Helen (Resnick) Shaw ’82
Chief Operating Officer,
Willoughby Capital Holdings, LLC
Helen (nee Resnick) Shaw attended the Waldorf School of Garden City from nursery through twelfth grade. As a member of the class of 1982, Helen played on the girls’ lacrosse and field hockey teams and sang with the Waldorf Singers. After graduating in 1982, she enrolled at Adelphi University where she earned an undergraduate degree in business. During her last two years in college, she began working in the finance department at Radio City Music Hall as the assistant to the controller preparing budgets for events like the Radio City Christmas Show.
In 1988, Helen began working at Solomon Brothers where she gained her first experience in finance. With a passion for financial markets in her heart, she knew that Wall Street would play an important role in her future career. However, at the age of 25, she also desired joining the United States Peace Corps.
The decision wasn’t easy. Helen spoke with her mentors and asked if it would be “career suicide” to take time-off. Luckily, she was encouraged to go forward with her plan. She joined the Peace Corps and lived for two years on a river bank in Botswana working for a small business development project – a far cry from the daily trading excitement on Wall Street.
Upon her return to the United States, Helen joined the investment firm Harvest Capital. While there, Helen learned the intricacies of the burgeoning hedge fund industry and in early 2002, joined SAB Capital as their head trader. During this time, she also served on the School’s Board of Trustees.
In reflecting on her days at the Waldorf School, Helen says, “It is not about what I learned, but how I learned it; it is the process of learning that is important.” Helen recalls that at school she learned by doing. “Starting with a blank page for your Main Lesson book is a lesson that goes beyond the creation of a notebook. It’s about finding creative solutions to complex problems.”
In January 2003, Helen established two named endowments in honor of her parents, Donald and Jeanette Resnick, to recognize their longstanding service and dedication to the Waldorf School. The Jeanette Resnick Music Lesson Endowment Fund and the Donald Resnick Athletic Equipment Endowment Fund provide valuable financial support to these important programs, ensuring they continue to play a vital role in the education of future generations of Waldorf students.
Today, Helen is the Chief Operating Officer at Willoughby Capital Holdings, LLC, a single family office. She and her husband, Howard, live in New York with their daughter Samantha. She enjoys attending Waldorf School events and hearing from nephew, Sam ’14, and nieces Anja and Mollie, speak about their days at our School.
Helen (Resnick) Shaw '82
Symposium Panelist 2016Helen (Resnick) Shaw '82
Symposium Panelist 2016Chief Operating Officer,
Willoughby Capital Holdings, LLC
Helen (nee Resnick) Shaw attended the Waldorf School of Garden City from nursery through twelfth grade. As a member of the class of 1982, Helen played on the girls’ lacrosse and field hockey teams and sang with the Waldorf Singers. After graduating in 1982, she enrolled at Adelphi University where she earned an undergraduate degree in business. During her last two years in college, she began working in the finance department at Radio City Music Hall as the assistant to the controller preparing budgets for events like the Radio City Christmas Show.
In 1988, Helen began working at Solomon Brothers where she gained her first experience in finance. With a passion for financial markets in her heart, she knew that Wall Street would play an important role in her future career. However, at the age of 25, she also desired joining the United States Peace Corps.
The decision wasn’t easy. Helen spoke with her mentors and asked if it would be “career suicide” to take time-off. Luckily, she was encouraged to go forward with her plan. She joined the Peace Corps and lived for two years on a river bank in Botswana working for a small business development project – a far cry from the daily trading excitement on Wall Street.
Upon her return to the United States, Helen joined the investment firm Harvest Capital. While there, Helen learned the intricacies of the burgeoning hedge fund industry and in early 2002, joined SAB Capital as their head trader. During this time, she also served on the School’s Board of Trustees.
In reflecting on her days at the Waldorf School, Helen says, “It is not about what I learned, but how I learned it; it is the process of learning that is important.” Helen recalls that at school she learned by doing. “Starting with a blank page for your Main Lesson book is a lesson that goes beyond the creation of a notebook. It’s about finding creative solutions to complex problems.”
In January 2003, Helen established two named endowments in honor of her parents, Donald and Jeanette Resnick, to recognize their longstanding service and dedication to the Waldorf School. The Jeanette Resnick Music Lesson Endowment Fund and the Donald Resnick Athletic Equipment Endowment Fund provide valuable financial support to these important programs, ensuring they continue to play a vital role in the education of future generations of Waldorf students.
Today, Helen is the Chief Operating Officer at Willoughby Capital Holdings, LLC, a single family office. She and her husband, Howard, live in New York with their daughter Samantha. She enjoys attending Waldorf School events and hearing from nephew, Sam ’14, and nieces Anja and Mollie, speak about their days at our School.
