNEY to Lead. She is a Michigan Ross alum (BBA ’90). Her recognitions include being named a 2025 CNBC Changemaker and inclusion on Forbes’ lists of America’s Richest Self-Made Women and 50 Over 50, as well as Worth’s Groundbreaking Women.