Mike Anders

For a man who manages the wealth of some of the world's most influential individuals, Mike Anders doesn't speak like a traditional finance expert. Laidback, warm and super charismatic, he seems remarkably uninterested in money as an end goal. His enthusiasm centres around people instead – on the notion of trust, listening, and the idea that good conversations and true connections are where life's real value lies.

THE STANCE: ISSUE #1

On Value

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Prior to founding ICONIQ, Mike had worked for various heavy hitters in the finance industry, with the likes of Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs (among others) on his CV. Speaking about the socio-aspect of his role, he explains, "Our business isn't just about the money, but around being great people. One of the scorecards for us is performance on capital – money that's been entrusted to ICONIQ to manage. That matters. The way we've built our firm is with a deep belief that if you surround yourself with exceptional founders and CEOs as clients, the network effect we get, the information edge we get, and the access to really unique investments we get as a function of that community is ultimately the biggest driver in how we invest capital."

The belief that proximity to exceptional humans creates its own form of intelligence, sits at the centre of ICONIQ's model. Neither strategy nor pure serendipity, their recipe for success seems to sit somewhere in between. Mike describes, "A big part of our edge (the value creation) and the fact that we've outperformed over time is a result of listening to this network. Being around really brilliant people who are at the forefront of big, sweeping changes in the world – and trying to make sense of those changes in real time, creates an unfiltered information edge. That's where a lot of our insight comes from."

Asked if he's a whizz on Microsoft Excel, Mike grins and admits that it's not his forte. He says, "We're fortunate to have people who are exceptionally strong when it comes to numbers – underwriting deals and rigorously evaluating opportunities through that quantitative lens. That expertise is essential." Mike's role sits elsewhere, recognising patterns and spotting trends. Eyes open and ears to the ground, he's always on the hunt for up-to-date intel. He says, "When you combine deep numerical rigour with real understanding of human behaviour, you get a more complete picture." Data is still king, but can't exist in isolation. A powerful zeitgeist antenna, finely tuned intuition and context are what bring the chemistry for Mike.

Mike grew up in Woodstock, New York, with academic parents who were openly sceptical (at times, scathing) about capitalism and the way money can distort people's values. Going to Wall Street, he admits, was an act of rebellion against this upbringing. This wasn't about greed, excess or ego – the exact opposite. It was about reimagining, and questioning a system that he believed was fundamentally flawed.

Profit has never been his primary motive. He shares, "Wall Street, at its core, is often about gathering assets, charging fees, and making money on top of money. That was never what resonated with me. From the very beginning, we didn't set the firm up to make money first and foremost. We set it up to help people and to solve real problems. As we spent more time working closely with founders, CEOs, and entrepreneurs, truly trying to be solutions in their lives, we realised that this community itself could create enormous value, including how capital is thoughtfully invested."

Service before scale is a key pillar in Mike's philosophy. "It's about how happy our clients are, how much they trust us, how valuable we are in their lives, and how much value we can co-create alongside them." It could be interpreted as less of a rebellion and more of a continuation of his parent's strong ethics – their belief in community and personal responsibility. Mike confirms, "ICONIQ isn't a rejection of their values, it's an extension of them."

"Think deeply about why you're doing what you're doing"

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ICONIQ Impact, the firm's philanthropic arm, focuses on giving at scale. "We're fortunate to work with genuinely good human beings who care deeply about the world. While they may be influential, they also feel a strong responsibility to use whatever resources they have, influence, wealth, capital – to create positive change. Even when you've worked hard, there's always an element of luck involved. There are many people who are less fortunate. The goal shouldn't be to selfishly celebrate individual success, but to help raise the tide for everyone." There is humility in the way he speaks about wealth — and an acknowledgement of luck that is often absent from narratives of success.

His worldview feels quietly radical. Not because it rejects wealth per se, but because it refuses to worship it. Money is just a tool. When it comes to advice for young leaders, "Think deeply about why you're doing what you're doing," he says. "It's easy to see an opportunity that looks compelling on the surface. But what really matters is the underlying reason."

Welcome to The Stance. A natural extension of the conversations, places and most importantly, the people who have long shaped the brand. This printed record celebrates our community – and takes a closer look at how the connections we've made have played a part in defining the shape and unique spirit of Marfa Stance.

Across its pages, are stories from our global collective. Long-form interviews with humans whose lives, practices and points of view reflect a shared sensibility, rather than one single aesthetic. United by the way they move through the world with curiosity, creativity, and conviction, these conversations lean into the value of slowing down.

A publication is the original anti-scroll – something permanent you can live with and return to, time after time. Forever evolving with enduring, timeless appeal, The Stance mirrors our approach to clothing. It's an invitation into the Marfa Stance world, their voices, values, and the rhythm of their universe.

[5] ON SISTERHOOD: Sandy Tabatznik

A Stance On: Sisterhood

There’s a warmth to Sandy Tabatznik’s voice, which makes it easy to get a real sense of her lived experience when she talks. We start the conversation by considering the notion of women supporting women, which Sandy doesn’t frame as a trend or a strategy – it’s simply a fact of life. “In our Lalela Female Empowerment programmes, we encourage our girls to look to each other for community instead of competition,” she says. “I think this is a lesson that also stands in the world of business. There is room for everyone at the table.” It’s a quiet, but radical statement that feels practical and rooted in decades of experience (and a deep belief) in shared success. “At Lalela, we’re constantly seeking to empower not only the young women in our programmes, but also our female teachers, community leaders and staff. Our leadership team at Lalela has a female majority and together, these women have created an environment of care, creativity and respect that we are deeply proud of.”

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Sandy Tabatznik

A Stance On: Sisterhood

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[6] ON COMMUNITY: Phil Winser

A Stance On: Community

“They’re like children. I don’t have a favourite!”. A diplomatic response from Public House Group co-founder, Phil Winser. As someone who originally wanted to be a farmer, his career pivot towards hospitality was “a calling”. After twenty years shaking up the food scene in New York with The Fat Radish, Phil turned his attention back to his homeland in 2020. A conversation over a pint with friend James Gummer gave the duo an idea to put some serious love back into the classic British pub. A combination of beautifully restored historic buildings, brilliant atmosphere, domestically brewed beers on tap and spectacular menus that celebrate local produce have meant their establishments consistently sit in London’s ‘best of’ lists. Olivier van Themschse joined the business in 2023 to officially launch Public House Group as a business following the success of The Pelican.

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Phil Winser

A Stance On: Community

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[7] ON JOURNEYING: David Prior

A Stance On: Journeying

Some people have an air of always being mid-journey, even when they’re sitting still. David Prior fits that bill. He is wanderlust, personified. Born in Australia, he left early, propelled by what Australians often refer to as ‘the tyranny of distance’, moving to Italy in 2006 to study Gastronomic Science in Piedmont, then to California in 2009 and finally, to New York in 2014. Clearly, geography matters to the founder of esteemed travel company Prior, although taste and cultural literacy matter more.

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David Prior

A Stance On: Journeying

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[8] ON CONNECTION: Georgie Greville

A Stance On: Connection

Reinvention has never been the aim for Georgie Greville. With a successful career threaded through the realms of music, film, beauty, culture and entrepreneurship, what sounds at first like a dream résumé has morphed into more of a life philosophy. At the core, she personifies deeply embodied creativity, but when she speaks, there’s a force of clarity that flows – announcing with candour that these skills are now being used for the good. The lure of corporate pizza has lost its appeal and Georgie’s expertise is no longer for sale. Her defiance is inspirational.

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Georgie Greville

A Stance On: Connection

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[9] ON COMPATIBILITY: Legacy + Andreas

A Stance On: Compatibility

The shared world of New York-based Legacy Russell and Andreas Laszlo Konrath is shaped by language, images and history. Curator, writer and author Legacy grew up in the East Village, with Andreas arriving from London after a long, meandering education through skate culture, art school, and the early-2000s visual economy of magazines and music. Together, they model a way of living with work, rather than inside it. Their respective practices are distinct, but in constant conversation.

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Legacy Russell Andreas L. Konrath

A Stance On: Compatibility

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[10] ON CAPTURING: Richard Haines

A Stance On: Capturing

Richard Haines has spent a lifetime looking at stuff. At clothes, people and posture. He clocks those small daily decisions we all make that reveal something bigger about ourselves. This observational prowess gives his drawings a very specific kind of documentary authority. When he talks about sitting down with a blank sheet of paper and an ink pen, there’s no mythology attached. “I have a pretty deep, primal relationship with drawing. When I’m doing it, I’m not thinking – it’s more of a meditation. If I end up with something I love I’m a bit surprised.”

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Richard Haines

A Stance On: Capturing

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[1] ON CARE: Mickalene Thomas

A Stance On: Care

American artist Mickalene Thomas has just returned from Paris. She's been busy with her latest exhibition at the city's Grand Palais. After eleven days away from home she's relieved to be back in New York – it's a contradiction we're all familiar with. Travelling is so liberating; it's great to get away, but always good to be reunited with your own bed, your own pillows, and your own space.

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Mickalene Thomas

A Stance On: Care

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[2] ON LEGACY: The Elgorts

A Stance On: Legacy

There are some families where creativity runs through the genes. For the Elgorts, this inheritance is something they practise and finesse with commitment, forever sharpening their skills. Image-making, movement, and performance might sound like a bunch of separate disciplines, but for Sophie, her father Arthur and mother Grethe, they are overlapping ways of engaging with the world.

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The Elgorts

A Stance On: Legacy

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[3] ON RESTORATION: Titouan Bernicot

A Stance On: Restoration

There are some families where creativity runs through the genes. For the Elgorts, this inheritance is something they practise and finesse with commitment, forever sharpening their skills. Image-making, movement, and performance might sound like a bunch of separate disciplines, but for Sophie, her father Arthur and mother Grethe, they are overlapping ways of engaging with the world.

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Titouan Bernicot

A Stance On: Restoration

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[Feature] ON BEING READY

On Being Ready

On Being Ready

Words by Katherine Bucknell

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[4] ON VALUES: Mike Anders

A Stance On: Values

For a man who manages the wealth of some of the world's most influential individuals, Mike Anders doesn't speak like a traditional finance expert. Laidback, warm and super charismatic, he seems remarkably uninterested in money as an end goal. His enthusiasm centres around people instead – on the notion of trust, listening, and the idea that good conversations and true connections are where life's real value lies.

Read Article

Mike Anders

A Stance On: Values

Read Article