A graduate of Harvard College, Christopher Harland (MBA 1984) spent three years at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City before returning to Boston to enroll at HBS. “Harvard Business School gave me the freedom to explore different avenues and think about what I wanted to do next,” he explains. He especially enjoyed being able to choose which courses to take in his second year.

Reflecting on his HBS experience, Harland believes that the School taught him to be a much more effective communicator. “Being able to formulate a strong argument and present my ideas are powerful skills to have,” says Harland.

After graduating a George F. Baker scholar, Harland went on to a 32-year career at Morgan Stanley, serving as chairman and regional head of Morgan Stanley Latin America. Under his leadership, Morgan Stanley expanded its operations in Brazil and Mexico and opened new offices in Peru, Columbia, and Chile. He is now a partner in the Advisory Group at PJT Partners.

When making philanthropic choices, Harland and his wife, Ashley Leeds, consider what matters most to them and their family. Higher education is a priority. “I consider it a great privilege to have spent two years with some of the smartest, most driven people out there,” explains Harland.

For his thirtieth reunion, Harland established a charitable remainder trust. “I want HBS to maintain its excellence, and I know the School needs resources to compete for talented faculty and students,” he says. “With a trust, I was able to make a bigger gift to HBS and receive an income for life.”

His trust will ultimately support the HBS Fund, which provides flexible resources the School can use to support core priorities and harness new opportunities. “I want to empower the dean to decide how my trust can best be used to help the School remain at the forefront of management education,” he explains.

Learn how a charitable remainder trust can work for you.

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