The Coach in Morgan Stanley MAKER Jennifer Burton

As a child, Jennifer Burton was so shy she couldn’t bring herself to raise her hand in class. Determined to break out of that shell, she joined the speech and debate team in her freshman year of high school in Southern California. She came in last at nearly every competition—and was often so nervous she felt physically ill.

But Jen stayed with it. She watched seasoned debaters, learned by observing and slowly found her voice. By sophomore year, she was winning competitions, securing a spot at the California state championship and ultimately competing on the national stage.

To this day, Jen credits debate with transforming her confidence and shaping her professional edge: “It taught me to think on my feet, craft a compelling story to move people to action, and that with hard work, anyone can build a skill.”

Those skills now serve her well as Senior Analyst and Chief of Staff for Morgan Stanley’s Western Region, where she works alongside other senior regional leaders to drive cohesion, performance and growth. From her base in Los Angeles, she leads a cross-functional team supporting sales, service and risk, and helps colleagues tap into the full spectrum of the firm’s resources.

Her approach is grounded in one simple belief: empower people and good things happen. She’s recognized for strengthening collaboration, streamlining performance and quietly inspiring those around her with humility, inclusivity and high standards. She challenges team members to step beyond their roles and prepares them for leadership long before they realize they’re ready.

“Inspiring others to grow is the most fulfilling part of my career,” says Jen, proud to have been named a Morgan Stanley MAKER, Class of 2025—a distinction for innovators and champions of inclusion, nominated by peers across the firm.

APPRENTICESHIP ETHIC

Jen’s path wasn’t always aimed at finance. She studied international relations and earned a master’s in public policy from Pepperdine University, spending semesters abroad in France and post-apartheid South Africa to examine democracy in action. She thought she’d end up at a think tank or nonprofit—but the financial reality of student loan bills changed that plan.

She landed a job in operations at Smith Barney, prior to its acquisition by Morgan Stanley, and discovered something surprising: she loved it. From there, she earned her licenses, moved through client service and leadership roles and ultimately found her calling delivering results through collaboration with a high-performing regional team—a post she calls “the best job at Morgan Stanley.”

Over the past decade in regional roles, she’s embraced the firm’s “apprenticeship culture,” learning alongside seasoned colleagues while always pushing to try new ideas and shape the culture for the better.

THE CURIOUS COACH

Her proudest initiatives center around talent development for her region, including the creation of a comprehensive training program for new administrators and the launch of a leadership development program to equip current and future talent with both strategy and confidence. She also collaborates with various partners to deliver tools and content to help advisors build their practices and leverage the firm’s vast resources to their fullest potential.

At the core of all this is coaching. “I’ve had great coaches, and I believe in paying that forward,” Jen says. Her coaching philosophy is hands-on and empowering: “Invite people to the table, ask questions and let them find the answers,” she adds. “Leadership isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about knowing how to find what you need and helping others do the same.”

One of her favorite quotes, from author Alice Walker, reflects her outlook: “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any.” But Jen knows “each of us, regardless of title or role, has the ability to shape and influence others.” Leading with curiosity, she adds, “is a great first step to understanding a person’s motivation, goal, and purpose. After that, it’s about guiding that understanding toward making an impact, whether an incremental gain or transformational work.”

Curious by nature, Jen is a connector and problem-solver who loves tracking down context to help her team succeed. She believes in understanding the “why” behind every project and in spotting hidden connections that make people—and teams—stronger.

LISTENING AS LEADERSHIP

An avid believer in the power of a “listening tour,” Jen consistently asks colleagues across markets and from a variety of roles: What’s working? What could be better? From those insights, she has built new ways to address gaps and share resources, blending structured meetings, peer-led educational programs and idea exchanges such as an A-Z Playbook for market and branch administrators and a Rising Stars Series focused on advisor education.

Her leadership style is firmly rooted in “people-centered leadership,” says Jen, who is “all about doing whatever I can to ensure my team is appropriately resourced and fully supported so they can do their best work.” In support of that, she conducts individual goal-planning sessions, ensuring each team member is stretching to lead projects and collaborating with others. Those goals are intentionally aligned to the overall strategic priorities of the region and the firm.

Jen also leads the region’s philanthropic efforts, coordinating her team to manage fundraising and volunteerism while championing Morgan Stanley’s core value of giving back. “It’s important to be good citizens in the communities where we live and work,” she says.

Looking ahead, Jen envisions an even stronger inclusive and collaborative culture, where empowered individuals step into leadership positions from every corner of the organization. “When people feel connected and capable,” she says, “there's no limit to what they can accomplish.”