In this episode of the Australian Investors Podcast, Owen Rask sits down with Jaki Virtue, Chief Operating Officer of Washington H. Soul Pattinson, for a rare look inside one of Australia’s most closely watched investment companies. Jaki explains how a business with only about 55 staff can still oversee a large and growing portfolio, and why culture, systems and clarity matter just as much as capital allocation. The conversation starts with Jaki’s backstory, from an adventurous family and an unconventional schooling experience through to investment banking, business management and eventually becoming the inaugural COO of an ASX 50 company. She shares the story of “manifesting” that role in her twenties, why she deliberately chose stretch opportunities, and how risk, courage and curiosity shaped her career. Owen and Jaki also dig into what makes Soul Patts distinctive today: its long dividend record, the Milton and Brickworks transactions, the balance between public and private markets, founder partnerships, governance, AI adoption and the importance of protecting shareholder capital without creating bureaucracy. If you want to understand how a long-term investment company actually operates behind the scenes, this episode offers a practical window into leadership, team design and compounding over time. It is a useful listen for anyone curious about how great businesses stay agile without losing discipline. Chapters 00:00 Jackie's Family Background 05:06 Manifesting the COO Role 08:00 Path into Finance 09:13 Soul Pats Overview 14:34 Milton & Brickworks Mergers 19:32 Inside the Business 21:25 What a COO Does 24:17 Why Soul Pats Needed a COO 26:18 Building the Team 31:54 Culture at Soul Pats 37:34 Team & Meeting Structure 43:10 Technology & AI Adoption 47:07 ASIC Private Markets Panel 49:59 Private Credit Risks 54:46 Next Five Years Episode resources - Speak with the Rask Advice team: https://rask.com.au/advice - Ask a question (select the Investors podcast): https://bit.ly/R-quest Show partner resources - ETF investor? Go beyond ordinary with Global X: View all funds https://www.globalxetfs.com.au - Visit TermPlus to learn more https://termplus.com.au/?utm_source=rask&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=investors&utm_term=general&utm_content=youtube_description - Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit: https://bit.ly/Pearler EOFY deals to know about - ending June/July 2026 - 1 free trade per month, for 12 months, for new Pearler customers: https://bit.ly/Pearler Rask resources - All services: https://bit.ly/R-services - Financial Planning: https://bit.ly/R-plan - Invest with us: https://bit.ly/R-invest - Access Show Notes: https://bit.ly/R-notes - Ask a question: https://bit.ly/R-quest - We love feedback! https://raskau.typeform.com/to/ZbfHy6IP Follow us on social media - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rask.invest - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg