Application Guide

How to Apply for Director, Strategy and Innovation

at Apollo

🏢 About Apollo

Apollo is a leader in alternative asset management with a strong focus on sustainable and impactful investing, offering innovative capital solutions for growth. Its commitment to building new business models and driving competitive differentiation makes it a unique place for those who want to shape the future of retirement and adjacent markets.

About This Role

This role is pivotal in shaping Athene's enterprise growth priorities, from developing growth platforms to incubating AI capabilities. You'll work directly with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to transition strategic opportunities into operating businesses, driving competitive advantage in retirement services.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start with a strategy review with senior leadership, discussing a new growth platform proposal. Mid-morning, you'd analyze market data and build financial models for a potential investment. After lunch, you'd collaborate with the New Markets team to incubate a cross-business initiative, followed by a presentation to stakeholders on AI transformation opportunities.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Apollo Is Looking For

  • A strategic thinker with 7+ years in strategy consulting or corporate strategy, specifically with experience in retirement services, asset management, or financial services.
  • Strong analytical skills including financial modeling, market sizing, and business case development, with a track record of influencing investment decisions.
  • Exceptional executive communication and presentation skills, able to distill complex strategies for senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Entrepreneurial mindset with experience incubating new business models and driving AI transformation initiatives.

📝 Tips for Applying to Apollo

1

Highlight specific examples of growth platform development or new business incubation, especially in retirement or adjacent markets.

2

Quantify your impact in past roles (e.g., market sizing, revenue growth from new initiatives, investment returns).

3

Showcase any experience with AI transformation or digital strategy, as this is a key focus for Athene.

4

Tailor your resume to emphasize cross-functional collaboration with corporate development, retail, and new markets teams.

5

Research Apollo's recent sustainability initiatives and how they tie into growth strategies, and mention this in your cover letter.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Emphasize your experience in shaping enterprise growth priorities and working with senior leadership.', 'Demonstrate your ability to build business cases and financial models for new growth platforms.', 'Highlight any direct experience in retirement services, asset management, or financial services innovation.', "Show passion for sustainable and impactful investing, aligning with Apollo's mission."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Understand Apollo's recent investments in sustainable and impactful strategies, including any relevant press releases or annual reports.
  • → Study Athene's current retirement and annuity product offerings, and identify potential gaps or adjacent markets.
  • → Review Apollo's AI and technology initiatives, such as partnerships or internal incubations.
  • → Analyze competitors like Blackstone, KKR, or other asset managers with retirement-focused strategies.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach developing a new growth platform for Athene in a specific adjacent market (e.g., annuities, retirement income)?
2 Describe a time you built a financial model to evaluate a strategic investment. What were the key assumptions?
3 How would you influence senior leadership to adopt a new strategic initiative? Give an example.
4 What role do you see AI playing in transforming Athene's business model?
5 How do you prioritize among multiple growth opportunities with limited resources?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't reference Apollo, Athene, or the specific growth focus.
  • Failing to quantify your achievements in strategy or growth roles (e.g., vague statements without numbers).
  • Not demonstrating an understanding of the retirement services or asset management industry in your application.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Apollo!

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