Over the past few months, we’ve been speaking with senior leaders at SS&C Black Diamond® Wealth Solutions whose vision and leadership have guided its transformation over the years.

Few embody that story more fully than Eli George. From joining the company during its startup days to guiding product innovation, leading cross-functional teams, and helping define our future strategy, Eli’s journey is one of leadership, adaptability, and vision. Here, he reflects on the milestones that have shaped his career and the culture that continues to inspire him to this day.

You’ve been part of the Black Diamond story since nearly the beginning. What initially drew you to the company, and what’s kept you here all these years?

I first discovered Black Diamond on a corkboard at the University of North Florida while earning my MBA. I had just moved to Jacksonville and was eager to find work. At the time, Black Diamond was essentially a one-man shop, and the founder himself interviewed me for a Support and Operations Analyst role. The entrepreneurial spirit and chance to carve my own path were exciting—and of course, the steady paycheck helped.

Nearly 20 years later, through acquisitions and rapid growth, three things have kept me here: the talented people I collaborate with every day, the culture of constant challenge and improvement, and the unique platform SS&C provides to create real impact across industries.

Looking back, what’s one defining moment that shaped your career—or the company’s direction—in a lasting way?

The first acquisition of Black Diamond by Advent Software was truly a defining moment. It changed the trajectory of the business, setting us on a path of accelerated growth.

That transition validated the vision behind Black Diamond, giving us tangible advantages in the market. We were able to leverage Advent’s assets, including Advent Custodial Data (ACD) offering, to expand our reach and scale our customer footprint in a new way. This positioned us for the continued success we continue to build on ever since.

As the business has scaled and evolved, how has your leadership style adapted to meet new challenges?

My core leadership philosophy hasn’t changed. I still believe in leading by example and being willing to roll up my sleeves to do any job to help the team succeed.

As the business has scaled, what has evolved is the need to be more intentional about delegation. I’ve learned to surround myself with people who bring diverse skills and experiences, creating a balanced team that can execute at the highest level. By leaning on each other and trusting those complementary strengths, we’re able to meet challenges more effectively and continue to deliver excellence as we grow.

You’re known for bringing clarity and steadiness, even in high-pressure moments. What’s your approach to navigating uncertainty or complex decision-making?

While I rely heavily on facts and data to inform my decisions, I also trust my gut. That intuition has led me to where I am today, from putting myself in a position to secure my original job here to every decision I’ve made since that moment. Ultimately, if you outline the decisions to be made and get feedback from a team you’ve built trust with over the years, then it comes down to making a call to press forward. If new info or facts come in, don’t be so stuck in your ways that you can’t pivot.

It also helps me to keep things in perspective. My wife, my sister, and my sister-in-law are all in the medical field, and they have tough decisions with life-and-death implications at work. The decisions I make every day, while important to our business and driving it forward, pale in comparison to those. Remembering that definitely helps me stay calm in the face of tough decision-making.

Looking ahead, what are you most excited about for the future of Black Diamond?

I’m excited about our recent rebrand and the future vision of Black Diamond. The idea that our brand continues to penetrate new markets—from trust to insurance and beyond—tracks with Black Diamond becoming the “Intel Inside” of wealth management, all while continuing to dominate our core markets in the U.S., including the RIA space.

For context, when I was hired, we had just four beta customers and four paying customers who had yet to go live. Looking at the number of customers we serve today, and the countless end investors whose financial lives we impact, I never could have imagined this scale.

Because of that, I won’t even try to predict what the future holds. The potential is truly unlimited. I’m excited to continue playing the underdog role and competing to win the market, even if, technically, we’re ahead.

From his earliest days to now, Eli has brought energy, clarity, and an unshakable sense of purpose to every stage of Black Diamond’s growth. As we look to the future, leaders like Eli continue to shape not just where we’re going, but also how we get there.