Culture, Connection and 70 Years of VanEck

Seventy years is a long time in finance. Markets evolve, technologies shift, and trends come and go. Yet some things, like purpose, principles and people endure.

At VanEck, culture has always been more than an internal talking point. It’s a shared belief that how we work matters just as much as what we achieve. And for the people who have spent years, or even decades, helping shape this firm, that spirit is what makes VanEck feel less like a company and more like a community.

As we celebrate our 70th anniversary, we asked employees to share what the firm’s culture has meant to them. What emerged was not just a story about work, but about people, pride and a place that feels like home.

A Foundation Built on People

When Alison Emanuel, Paralegal, joined VanEck in 1996, she was a new immigrant from Guyana looking for an opportunity to grow. “VanEck offered me the chance to work hard and achieve meaningful goals,” she says, recalling how HR threw her a small celebration when she became a U.S. citizen. “That gesture spoke volumes about the culture here.”

Twenty-nine years later, she’s still rising at 5:00 a.m. to get to the office early when there’s a board meeting. “It’s a habit I never dropped.” And she still finds joy in meeting board members, assisting legal teams, and reflecting on just how far things have come, from typewritten board minutes to digital governance. “VanEck has always felt like a family-oriented company. I’m proud to be part of this legacy,” she says.

“I learned that you get more out of people not only when there’s a shared mission, but when people care about each other as well.”

Kristen Capuano

CMO and Co-COO

That sense of belonging—of being seen and supported—is echoed across the firm. “I met the family I chose here,” says CMO and Co-COO Kristen Capuano, who joined in 2007 when the marketing team had just a handful of people. “I learned that you get more out of people not only when there’s a shared mission, but when people care about each other as well.”

It’s a balance that continues to define the firm’s culture today. “On day one, I felt like more than a number,” says Managing Director Pat Finn. “We’ve grown, but we still retain the best parts of the firm—the collaboration of ideas and inputs across many levels. That’s what keeps it special.”

“Be yourself. If you have good ideas, you matter at VanEck,” says CEO Jan van Eck. “We’re not a huge company. Everyone matters. There’s no negative connotation to ideas that don’t work. We want people to bring their best ideas forward to make the firm better or give more value to clients.”

Carrying the Legacy Forward

Culture at VanEck has never been static, but has been carried forward and refined. Shawn Reynolds, Portfolio Manager, recalls how Derek van Eck instilled that people-first philosophy. “Derek’s approach was always that family comes first, the team comes first,” he says. “That’s a vital part of this organization, and we try to fulfill his legacy with regards to that.”

Deputy Portfolio Manager Angus Shillington saw that legacy tested firsthand after Derek’s passing. “Jan’s grit and determination, together with the leadership team and the Board, not only moved the firm forward but did it in a way that stayed true to principle,” he reflects.

For many, what defines VanEck isn’t just the opportunities they’ve been given, but the relationships they’ve built. “Some of my best days were spent just talking to other employees about their lives,” says Senior Analyst Paul Weltchek. “It’s those relationships that promote such a great working atmosphere.”

“Be yourself. If you have good ideas, you matter at VanEck”

Jan van Eck

Chief Executive Officer

VP Associate General Counsel Laura Martinez remembers being employee number 99 at 99 Park Avenue—“either symbolic or suspicious,” she jokes—and realizing early on that this wasn’t a typical firm. Rather than being grilled about case law, her interview was a conversation about movies and hobbies. This set the tone for her. “VanEck has given me room to grow, incredible colleagues who are now close friends, and a community that mixes innovation with kindness—and occasionally, some excellent elevator banter.”

As Jan notes, “We tried to always have VanEck be a collegial place, but with very high achievement standards.”

Even as the company has grown into a global organization, that closeness remains part of the fabric. Philipp Schlegel, who’s worked with VanEck for two decades across Europe—first as an investor before joining the firm—hopes that never changes. “As the firm grows, I hope VanEck never loses the qualities that make it special: its entrepreneurial mindset, its collaborative culture, and above all, its integrity. From my first experience as an investor to my years working within the company, one constant has been the commitment to doing what is best for clients.”

Evolution with Purpose

From gold and emerging markets to ETFs and digital assets, VanEck’s story has always been one of curiosity and courage. Across departments, the same mindset applies. “Culture, access, and integrity of mission—they’re still here,” says Angus. “The firm’s legacy is built not only on innovation or market insight, but on character.”

“What’s remarkable,” says Arian Neiron, CEO and Managing Director of VanEck Asia Pacific, “is that VanEck has always stood for more than investment products. It has stood for access, innovation, and integrity in a constantly changing world.”

As Jane Pigott, Board Chair, says, “It’s not just one person or one moment. It’s been a continuous way of thinking about how to deliver on our promise to investors. That continuity is what makes VanEck exceptional.”

“VanEck has always stood for more than investment products. It has stood for access, innovation, and integrity in a constantly changing world.”

Arian Neiron

CEO and Managing Director of VanEck Asia Pacific

Jan echoes that sentiment. “There’s no way this company would be here without the contributions of the team and the individuals,” he says. “We’ve gone through so many stresses in the financial markets over 70 years. It really takes a team. It’s been great to work with so many talented people.”

From the days of typewriters and graph paper to ETFs and digital assets, the tools have changed, but the ethos hasn’t. People, purpose, and principle remain the constants. That, more than anything, is why the story of VanEck’s first 70 years feels less like history and more like a beginning.