Our conversation starts with his career as a college and then professional athlete and the way that this experience shaped him in terms of resilience and teamwork. We move then to his continued formative years in investment consulting at the firm that was then DiMeo Schneider and follow this with what led him to launch Vistamark. 

Matt emphasized the importance of qualitative analysis alongside quantitative models and shared his approach to maximizing return at a given risk budget. He also discussed the challenges of mission-driven investing, such as removing fossil fuels from portfolios. His final advice is around the importance of being honest, hardworking, and true to oneself as an investor.

This podcast is kindly sponsored by Evanston Capital and Alvine Capital. For over 20 years Evanston Capital has had a key focus in identifying early-stage investment managers it believes are capable of generating long-term, value-added returns in complex, innovative strategy areas. Alvine Capital is a specialist investment manager and placement boutique with a particular focus on alternative assets with significant presence in London and Stockholm.

• Kirsty Gibson of Baillie Gifford who discusses investment beliefs and the conviction of being an active manager
• Rich Nuzum of Franklin Templeton, who discusses the evolution of OCIOs
• Klaus Peterson of Apera Capital, discussing the opportunity in lower and middle market lending in Germany and the surrounding region
• Corey Then, general counsel - regulation at Circle, lifts the veil on Stablecoin and their promise
• Thomas Knowles of the Gratitude Railroad reveals the evolved state of impact investing
• William McGrath of C Suite Strategies has an unorthodox view on DB pensions and he would like you to know why
• Larissa Herczeg of 1 Seed, who shares the secret to seeding managers in the real estate arena
• Alison Taylor, of NYU Stern school, a legend in the corporate responsibility area
• Matt Rice of newly formed Vistamark Capital on the potential for OCIO and family advisory businesses.
• Adam Blitz of Evanston Capital, who explains their unique approach to unearthing talent in hedge fund investing 

This podcast is kindly sponsored by Evanston Capital and Alvine Capital. For over 20 years Evanston Capital has had a key focus in identifying early-stage investment managers it believes are capable of generating long-term, value-added returns in complex, innovative strategy areas. Alvine Capital is a specialist investment manager and placement boutique with a particular focus on alternative assets with significant presence in London and Stockholm

In our discussion we trace William's own career path and the source of his interest in pensions and the financial sector more generally. Moving then to his current perspective on pension funds at  C Suite Pension Strategies, he discusses the importance of corporate pensions, emphasizing that they should be seen as a corporate wealth fund rather than a burden. He highlights that there is still £1.2 trillion in private sector investments in the UK, advocating for a "run on" strategy over "buyout." 

William criticizes the lack of scrutiny in actuarial work and calls for better regulation and oversight of some of the workings of this sector. Overall he emphasizes the importance of a "members first" approach which puts member interests at the center of pension fund governance.   

We move then to broader governance issues and we talk in some detail about his experience in leadership at Aga and getting back to his love of history and the industrial heartland refers us to “Aga, Allied and Ogilvy – The Management of Groups”, which contains remarkable Boardroom records of a group of allied iron founders seeking to integrate businesses between the 1930s and 1950s – https://homehearthistory.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/aga-allied-ogilvy-book.pdf

This podcast is kindly sponsored by Evanston Capital and Alvine Capital. For over 20 years Evanston Capital has had a key focus in identifying early-stage investment managers it believes are capable of generating long-term, value-added returns in complex, innovative strategy areas. Alvine Capital is a specialist investment manager and placement boutique with a particular focus on alternative assets with significant presence in London and Stockholm.

He was previously an Operating Partner at the Builders Fund and prior to that held a series of other roles, having started out in venture at SVB Capital.

We speak about the evolution of the focus on The Gratitude Railroad since our last conversation with one of its Founders, Howard Fischer in July 2023. You can find Howard’s podcast here.

Thomas elaborates on the investment focus areas, including climate (energy transition, energy efficiency, waste to value) and social impact (education, healthcare, financial services).

We examine the impact that has been delivered to date, some of the obstacles and challenges that have delivered important lessons and the future of impact investing amid the current zeitgeist.

 
This podcast is kindly sponsored by Evanston Capital and Alvine Capital. For over 20 years Evanston Capital has had a key focus in identifying early-stage investment managers it believes are capable of generating long-term, value-added returns in complex, innovative strategy areas. Alvine Capital is a specialist investment manager and placement boutique with a particular focus on alternative assets with significant presence in London and Stockholm.

Our conversation starts with Rich’s upbringing and growing up with his parents as school teachers. He describes how he came upon finance as a career, and the impact of the time spent in Tokyo studying economics, one of the most difficult academic paths he has ever navigated. We speak then about his various phases in investment consulting which saw some movements to head up different areas, some planned and some serendipitous. 

We turn then to the concept of Outsourced CIO (OCIO) serviced and how this service offering has evolved in recent years – often to be less of a complete substitute for an investment team and more of an adjacent set of complementary skills at times. We discuss the global experience of OCIO adoption and where the future integration of this might lie. 

This podcast is kindly sponsored by Evanston Capital and Alvine Capital. For over 20 years Evanston Capital has had a key focus in identifying early-stage investment managers it believes are capable of generating long-term, value-added returns in complex, innovative strategy areas. Alvine Capital is a specialist investment manager and placement boutique with a particular focus on alternative assets with significant presence in London and Stockholm

We move then to her investment beliefs, her Masters in carbon management and what she derived from it and her approach to stock picking. We dive into the cultural aspects that make a firm a rewarding place to work, and about the mindset needed to thrive as an active equity manager today. 

This podcast is kindly sponsored by Evanston Capital and Alvine Capital. For over 20 years Evanston Capital has had a key focus in identifying early-stage investment managers it believes are capable of generating long-term, value-added returns in complex, innovative strategy areas. Alvine Capital is a specialist investment manager and placement boutique with a particular focus on alternative assets with significant presence in London and Stockholm.

Series 5 of 2025 is kindly sponsored by Diamond Hill. Diamond Hill invests on behalf of clients through a shared commitment to its valuation-driven investment principles, long-term perspective, capacity discipline and client alignment. An independent active asset manager with significant employee ownership, Diamond Hill’s investment strategies include differentiated US and non-US equity, alternative long-short equity and fixed income.

Series 5 of 2025 is kindly sponsored by Diamond Hill. Diamond Hill invests on behalf of clients through a shared commitment to its valuation-driven investment principles, long-term perspective, capacity discipline and client alignment. An independent active asset manager with significant employee ownership, Diamond Hill’s investment strategies include differentiated US and non-US equity, alternative long-short equity and fixed income.

Our conversation starts with Rebecca's aspirations to be on Broadway, and how some practical realities led to a detour into initially fraud investigations and other back office financial roles. A move to NYC followed and some assertive moves that led to Rebecca ultimately interviewing to be one of the early employees at Aksia, then a bare start up. She helped build the operational due diligence function there and later led Aksia's expansion into London. We dig in to the craft of operational due diligence and the importance of psychology, studying human behavior, the desire to present everything in a glowing and positive light and the importance of both reading between the lines and digging in to motivations and the reasons for certain disclosures. This gets to the essence of fraud, and we learn about the fraud triangle and the circumstances that often have to be in place for fraud to take place.

Moving then to the recent phase of her career, we hear about pivots, dialing up and dialing down intensity when necessary, as well as other entrepreneurial urges that she has occasionally listened to. Her latest passion is a focus on health, and the importance of modulating stress so as to focus on the body's balance and resilience.

This is a fascinating discussion about a less well understood aspect of the due diligence process.

Series 5 of 2025 is kindly sponsored by Diamond Hill. Diamond Hill invests on behalf of clients through a shared commitment to its valuation-driven investment principles, long-term perspective, capacity discipline and client alignment. An independent active asset manager with significant employee ownership, Diamond Hill’s investment strategies include differentiated US and non-US equity, alternative long-short equity and fixed income.

George will be retiring from his role as Head of Fund at SYPA at the end of the year, and this discussion was an opportunity to reflect on a career in which public service dominated, and against which a dramatically changing market backdrop cast a long - and positive - shadow. We track his early insights into the challenges of local government, and how his finance roles started to overlap with the investment function. This sight of the investment function led him to be an early mover in local government pooling - starting with the Lancashire and LPFA merger a decade ago - and he explains why the rationale is, for him, so clear cut as the demands of institutional investing have grown.

We speak too about his commitment to local investing as well as to a sustainability agenda, which, as in many of his endeavours has been bold and ahead of its time. Finally we reflect on learnings from a long and varied career, about the development of a leadership style, about learning to go against a natural tendency to be more introverted and deliberately reach out to team members to support them. We end with a discussion of legacy, which in George's case will be a long and impactful one. 

Series 5 of 2025 is kindly sponsored by Diamond Hill. Diamond Hill invests on behalf of clients through a shared commitment to its valuation-driven investment principles, long-term perspective, capacity discipline and client alignment. An independent active asset manager with significant employee ownership, Diamond Hill’s investment strategies include differentiated US and non-US equity, alternative long-short equity and fixed income.

Our conversation starts with Pilar's childhood which saw her move around a lot with her family - this forced an adaptability and resilience that served her well when her career in finance took many unexpected turns. Market and segment volatility played a notable supporting role in Pilar's early career, most particularly with a massive setback when Lehman Brothers collapsed and again when she joined a start-up hedge fund for a short period of time. 

MFS represented another change of direction, but ended up as a very fertile one, as she steadily progressed through the ranks there until ultimately co-leading the fixed income function in her current role. We discuss what makes an employer a positive influence, and how a nurturing work setting can bring out the best in teams.

Finally we reflect on what it is to have a full life, and the importance of staying diversified in life as well as in work.

Series 5 of 2025 is kindly sponsored by Diamond Hill. Diamond Hill invests on behalf of clients through a shared commitment to its valuation-driven investment principles, long-term perspective, capacity discipline and client alignment. An independent active asset manager with significant employee ownership, Diamond Hill’s investment strategies include differentiated US and non-US equity, alternative long-short equity and fixed income.

Our conversation starts with Ian’s start as an actuary and how he found himself gravitating towards pensions – his affinity for working with people and problem solving made him a natural fit. We discuss some of his core investment beliefs including how to take calculated risks, and use examples of some of the innovative strategies he employed while CIO at Royal Mail. We discuss how government regulation (and attitude to risk) can hamstring investment opportunities and what can be done to avert this.

Ian explains Tontine Trust's potential to disrupt the annuity market by offering income for life with better returns. Ian also stressed the importance of networking, mentorship, and entrepreneurial spirit, advocating for a cultural shift in the UK to foster innovation and risk-taking.

Series 5 of 2025 is kindly sponsored by Diamond Hill. Diamond Hill invests on behalf of clients through a shared commitment to its valuation-driven investment principles, long-term perspective, capacity discipline and client alignment. An independent active asset manager with significant employee ownership, Diamond Hill’s investment strategies include differentiated US and non-US equity, alternative long-short equity and fixed income.

Our conversation starts with Sam’s somewhat unconventional path into finance. He initially thought he would pursue a career in sports broadcasting, after pursuing a degree in broadcast journalism. While that career path was not to be, we reflect on how a love of statistics and an eye for detail can align with a flair for financial analysis. We move then to his move to Brookfield and into the infrastructure area and speak about the opportunity set in the burgeoning field of data centers.

In this dynamic area, staying up to date is key and Sam mentions the evolution of data centers from small, single-purpose structures to large, power-consuming facilities. This naturally has led to a surge in demand for power which is a further source of infrastructure investment opportunity.

Our discussion spans the importance of global reach, local investment and the evolving financial ecosystem around infrastructure and data centers. 

With thanks to Baillie Gifford for sponsoring Series 4 of 2025. Baillie Gifford is a long-term investment manager, dedicated to discovering the innovations and changemakers that deliver exceptional growth opportunities for its clients.

We start by asking about what, from his rich background, Karl continues to draw upon in his CIO work and ask what has changed, both about the market backdrop and how he perceives the role.  

We discuss the constraints that come with size, and how the venture capital and private equity ecosystems are evolving. We also tackle the shifts he has made in managing the fund from a material hedge fund position and active management in public equities to a focus on private equity, growth equity, and real assets.

With thanks to Baillie Gifford for sponsoring Series 4 of 2025. Baillie Gifford is a long-term investment manager, dedicated to discovering the innovations and changemakers that deliver exceptional growth opportunities for its clients.

We hear about Candice’s upbringing and a certain “moxie” that led her to reach out, make contacts, and network assiduously from an early age. She doesn’t pretend that this was easy, but she does discuss, candidly, how it got easier with time. This is essential advice for young professionals today, and it is heartwarming to hear it laid out in such a clear way.

We move then to her early career, the professionals that mentored her and the experiences that led her to found Moxie and the problem that she perceived in the industry that she wished to solve. We speak about the response to the movement she has built and why she is excited about the future.

Finally in the reflections section we talk about her mother – herself no stranger to moxie – who gave Candice the immortal advice to “buy her own baubles”. She has been committed to fending for herself ever since. 

With thanks to Baillie Gifford for sponsoring Series 4 of 2025. Baillie Gifford is a long-term investment manager, dedicated to discovering the innovations and changemakers that deliver exceptional growth opportunities for its clients.

Our conversation starts with the seeds that started James’s passion for Emerging Markets – an extended stay in Brazil, where he learned to speak Portuguese and was entirely immersed in the brands and consumer culture of the dynamic country. This led to a hunger to uncover what is less well known about regions under the Emerging Markets umbrella, and we dive in to this – including the unique, research driven, approach that the team takes at Ethos. 

We also refer to the origins of the name – it defines both their approach to investment management and portfolio construction as well as the ethos of the companies they invest in – companies committed to their mission, with honesty and integrity.

We move then another passion – James is also the founder of Young Investors Society (www.yis.org). Young Investors Society has become a leading global Financial Literacy organization teaching financial literacy and long-term investment skills to high-school students in over 1,000 high-schools across the world. We hear about lives changed and the impact felt by giving an opportunity to thousands of young people and about the power of lighting the spark for investing. 

With thanks to Baillie Gifford for sponsoring Series 4 of 2025. Baillie Gifford is a long-term investment manager, dedicated to discovering the innovations and changemakers that deliver exceptional growth opportunities for its clients.

Our conversation walks through Karey's career which saw the unusual move from analysis of public equities into venture capital investing, and we hear why they are more similar than we might think. 

We move then to the current opportunity set in venture investing - particularly at the late stage of venture investing (within 1-2 years of going public) which is the expertise of Cross Creek. Karey discusses some of the sectors where she sees the most compelling opportunity sets, including areas likely to impact the consumer, some of which have been overlooked in the current market hype.

We end with a reflection on lessons learned and the industry as it is today, from an LP and allocator perspective. 

With thanks to Baillie Gifford for sponsoring Series 4 of 2025. Baillie Gifford is a long-term investment manager, dedicated to discovering the innovations and changemakers that deliver exceptional growth opportunities for its client

Before moving to the opportunity set in Latin American markets today, we trace the evolution of the Chilean market as a backdrop to Jose Manuel’s career, and note the growth (from scratch) of an institutional investment landscape, a disciplined fiscal framework and an maturing trade network. We dive then into the current economic outlook for the region, noting the improved monetization of natural resources and the diversification of trading partners, diluting reliance on single trading partners and impact from the current tariff regime. Touching on other topics we discuss the maturing of the institutional investor landscape, the stock market picks in the region.

Why we made this? Latin America is a diverse collection of countries each with their own distinct dynamics and risks, and is often bucketed with other Emerging Markets. We wanted to speak to embedded experts to reveal distinct aspects of these markets that may challenge the conventional wisdom. 

Why we think you will find it interesting? Jose Manuel Silva has in-depth on-the-ground experience in Latin American financial markets and knowledge spanning their evolution and outlook. He notes dynamics that we often overlook as external onlookers, and his insights can help to enrich our perspectives on the region.

This is a replay of the first episode of our Latin American Voices series. With thanks to Baillie Gifford for sponsoring Series 4 of 2025. Baillie Gifford is a long-term investment manager, dedicated to discovering the innovations and changemakers that deliver exceptional growth opportunities for its clients.

We then explore the current climate in Argentina, and reflect on the adjustments that the population has had to make. We discuss persistent inflation and other economic crises, and how this led to a breach of trust and drove savings overseas. We examine the psychological impact of a lack of trust and ongoing uncertainty, and ask whether it instills a resilience, agility and an ability to move quickly in a population.

Turning then to the current election cycle, Fernando lays the groundwork for some cautious optimism, but recognizes that the situation is and continues to be fluid.

We recorded this podcast prior to the September 8 elections in Buenos Aires which delivered a blow to President Milei’s party.

Our conversation takes us from the big picture, starting with international law, which was Joanne’s original specialist area, to the local level, her current focus, and there were many fascinating stops in between.

We hear about various roles in public agencies, and how this shaped her approach to governance and ultimately service. We hear about the paramount importance of communication early and often and how this forges the link with ultimate beneficiaries.

Why we made this? Joanne is an emerging leader in the dynamic world of public pensions, which is particularly in focus in the UK today.

Why we think you will like it? It is rare to find a leader who sets the standard in the challenging area of public pension funds. Joanne is one of these leaders, and we can learn a lot from her insights on governance, communication and transparency. 

With thanks to Baillie Gifford for sponsoring Series 4 of 2025. Baillie Gifford is a long-term investment manager, dedicated to discovering the innovations and changemakers that deliver exceptional growth opportunities for its clients.

Moving then to her professional career we discuss the evolution of climate and sustainability products, and how she was motivated to pursue a post graduate degree in the area of climate change policy. We discuss then how this enriched her approach to product development and solution building and look at the outlook for this and similar strategies. 

Why we made this? Lauren is a passionate industry member with a unique blend of an academic background in Climate Change, Environment, Science and Policy as well as an understanding as to how sustainability products are fashioned and delivered. 

Why we think you may like it? A growing body of investors is interested in climate and sustainability products, and this podcast provides insights on product positioning, the evolving nature of client demand 

With thanks to Baillie Gifford for sponsoring Series 4 of 2025. Baillie Gifford is a long-term investment manager, dedicated to discovering the innovations and changemakers that deliver exceptional growth opportunities for its clients.

Before moving to the opportunity set in Latin American markets today, we trace the evolution of the Chilean market as a backdrop to Jose Manuel’s career, and note the growth (from scratch) of an institutional investment landscape, a disciplined fiscal framework and an maturing trade network. We dive then into the current economic outlook for the region, noting the improved monetization of natural resources and the diversification of trading partners, diluting reliance on single trading partners and impact from the current tariff regime. Touching on other topics we discuss the maturing of the institutional investor landscape, the stock market picks in the region.

Why we made this? Latin America is a diverse collection of countries each with their own distinct dynamics and risks, and is often bucketed with other Emerging Markets. We wanted to speak to embedded experts to reveal distinct aspects of these markets that may challenge the conventional wisdom. 

Why we think you will find it interesting? Jose Manuel Silva has in-depth on-the-ground experience in Latin American financial markets and knowledge spanning their evolution and outlook. He notes dynamics that we often overlook as external onlookers, and his insights can help to enrich our perspectives on the region. 

We dive in then to what shifts he noticed in himself, and in his backdrop, when he made the move to public service, and explore the best practice in governance that is key to making progress and protecting capital in this area. Moving to mission and purpose we discuss the fund’s asset mix, key priorities as well as size and funding level, and the overarching sense of purpose that guides him and his team. "Strength in Unity" is the motto of the City of Cincinnati. 

Why we made this? US public defined benefit funds are a key component of the US institutional landscape. Sitting at the intersection of politics and finance, these funds may have to wrestle with funding, cash flow and stakeholder issues that are complex, while often operating with lean teams. Jon Salstrom is a relatively new leader in this space, and we wanted to capture his perspectives and approach as an allocator in Cincinnati.

Why you may find this useful? The discussion provides insight into what is top of mind for a  public fund allocator today, as well as an charming description of a shift from the private sector to embracing public sector mission and purpose.

With thanks to Baillie Gifford for sponsoring Series 4 of 2025. Baillie Gifford is a long-term investment manager, dedicated to discovering the innovations and changemakers that deliver exceptional growth opportunities for its clients.

Our conversation starts with her early career aspirations to be a war correspondent and later, to work in U.S. government agencies. Delays and bottlenecks ultimately led to a forced—but serendipitous—pivot into financial services. What began as a temporary role at Citadel became the start of a dynamic 25+ year journey, one that now finds her leading Omnium Services at Northern Trust—still alongside some of the same colleagues who have been part of her career from the very beginning.

We speak then about the evolving world of hedge fund services and how AI, cyber security concerns and changing investor and fund needs are shaping it. Moving to career reflections we discuss the importance of giving credit where it is due – sometimes to oneself, and the joys that working for a supportive team – and together – for over 25 years can bring.

With thanks to Baillie Gifford for sponsoring Series 4 of 2025. Baillie Gifford is a long-term investment manager, dedicated to discovering the innovations and changemakers that deliver exceptional growth opportunities for its clients.

We start with hearing from Nadia Cobalovic, and the evolving world of hedge fund operations, then turn to Jon Salstrom, one of two Cincinnati investors on this Series, who describes the mission with which the Cincinnati employees retirement system runs their pension scheme. Staying with local government we change gears to the UK and the fast-paced set of changes occurring there, hearing from Jo Donnelly, CEO of LPFA. 

We revert to sustainability, with a side of dance, in a joyful discussion with Lauren Juliff of Storebrand, and then move to our first foray into Emerging Markets this series with an in-person interview with Jose Manuel Silva, conducted live in Santiago, his base. We then go back to Cincinnati, to check in with Karl Scheer, CIO of the University of Cincinnati endowment. 

It is back to Emerging Markets then, with an interview with James Fletcher, founder of Ethos Investment Management, and from emerging markets to emerging sectors, we then hear what excites Karey Barker of Crosscreek ventures, also based in Salt Lake City about the current opportunity set in innovation.

Because we like to hear of movers and shakers who are forcing us to think differently about how we show up in work, an engaging discussion with Candice Richards, will remind you to “buy your own baubles” and let your authenticity shine through at work, and finally are back to picks and shovels, with a discussion with Sam Garetano of Brookfield Asset Management on the appeal of data center investing.  

Thank you to Baillie Gifford for sponsoring Series 4 of 2025. Baillie Gifford is an asset management boutique that seeks out game-changing companies and other assets that can sustain long-term growth and remain resilient in a changing world. As an investment manager, it aims to deliver strong returns for its clients while supporting the firms that are backed on their behalf to succeed.

Our conversation starts with her dream to become a ballet dancer, and how this ultimately required a serious pivot, and we then hear about a series of financial services roles that ultimately culminated in her current CIO role for a religious institution. Having not had many guests with this connection on our podcast before it was interesting to dig into some of the unique characteristics of this type of role, which in Lisa’s case includes a commitment to impactful investments.

We discuss the definition of impact in this case, and how it is implemented and complementary to some of the charity and philanthropic work done by this institution.

Finally we reflect on the importance of kindness and how it can be a touchstone through one’s career and life.

Thank you to GCM Grosvenor and Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. for sponsoring Series 3 of 2025.

GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments.

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners.

Our sweeping discussion starts with risk, which, as an actuary, has been the backbone of Nick’s career – analyzing it, measuring it, mitigating it. We look at the challenge of sustainability through a risk lens, and ask whether carbon should remain at the forefront of the discussion or whether it is more critical now to expand the list of priorities.

Staying on the topic of risk we speak about standards, reporting and mitigation, and circle into adjacent areas such as the challenge of biodiversity loss, renewable agriculture and the hydrology cycle. 

Naturally, some of these seem to be at times insurmountable challenges, and we assess the right mindset for staying in this industry long term.

Nick suggested the following resources - see fiftyfaceshub for more details. 

 Sustainability Accelerator - Chatham House 

 https://donellameadows.org/systems-thinking-resources/

  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/final-report-the-economics-of-biodiversity-the-dasgupta-review

 https://global-tipping-points.org/resources-gtp/

Planetary Solvency – Finding Our Balance with Nature and  Planetary Solvency Dashboard ;

Thank you to GCM Grosvenor and Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. for sponsoring Series 3 of 2025.

GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments.

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners.

We suggest that the first step is acknowledging the problem – we then discuss the idea of training our minds and “going to the mental gym”, and look at strategies from those discussed by Niall Ferguson – creating an analogue study system where books are read in paper form and discussed without the use of electronic devices, to hybrid strateiges that encourage us to harness AI without relying it on exclusively.

If you enjoyed this short podcast series please send us your ideas for addressing the slide in our cognitive capacities. 

We begin our conversation with the roots of Kristen’s career, which corresponds quite closely with the roots and growth of Evanston Capital Management from the Northwestern University Endowment Management Team. Her career has spanned a significant period in the evolution and use of hedge funds in a portfolio and we spend some time on this, given the enduring focus on Evanston on this particular asset class.

Kristen’s view is nuanced and original and it is particularly interesting to probe beneath the headlines to assess the true state of affairs for this still significant asset area. 

Finally we reflect on advice she internalized in recent years (from a unique source, it must be said) to be secure in “running her own race”. We discuss this as advice for the next generation.

Thank you to GCM Grosvenor and Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. for sponsoring Series 3 of 2025.

GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments.

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners.

Over the past decade we have seen a deluge of challenges – from Covid and its disruptive effect on education, to the rising use of screens and smart phones to the more recent threat from LLMs and an increasingly proficient set of AI tools that threaten to compete with and ultimately replace humans in almost every dimension. Each of these threats is nuanced and subjective, but we are starting to see patterns emerge in terms of the impact  on our attention span, and ability to think critically and absorb new information.

I’m delighted to welcome Carolina Pacheco-Punceles to the podcast. She is a Behavioral Economist, AI Survival Kit Creator, Executive Function Strategist and her Linked In bio states that she is Equipping Humans with the Skills to Think Clearly, Lead Wisely & Thrive in a Disrupted World.

We connected over linked In when responding to a post by Jonathan Haidt about the erosion of attention spans and the ability to pay attention, and shared experiences about how we could address this slide. 

In this special two-part series we first look at some of the data and recent findings around the erosion of our attention spans and ability to reason and process complex data.

Part 2 then will set out various techniques that we have found to try to address this slide.

Here in part one we talk about the problem – and discuss this article from the Financial Times that triggered our discussion Have humans passed peak brain power? https://www.ft.com/content/a8016c64-63b7-458b-a371-e0e1c54a13fc  We ask if intelligence is a capacity to understand and question why performance in reasoning and problem solving tests is declining.

We look at another article which reveals that the percentage of fourth graders who score below basic in reading skills on the National Assessment of Educational Progress tests is the highest it has been in 20 years.

 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/10/opinion/education-smart-thinking-reading-tariffs.html?smid=li-share

Our discussion continues into the general slide in literacy in cognitive function and set up for Part 2, when we discuss some of the potential ways to address this.

Our conversation opens with the 3Ms that Artemiza says define her – she is a mother, a mathematician and a lover of mountains. We return then to her roots, she grew up in communist Romania and how that impacted her and her approach to risk, money and outlook. She completed a PhD in finance at the University of Washington and following a career in quantitative investment and ultimately launched her own firm. We dive into her focus within the quantitative investing sphere – and discuss in particular her focus on asset pricing, earnings management, and price momentum, emphasizing the importance of minimizing estimation error and integrating risk and alpha. 

Turning to career Artemiza stresses the challenges of balancing motherhood and career, the importance of networks, and the role of emerging manager programs in fostering innovation in asset management.

Thank you to GCM Grosvenor and Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. for sponsoring Series 3 of 2025.

GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments.

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners.

Our conversation races Henry’s somewhat unorthodox background and path into running money in fixed income. We discuss the interviews conducted in asset management firm and question whether they are optimized for the right characteristics and strengths. We look at how they might be done differently and how that would improve the cognitive mix within firms. We spend a little time on personality types, especially as assessed by the various psychometric tests that are conducted on teams, and note how certain traits are under-represented.

Returning to his own career path we reflect on the importance of living through financial crises and the invaluable petri dish that presents and then discuss market conditions in fixed income today and how investor needs are evolving. In the reflection section we turn to the importance of humanistic approaches in finance, understanding the counterparty, and not making irrational decisions based on fear and greed.

Thank you to GCM Grosvenor and Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. for sponsoring Series 3 of 2025.

GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments.

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners.

Our conversation starts with Jo’s early career and how she ended up pursuing a role in pensions. We speak about her work on the stock picking side, and discuss whether the market backdrop has changed since then for UK equities. We ask then whether this stint in internal equity investing has informed her approach to other active asset managers and the challenges they face today.

Moving now to the whole fund oversight that Jo provides, we discuss the future of pooling, and its benefits as well as the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing, particularly in light of the challenges facing all public funds today.

Finally we reflect on a career of public service and the wisdom gathered over those years.

Thank you to GCM Grosvenor and Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. for sponsoring Series 3 of 2025.

GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments.

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners.

We start there, with his move to Hong Kong and some of the cultural differences that he perceived when working overseas more broadly, much of them to do with self-confidence and presence in the workplace. We move then to discussing the evolving shape of institutional investing and how asset managers can adapt to changing investor needs. 

We speak about predicting the shape of future demand, seeing where the puck is moving to, and changing how asset managers work with clients. 

Some of this is the consultative approach, some of this is simply adapting to changing needs. We also discuss the future of active asset management more broadly.

Thank you to GCM Grosvenor and Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. for sponsoring Series 3 of 2025.

GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments.With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners.

Our conversation traces her background and her path to representing LPs and their interests in the fast-pace private asset arena. Our conversation has a strong emphasis on transparency – we open with a quote around sunlight being the best disinfectant.

This takes us to a discussion about demystifying the often-opaque world of private assets, the evolution of the position of the LP and the current state of the pendulum in terms of where it is sitting. We hear about the evolving ILPA standards, getting buy-in across a global LP population and the importance of collective action as well as standardization.

Thank you to GCM Grosvenor and Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. for sponsoring Series 3 of 2025.

GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments.
With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners.

We start by discussing Krishna’s background, starting in South India, how he moved to studying engineering in the US, and working in software and consulting during the .com bubble. He pursued finance in London, covering European equities, before returning to the US to manage a global equity portfolio. He reflects on the role of chance in his career, noting that while he made decisions along the way, crucial jumps happened by accident.

Moving to this current role at Diamond Hill we discuss the importance of teams, and how this is often an overlooked aspect of portfolio management. We look at how he nurtures a team – even from a largely remote base – and how autonomy is key to agency and empowerment. 

Thank you to GCM Grosvenor and Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. for sponsoring Series 3 of 2025.

GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments.

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners.

Our conversation traces Debby's personal and career journey from South Africa, where she did consulting work, to build a new life in Melbourne, and how she developed her network from scratch. We move then to her role at Hesta and how it has evolved, and spend some time discussing the unique positioning that Hesta holds, as well as putting the role of all Australian Superannuation Funds into context.

We discuss why Hesta is a "Super with Impact" and dig in to how impact is defined, and how and why Hesta engages with its members. We talk about the challenges of the road ahead and how Hesta is preparing for its future journey. 

Thank you to GCM Grosvenor and Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. for sponsoring Series 3 of 2025.

GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments.

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners.

We turn then to portfolio management, as Krishna Mohanraj of Diamond Hill talks about the power of the team, and how he approaches international investment, and then take the LP perspective, and chat with Jen Choi, CEO of ILPA, about the changing face of private equity and LP advocacy. 

Stuart Dunbar of Baillie Gifford talks us through the changing shape of client engagement when it comes to large asset managers, while we dive into the topical issue of LGPS pension fund pooling with long-time LGPS fund leader, Jo Kempton of Lincolnshire Pension Fund.

We are back to Diamond Hill with a fascinating interview with Henry Song, who explores the human side of finance and what we get wrong in competency interviews and moving then to the world of quantitative investing, Artemiza Woodgate lifts the veil on quantitative investing, and what we sometimes overlook.

We stay somewhat in the world of quantitative investing in our interview with Kristen Van Gelder, who has spent her entire career tracing the evolution of hedge funds, and the relevance of hedge fund of fund solutions for client portfolios from her role at Evanston Capital Management.

Then we pull the lens back, with Nick Spencer of Milliman who advocates for a systems thinking approach to risk when it comes to sustainability issues – and we explore what this means for the future of the investing style. 

We end then coming full circle with our exploration of values-based investing with a wonderful interview with Lisa Laird, who is CIO of Mercy Investments Services, Inc.

Thank you to GCM Grosvenor and Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. for sponsoring Series 3 of 2025. 

GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments.

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners.

Our conversation starts with the path that Dan took to this point, which included numerous different opportunities for learning – and we hear about the importance of trust and integrity as values that transcend different investment areas. Dan reflects on his unconventional career, gaining a broad understanding of different asset classes and the importance of backing the right teams.

Moving now to Orthogonal partners, we speak about its range, and why it is a source of unconventional returns, and we discuss the structural funding gap in the UK SME market and the government's efforts to address it through the British Business Bank. We dive in to some details of the UK SME market, which presents a meaningful opportunity set with 5.6 million SMEs accounting for 99% of all businesses and 60% of private sector jobs. 

We conclude with some reflections on the power of networking and the value of building relationships from the start of one's career.

Thank you Eagle Point Credit and Benefit Street Partners for supporting this series!

With over $12 billion of AUM, Eagle Point Credit Management is a premier investment firm focused on generating strong returns for its clients through sourcing, evaluating and executing investments in CLOs, Portfolio Debt Securities and other credit investments that it believes shave the potential to outperform their respective markets generally.

Benefit Street Partners is a leading global alternative credit asset manager offering clients investment solutions across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including direct lending, special situations, structured credit, high yield bonds, leveraged loans and commercial real estate debt and equity. As of December 31, 2024, BSP-Alcentra had $76 billion of assets under management.

With over $12 billion of AUM, Eagle Point Credit Management is a premier investment firm focused on generating strong returns for its clients through sourcing, evaluating and executing investments in CLOs, Portfolio Debt Securities and other credit investments that it believes shave the potential to outperform their respective markets generally.

Benefit Street Partners is a leading global alternative credit asset manager offering clients investment solutions across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including direct lending, special situations, structured credit, high yield bonds, leveraged loans and commercial real estate debt and equity. As of December 31, 2024, BSP-Alcentra had $76 billion of assets under management.

With over $12 billion of AUM, Eagle Point Credit Management is a premier investment firm focused on generating strong returns for its clients through sourcing, evaluating and executing investments in CLOs, Portfolio Debt Securities and other credit investments that it believes shave the potential to outperform their respective markets generally.

Benefit Street Partners is a leading global alternative credit asset manager offering clients investment solutions across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including direct lending, special situations, structured credit, high yield bonds, leveraged loans and commercial real estate debt and equity. As of December 31, 2024, BSP-Alcentra had $76 billion of assets under management.

Benefit Street Partners is a leading global alternative credit asset manager offering clients investment solutions across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including direct lending, special situations, structured credit, high yield bonds, leveraged loans and commercial real estate debt and equity. As of December 31, 2024, BSP-Alcentra had $76 billion of assets under management.

Benefit Street Partners is a leading global alternative credit asset manager offering clients investment solutions across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including direct lending, special situations, structured credit, high yield bonds, leveraged loans and commercial real estate debt and equity. As of December 31, 2024, BSP-Alcentra had $76 billion of assets under management.

Benefit Street Partners is a leading global alternative credit asset manager offering clients investment solutions across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including direct lending, special situations, structured credit, high yield bonds, leveraged loans and commercial real estate debt and equity. As of December 31, 2024, BSP-Alcentra had $76 billion of assets under management.

We discuss his previous roles such as his internship with Manufacturers Hanover Trust, which is now JP Morgan, and his first job at Wall Street at Merrill Lynch in Chicago to becoming one of founding members of Merrill Lynch's high yield research department.

We discuss his interest in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and he emphazises the importance in fostering creativity and innovation in finance, along with the positive impact that a unique background can have in the finance field.

We talk about his role at Benefit Street Partners' and their focus on credit and alternative investments, particularly in real estate lending. Rich stresses the importance of leading by example and maintaining a strong company culture.

We round up with a few motivational messages from Rich, reflecting on the value of staying in the game for the long term, attributing his success to his perseverance and focus on continuous improvement.

Thank you Eagle Point Credit and Benefit Street Partners for supporting this series!With over $12 billion of AUM, Eagle Point Credit Management is a premier investment firm focused on generating strong returns for its clients through sourcing, evaluating and executing investments in CLOs, Portfolio Debt Securities and other credit investments that it believes shave the potential to outperform their respective markets generally.

Benefit Street Partners is a leading global alternative credit asset manager offering clients investment solutions across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including direct lending, special situations, structured credit, high yield bonds, leveraged loans and commercial real estate debt and equity. As of December 31, 2024, BSP-Alcentra had $76 billion of assets under management.

Thank you Eagle Point Credit and Benefit Street Partners for supporting this series! 

With over $12 billion of AUM, Eagle Point Credit Management is a premier investment firm focused on generating strong returns for its clients through sourcing, evaluating and executing investments in CLOs, Portfolio Debt Securities and other credit investments that it believes shave the potential to outperform their respective markets generally. 

Benefit Street Partners is a leading global alternative credit asset manager offering clients investment solutions across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including direct lending, special situations, structured credit, high yield bonds, leveraged loans and commercial real estate debt and equity. As of December 31, 2024, BSP-Alcentra had $77 billion of assets under management.

Our conversation starts with Beverley’s start studying geology and working in industry in emerging markets, and chart her transition to corporate ventures and then venture capital.  We discuss the prevailing backdrop (culturally) to her moves and how that may or may not have influenced her.

We move then to the consulting work being done by Carbon Limiting Technologies and how this squares with raising and running the Clean Growth Fund. We focus then on that fund’s investment across sectors like power, transport, and agriculture. 

We discuss the importance deep sector expertise, particularly in industrial biotechnology and carbon capture technologies. 

We conclude with discussing the role of governance, the ongoing need for diverse, supportive boards and the significance of perseverance in overcoming challenges.

With over $12 billion of AUM, Eagle Point Credit Management is a premier investment firm focused on generating strong returns for its clients through sourcing, evaluating and executing investments in CLOs, Portfolio Debt Securities and other credit investments that it believes shave the potential to outperform their respective markets generally. Visit www.eaglepointcredit.com to find out more.

Benefit Street Partners is a leading global alternative credit asset manager offering clients investment solutions across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including direct lending, special situations, structured credit, high yield bonds, leveraged loans and commercial real estate debt and equity. As of December 31, 2024, BSP-Alcentra had $77 billion of assets under management.

Our conversation starts with Chelsea's upbringing - as one of three triplet girls, she had a unique family structure from the very beginning and spent her childhood cycling through different schools and neighborhoods with her father's work. We follow then the mentor that advised her to work in finance and the ongoing role that mentors like that played in shaping her career.

Now in private wealth, we discuss the evolution of the private wealth product offering, where alternatives fit, and where values fit. We also talk about values in the workplace and some of the ways that Chelsea is instilling her values in the pipeline of talent, by nurturing it and helping it grow. 

This is a poignant story of triumph and grit, which should serve as an inspiration for future generations. It is particularly appropriate that we are releasing this in Women's History Month and in celebration of International Women's Day.

This episode of the Fiftyfaces Podcast is proudly brought to you by bfinance—a trusted partner to the world’s leading institutional investors. With a proven track record in strategy, implementation, and oversight, bfinance delivers bespoke investment consultancy that empowers asset owners to achieve their unique objectives. Whether it’s refining portfolio strategy, selecting fund managers, monitoring performance or getting better value for money, bfinance combines global expertise with tailored solutions to unlock value for their clients. To learn more about how they’ve supported over 500 clients in 45 countries, managing assets totalling over $9 trillion, visit bfinance.com.

Our conversation goes back to Denise's roots, and she describes how she grew up in a large family on a farm near Winnipeg - a place where nature and its force loomed large. This taught a deference towards nature and the impact of climate, and it has been something that Denise has remembered throughout her life.

We trace then her academic path through music and business, and how she ultimately found her way into finance, and then eventually into the type of finance that suited her.  International moves, a stint in politics and a long term role in public pensions followed.

We discuss the current outlook for governance and public pensions as well as the likely further role of pooling in the UK LGPS. This is a rich conversation with many twists and turns.

This episode of the Fiftyfaces Podcast is proudly brought to you by bfinance—a trusted partner to the world’s leading institutional investors. With a proven track record in strategy, implementation, and oversight, bfinance delivers bespoke investment consultancy that empowers asset owners to achieve their unique objectives. Whether it’s refining portfolio strategy, selecting fund managers, monitoring performance or getting better value for money, bfinance combines global expertise with tailored solutions to unlock value for their clients. To learn more about how they’ve supported over 500 clients in 45 countries, managing assets totalling over $9 trillion, visit bfinance.com.

I have known Stephen for many years, and have always known about his fascinating backstory as an actor – and a performer in a one man show at that – Stephen starred in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy.

This seemed like a natural launch point for a discussion around the lessons learned through building a career as a successful actor, and in particular the skills needed to connect with a crowd when you are quite literally a “one man show”. Stephen describes the tactics of connecting with an audience, and a different audience every night, and the kind of rejection that hurt more than others. We move then to discuss OXC and the marketplace of the Middle East where he is now focused. We learn about asset allocation preferences, relationship building and the fast-moving dynamic of this region.

This episode of the Fiftyfaces Podcast is proudly brought to you by bfinance—a trusted partner to the world’s leading institutional investors. With a proven track record in strategy, implementation, and oversight, bfinance delivers bespoke investment consultancy that empowers asset owners to achieve their unique objectives. Whether it’s refining portfolio strategy, selecting fund managers, monitoring performance or getting better value for money, bfinance combines global expertise with tailored solutions to unlock value for their clients. To learn more about how they’ve supported over 500 clients in 45 countries, managing assets totalling over $9 trillion, visit bfinance.com.

This bonus episode with Kelly Richdale is a master class in the potential of quantum computing how the essence of cyber security has changed - to become cyber resilience. Kelly is an independent board director and advisor with a portfolio of international mandates based on technology innovation and digital transformation, with a particular focus on quantum, AI, blockchain, crypto and cybersecurity. Based in Geneva, she is an executive fellow at the WEF, a Senior Advisor at Sandbox AQ and has various board roles.  We are also fellow alums of INSEAD.

Our conversation cycles through the promise and challenges of AI, and the future of quantum computing.  Given Kelly's board roles we discuss how best to get board members on the learning curve on these complex and ever changing topics and discuss the challenges of building cyber resilience in the current climate. 

We end with a discussion of the level of diversity within STEM and what can be done to move the needle.

This is an outstanding study of a career defined by non-conformity but evidenced by brilliance, advocacy and a sense that nothing is impossible. 

Our conversation traces Stephanie's love of sport, and water polo in particular, and we discuss how that primed her for a career in investing.  We dig in then to what is sustainable equity and what sustainable investing means to her today, tackling head on the headwinds that this strategy is facing.

Because this is a subject that is core to the mission and purpose of Ninety One we also cover culture in an investment team, how to nurture it and how to know when it is working.
 

This episode of the Fiftyfaces Podcast is proudly brought to you by bfinance—a trusted partner to the world’s leading institutional investors. With a proven track record in strategy, implementation, and oversight, bfinance delivers bespoke investment consultancy that empowers asset owners to achieve their unique objectives. Whether it’s refining portfolio strategy, selecting fund managers, monitoring performance or getting better value for money, bfinance combines global expertise with tailored solutions to unlock value for their clients. To learn more about how they’ve supported over 500 clients in 45 countries, managing assets totalling over $9 trillion, visit bfinance.com.

Our conversation starts with Anastasia's roots and the discipline of learning that was laid down within her family. We then trace her career moves through consulting into her current sustainable finance expertise and start a whistle stop tour of the topics, controversies and progress that has been made in sustainable finance throughout her career to date, and we craft an outlook as to what is on the horizon.

We examine the disconnect between volume of data and saliency, and discuss this as a continuously iterative discipline of always asking what the meaning of certain data and its intended use is. We move then to the role of engagement and the possibility of making change - whether on the social side through engagement and in other areas. We discuss the effectiveness of emissions disclosures, the current backlash against ESG investing and the likely evolution of this area over coming years. This is a riveting discussion grounded in common sense that is more important now than ever.

We discuss his ascent through the ranks at the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board, some of the mentors who helped to shape his approach and the approach to building a diversified alternatives portfolio that the fund has adopted.

From what to order on a menu in New Mexico to how to build a fruitful strategic partnership this discussion is packed with fresh, relatable insights about the world of investing and beyond. 

This podcast is brought to you with the kind support of bfinance—a trusted partner to the world’s leading institutional investors. With a proven track record in strategy, implementation, and oversight, bfinance delivers bespoke investment consultancy that empowers asset owners to achieve their unique objectives. Whether it’s refining portfolio strategy, selecting fund managers, monitoring performance or getting better value for money, bfinance combines global expertise with tailored solutions to unlock value for their clients. To learn more about how they’ve supported over 500 clients in 45 countries, managing assets totalling over $9 trillion, visit bfinance.com.

From an asset management president who started out in fashion and used that to put the client at the heart to a stewardship expert who pursued his moon shot, each story is unique and fascinating. 

We hear from the CEO of the NZ Super Fund about the philosophy that guided him towards a total portfolio approach at the 77 Billion NZ fund and an expert on system change on the challenge and opportunity that it presents.

We speak with an economist who translates the volatility of markets into a professional context and an investment consultant who defied expectations to forge a stellar career despite losing his site at the age of 7.

 
Returning to the theme of neurodivergence in the workforce we speak with the founder of a new website for neurodivergent individuals and we end with the compelling tale of an allocator who learned how to spot talented investors and is using her position now to fuel their growth.

The Bonus series features: Lindsey Stewart, Raudline Etienne, Matt Whineray, Carol Geremia, Steve Foresti, Frank Dixon and Tiffany Wilding as well as special guest Veena Aiyer. 

So take some time to listen back to our 58 podcasts of 2024, send us your comments, feedback and ideas for new guests, and if you can, please support us on Patreon.  Thank you to Apollo, Resolute Investment Management, Alvine Capital, PIMCO, GCM Grosvenor, Nuveen, JP Morgan Chase, Ninety One, Eagle Point, Ruffer, With Intelligence, Longview Productions and all of our supporters over the course of 2024 

She has over 25 years of experience in institutional investing and consulting and previously served as CIO for the New York State Common Retirement Fund, the third largest public fund in the U.S. Prior to her role as CIO, she spent more than a decade advising institutional investors at various firms and holds a number of trustee and board roles. 

We start by discussing her roots in architecture and the structure and scaffolding as well as discipline that it enabled her to bring to her investing career. When discussing managing a team at the New York State Common Retirement Fund she discusses developing green and opportunity portfolios, and how this open door approach enabled them to identify new and original talent.

Moving then to her work at Daraja, we trace the discipline of “spotting talent” which was enabled through her time as a consultant and as an allocator.  We also talk about the art of growing an investment management business, the barriers to entry and how to overcome them.

This podcast is brought to you with the kind support of Longview Productions. 

At Fiftyfaces Productions Ltd. we want to hear from you!

We are now at over 290 podcasts in the main  #fiftyfacespodcast and over 300 including our spin-off series and special themes.

We have championed hundreds of stories and amplified hundreds of role models. We have discussed difficult topics and empowering ones, and have moved the conversation on at every turn.

Now, as we look to 2025, we want to continue to improve and develop content that adds to the richness of our professional lives with no agenda other than to enable more people to achieve their potential.

Please #write to us, #comment here or #complete the google form here https://lnkd.in/gj54v3Zz to tell us what you like, dislike and how we can improve. And you can always support us on Patreon here https://lnkd.in/gQ7zmEuB. Every little helps.

Our conversation traces the evolution of Frank’s thinking around the need for system change and what this actually means. He established Global System Change and developed the System Change Investing (SCI) approach. It provided the first model for rating companies on system change performance and integrating system change into corporate sustainability strategies.

He also developed a true whole system approach to sustainability, described in the Global System Change books. It provides systemic solutions for all major areas of society. In the financial and corporate sectors, SCI offers the most advanced and effective sustainability strategies.

We discuss the rising pushback against responsible investing/corporate sustainability and Frank argues that current approaches were not coming close to resolving SDG problems, even under supportive administrations.  

He now is of the opinion that system change will dominate the sustainability field at some point, arguing that as our systems continue to break down and cause growing problems for companies, investors and society, we’ll realize that we must change them to turn things around and avoid catastrophic collapse. 

 
This podcast is brought to you with the kind support of Longview Productions. 

🎉At Fiftyfaces Productions Ltd. we want to hear from you!

🎉We are now at over 290 podcasts in the main  #fiftyfacespodcast and over 300 including our spin-off series and special themes.

🎉We have championed hundreds of stories and amplified hundreds of role models. We have discussed difficult topics and empowering ones, and have moved the conversation on at every turn.

🎉Now, as we look to 2025, we want to continue to improve and develop content that adds to the richness of our professional lives with no agenda other than to enable more people to achieve their potential.

🎉Please #write to us, #comment here or #complete the google form here https://lnkd.in/gj54v3Zz to tell us what you like, dislike and how we can improve. And you can always support us on Patreon here https://lnkd.in/gQ7zmEuB. Every little helps.

Carol’s career journey had an unconventional start in that she initially pursued a career in fashion.  We probe this intriguing fact and consider the similarities between the two worlds of fashion and investing. One aspect that is similar is the existence of trends and fads – and the importance of developing an eye to detect one forming and then of discerning which ones are likely to endure.  When we translate this into the world of investment products it is clear that investing also has cycles, fads and fashions and that “reading the room” or client appetite in this respect is a critical skill. 

Carol charts her rise through MFS by referring back to a common touchstone – the importance of putting clients first.  She describes her mentors, and how she learned to overcome anxiety around performance in front of clients and how critical it was that she had found a home in which it was possible for her to be her authentic self. 

This is a searing portrait of leadership through compassion and self-awareness.  

This podcast is brought to you with the kind support of Longview Productions. 

🎉At Fiftyfaces Productions Ltd. we want to hear from you!

🎉We are now at over 290 podcasts in the main  #fiftyfacespodcast and over 300 including our spin-off series and special themes.

🎉We have championed hundreds of stories and amplified hundreds of role models. We have discussed difficult topics and empowering ones, and have moved the conversation on at every turn.

🎉Now, as we look to 2025, we want to continue to improve and develop content that adds to the richness of our professional lives with no agenda other than to enable more people to achieve their potential.

🎉Please #write to us, #comment here or #complete the google form here https://lnkd.in/gj54v3Zz to tell us what you like, dislike and how we can improve. And you can always support us on Patreon here https://lnkd.in/gQ7zmEuB. Every little helps.

We begin by discussing Steve’s career journey and turn then to the nature of the condition that caused his loss of vision from the age of around 7 and his family’s coping strategy at that time.  We hear about his parents’ efforts to ensure he was in the right educational stream and challenged at every opportunity. It was at this stage that it became clear how much setting the bar high and having high expectations mattered. 

Taking this theme forward into his career, we hear about the colleague whose small gestures such as giving him a ride to work and allowing him to avoid a long commute made a massive difference to his quality of life, and then discuss the technological advances that have made impaired vision less of a hindrance in the work place.

This podcast is brought to you with the kind support of Longview Productions. 

 🎉At Fiftyfaces Productions Ltd. we want to hear from you!

🎉We are now at over 290 podcasts in the main  #fiftyfacespodcast and over 300 including our spin-off series and special themes.

🎉We have championed hundreds of stories and amplified hundreds of role models. We have discussed difficult topics and empowering ones, and have moved the conversation on at every turn.

🎉Now, as we look to 2025, we want to continue to improve and develop content that adds to the richness of our professional lives with no agenda other than to enable more people to achieve their potential.

🎉Please #write to us, #comment here or #complete the google form here https://lnkd.in/gj54v3Zz to tell us what you like, dislike and how we can improve. And you can always support us on Patreon here https://lnkd.in/gQ7zmEuB. Every little helps.

Our conversation starts with his early career in finance, which saw him move from New Zealand to New York and Hong Kong.  We discuss the moment he knew that he wanted to take his family back to New Zealand and its natural bounty and how he acted upon that.  Moving then to his role at the NZ Super Fund we discuss the nature of the entity, its governance and overarching objective.  

As one of the instigators of a total fund portfolio approach, we dig in in some detail as to what that means and how it evolved. There are various other unique characteristics of NZ Super too and Matt discusses its commitments around sustainable investing and what return and volatility it could tolerate.

We end with Matt’s current chapter, a retirement that includes a portfolio of board roles including Netball New Zealand as well as a good deal of travel. This is a fascinating insight into a unique institution that punches well above its weight in investment innovation.

At Fiftyfaces Productions Ltd. we want to hear from you!

We are now at 284 podcasts in the main  #fiftyfacespodcast and over 300 including our spin-off series and special themes.

We have championed hundreds of stories and amplified hundreds of role models. We have discussed difficult topics and empowering ones, and have moved the conversation on at every turn.

Now, as we look to 2025, we want to continue to improve and develop content that adds to the richness of our professional lives with no agenda other than to enable more people to achieve their potential.

Please #write to us, #comment here or #complete the google form here https://lnkd.in/gj54v3Zz to tell us what you like, dislike and how we can improve. And you can always support us on Patreon here https://lnkd.in/gQ7zmEuB. Every little helps.

Our discussion starts with Tiffany’s path through finance and spends quite a bit of time discussing her learnings from her time at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York during the financial crisis. We speak about the toolbox available to an institution like this during a crisis and how calm heads must prevail.  Moving then to her role at PIMCO we discuss client needs and how they are evolving as well as the work of the secular forum and what is on their mind against the current backdrop.

At Fiftyfaces Productions Ltd. we want to hear from you!

We are now at 284 podcasts in the main  #fiftyfacespodcast and over 300 including our spin-off series and special themes.

We have championed hundreds of stories and amplified hundreds of role models. We have discussed difficult topics and empowering ones, and have moved the conversation on at every turn.

Now, as we look to 2025, we want to continue to improve and develop content that adds to the richness of our professional lives with no agenda other than to enable more people to achieve their potential.

Please #write to us, #comment here or #complete the google form here https://lnkd.in/gj54v3Zz to tell us what you like, dislike and how we can improve. And you can always support us on Patreon here https://lnkd.in/gQ7zmEuB. Every little helps.

Our conversation starts with Lindsey’s unconventional background where he approached finance straight from school instead of via a traditional college degree.  He describes it as a “moon shot” and details his journey into a governance specialists role, and some of the disorientation he experienced once he “landed” on the moon. This leads to a discussion around socio-economic mobility and the profession more generally and we look at the scaffolding that can enable such moves.

We turn then to a discussion of the current state of sustainability data, where the world of engagement has moved to and challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the area of sustainable investing.

Our conversation traces Julie’s career at the intersection of infrastructure and finance and the evolution of those industries in terms of product creation and understanding of the asset class. We examine some of the lateral moves that Julie made throughout her career and how they contributed to her growth as a professional.  We spend some time on the innovations in products centered around agriculture and look at how investors are treating agriculture within the context of their overall portfolio. 

This podcast is kindly supported by GCM Grosvenor. GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments. 

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com.

Our conversation starts with Mike’s experience in emerging markets and how that set the tone for the rest of his career – leading to a comfort level with uncertainty and a tolerance for volatility. We move then to discuss his founder role in a financial firm, and how he experienced a merger of that firm and the dynamics that went with it. Finally we end our discussion with a deep dive into the issues that are close to Michaels’ heart and why. 

This podcast is kindly supported by GCM Grosvenor. GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments. 

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com.

 This podcast is kindly supported by GCM Grosvenor. GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments. 

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com.

This podcast is mainly focused on the book FR££DOM, which is designed as a toolkit for young people to enjoy financial freedom.  We talk about the different attitudes to money and different needs as well as the shifting priorities of generations – e.g. the current young generation seeking to own less and experience more.  On the topic of saving, we discuss how most people are not wired to save and the rise of credit – such as Buy Now Pay Later Schemes. 

We move then to discuss previous economic crises/property market crashes and what they teach us in terms of fiscal discipline and then discuss the two chapters in the book dedicated to digital assets and crypto currencies. 

This podcast is kindly supported by GCM Grosvenor. GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments. 

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com.

Our conversation traces his extensive career in education, including roles at McKinsey, Silver Lake, Vistria and the US Department of Education. He emphasizes the importance of deploying private capital in education to achieve significant impact at scale and highlights the need for innovative solutions that can be scaled across various educational sectors. 

We turn then to the potential role of AI in transforming education, and how to align financial returns with educational outcomes. Miller underscores the significance of diversity and inclusion in education and shares personal reflections on career highs and lows.

This podcast is kindly supported by GCM Grosvenor. GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments. 

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com.

In discussing what she is tackling in her coaching conversations today, we also discussed the evolving needs of executives, such as navigating politics and fostering human-oriented conversations. Jeanie emphasized the importance of courageous conversations and self-reflection. She shared challenges that have been faced, including starting her business post-maternity leave and managing her family medical issues. 

This podcast is kindly supported by GCM Grosvenor. GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments. 

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com.

Our conversation traces his route into the investment world from his science background and his years of learning under the leadership of Mark Steed, CIO at the PSPRS, whose podcast we captured in July 2021. 

We move then to the innovation in place at the PSPRS investment process including the development of more refined and reliable predictions and the embrace of machine learning. We examine the potential for this in the asset allocation function  as well as how AI can assist allocators with getting through the sheer mass of information and documents that they face. 

This is a self-aware retrospective by a member of the most forward thinking investment offices in the US public fund arena.

This podcast is kindly supported by GCM Grosvenor. GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments. 

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com.

Our discussion then turns to the founder's journey - the challenge and opportunity that FinTech and WealthTech present, and why the human element is unlikely to be replaced fully.  Wendy emphasized the value of mentorship and the significance of giving back to the community through nonprofits like EWAAB and Flight Path Dance Project.

Wendy has a newsletter, which can be accessed here: askacio.ivyinvest.co

This podcast is kindly supported by GCM Grosvenor. GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments. 

With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenor leverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com.

In our conversation we tackle the craft of fund distribution, and Jennifer highlights the importance of understanding client ecosystems, building trust, and adapting to evolving client needs. She stresses the significance of team-based approaches and mentorship in her success. 

Moving to the changing shape of the institutional landscape Jennifer notes the impact of market changes, such as the shift to private markets and the generational shift in CIOs, on client needs. We talk about the importance of honesty and transparency in client relationships and return to the oft-repeated themes of risk-taking and investing in networks.

GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management firm with a longstanding commitment to supporting small, emerging, and diverse investment managers. For over 30 years, the firm has developed expertise in funding and guiding these managers as part of its broader activity across alternative investments. With over $20 billion in AUM dedicated to small and emerging managers and $16 billion in AUM dedicated to diverse managers, GCM Grosvenorleverages its experienced team, broad network, and proprietary sourcing capabilities to support their success. Through the Small, Emerging, and Diverse Manager Program, the firm creates opportunities for investors to access a wide range of talent while seeking to drive strong returns and impact. For more information, visit www.gcmgrosvenor.com.

Now we are back to our main series and we are delighted to bring you another 10 inspiring guests who share their insights on careers, markets, overlooked opportunities and advice for fulfillment. 

Tune in as we cycle through investment opportunities in Fintech considering the implication of AI as an advisor as well as how it can help allocators to wade through and organize the vast document load that comprises due diligence these days. 

We turn to the challenge of front-line client interactions and the changing shape of client need as markets and investment products evolve, get "in deep" when it comes to what really happens after a Merger, and expose the shocking gaps in financial literacy that are jeopardizing retirements and pension pots everywhere. 

We dig some more - into soil science and regenerative agriculture, and where such products fit within a portfolio, then chat with an executive coach about her trending topics and how "breakdowns lead to breakthroughs". A veteran of risk management and non-executive roles shares her journey from "the age of the dinosaurs" in the City of London today's different challenges, a fund manager recalls his father's refrain to "take things back to formula" and an education investor stresses the importance of scale. 

The guests on Series 5 are:

• Jennifer Ryan, an institutional distribution expert
• Wendy Li, fintech founder and former institutional allocator
• Shan Chen, an expert on AI and investing
• Rob Gardner, a sustainable investor, founder and leading financial literacy advocate
• Mike Tiedemann, investor and founder
• Tony Miller, venture capitalist, fund manager and former public servant with expertise in investing in education
• Julie Koeninger, fund manager and expert in the field of agriculture
• Sarah Fromson, investment committee member, NED and former risk manager
• Ilya Zaides, fund manager
• Jeanie Coombes, executive coach, podcast host and Chief Igniter 

Tune in from next week..  You can find all of our podcasts on The Fiftyfaces Hub, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Our conversation starts with how she discovered martial arts and hapkido in particular and the collateral impact of building extreme proficiency in the sport – in particular how moving to each belt level required “inhabiting” the roles and responsibilities that came with each level (e.g. to teach other classes).  We trace then her move back to the UK from the US and setting up a studio in the discipline.

This discussion is a particularly personal one, as we explore the benefits that sport and discipline can bring to an impressionable teenage mind, particularly one that might have struggled with other issues such as an eating disorder, and we discuss how this informed a life-long mission for Tammy to further equality in sport and the creation of a stronger women’s sport ecosystem. 

The themes of voice, empowerment, inner strength, discipline, loyalty and passion are all intertwined in this conversation, which we bring to you as a special bonus in the aftermath of the Olympics 2024, which were a triumph for diversity and inclusion.

Our discussion starts with her early career and what led her into venture and an interest in healthcare in particular.  We speak about the mentors that inspired her at this stage of her career and what led to her decision to launch Coyote Ventures. We turn then to the the fundraising experience and the level of attention given to women’s health and the innovations in same.  Unfortunately these areas are often overlooked and underfunded.  She then describes the support that has come from across the industry and how innovative methods of drawing support – such as allocating a percentage of real estate deals to Coyote Ventures has been such an unique way to raise visibility for these issues and the Fund in particular.

There is more information about Coyote Ventures on https://www.coyote.ventures/

This episode was first launched as part of a collaboration between The Fiftyfaces Podcast at fiftyfaceshub.comand The Mindshare Podcast at www.monumentalme.com/podcast. It is being re-released here as our final episode in Series 4 of 2024.

This podcast starts with chemistry  - which was Jennifer’s initial focus at university, then followed by a pivot into accounting and ultimately public pensions.  Although her use of her science background has been limited since graduation we do draw a little on the themes of connections – which Wiltshire seeks to create for its beneficiaries – as well as catalysts – and we think about the drivers behind the fund’s very intentional and well telegraphed sustainable investing policy.

We dig in a little into the nuts and bolts of this strategy – examining the underlying funds – including sustainable equities, climate tech and venture and impact investing including renewable infrastructure and affordable housing.  We speak about the powerful communications policy that is employed and why Wiltshire prioritizes this – which is about creating connection with its beneficiaries – encouraging them to relate to their pension and engage with it in the most meaningful way possible. The preponderance of women among the beneficiaries underscores the importance of seeing the value of diversity and inclusion expressed as much as possible and this is another objective of the sustainable policy that the fund pursues.

This podcast is a lively snapshot of a fund and a leader that has met their moment.

This episode is supported by PIMCO, a global leader in active fixed income with deep expertise across public and private markets. PIMCO invests their clients’ capital in income and credit opportunities that span the liquidity spectrum, leveraging their decades of experience navigating complex debt markets. Their flexible capital base and deep relationships with issuers have helped them become one of the world’s largest providers of traditional and alternative investment solutions and a valued financing partner. Visit pimco.com to learn more.

PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America LLC in the United States and throughout the world.

A keen runner, she was co-founder of 261 Fearless Incl, a global non-profit organization that uses running as a vehicle to empower and unit women, as well as Girls on the Run, where she is a Soulmate. She is a podcast host – of Margaritas with Marguerita, where she shares financial literacy and financial planning advice.

This is the second of two dynamic podcasts in this series featuring leading female voices in financial planning today – the other is Cary Carbonaro https://www.fiftyfaceshub.com/266-cary-carbonaro-wealth-planner-and-advocate-preparing-for-the-future-of-women-in-wealth-management/

In this rich conversation we start with discussing Marguerita’s calling as a financial planner – the fact that she didn’t seem to be a natural fit to some, but how her quiet energy, warmth and commitment to connecting people proved to be the secret sauce in building a successful practice. We move then to cover some shifts in the world of financial planning – how women are making their mark and how certain transformations are taking place – such as around tailoring, life coaching and generally adapting the practice to reflect life’s needs.

This episode is supported by PIMCO, a global leader in active fixed income with deep expertise across public and private markets. PIMCO invests their clients’ capital in income and credit opportunities that span the liquidity spectrum, leveraging their decades of experience navigating complex debt markets. Their flexible capital base and deep relationships with issuers have helped them become one of the world’s largest providers of traditional and alternative investment solutions and a valued financing partner. Visit pimco.com to learn more.

PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America LLC in the United States and throughout the world.

Like many guests, Penny’s entry into the pensions arena was not planned – but it was serendipitous in that she found she was fascinated by the area. We discuss her ascent into leadership roles and some of the twists and turns that her career path took.  There were some highs and lows in there, which Penny discusses with her trademark “matter of factness” and transparency.

We spend some time on her “members first” philosophy and examine how this is enough to guide a professional to do the right thing always, stay focused and centered on what is right.  We also discuss leadership style and how different styles can fit different phases of a firm’s growth and shift then to the growing web of regulation that is now governing trustee roles and responsibilities.  We end with a discussion of the plans that Penny has for her next chapter in what promises to be a well-earned rest from a career of service in pensions. 

This episode is supported by PIMCO, a global leader in active fixed income with deep expertise across public and private markets. PIMCO invests their clients’ capital in income and credit opportunities that span the liquidity spectrum, leveraging their decades of experience navigating complex debt markets. Their flexible capital base and deep relationships with issuers have helped them become one of the world’s largest providers of traditional and alternative investment solutions and a valued financing partner. Visit pimco.com to learn more.

PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America LLC in the United States and throughout the world.

Our conversation starts with Tony’s upbringing in a large and close Italian family in his native Chicago. We learned about the bonds of family and community that were laid down there and how this later influenced the premium that he places on these features. 

Tony’s career evolution charts the evolution of the industry – the development of the investment consultant value proposition and the evolution of institutional portfolios beyond stocks and bonds.  Over 40 years a tremendous amount has changed, and this is what Tony considers the only constant in the industry – change. He describes some high points and low points, and the relationships that have been central to his profound success in this area. 

This episode is supported by PIMCO, a global leader in active fixed income with deep expertise across public and private markets. PIMCO invests their clients’ capital in income and credit opportunities that span the liquidity spectrum, leveraging their decades of experience navigating complex debt markets. Their flexible capital base and deep relationships with issuers have helped them become one of the world’s largest providers of traditional and alternative investment solutions and a valued financing partner. Visit pimco.com to learn more.

PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America LLC in the United States and throughout the world.

We start our discussion with Ghiané, describing her path into finance and her determination and drive that led her to early internships and a career path with blue chip firms. We move then to what is on her mind as Deputy CIO at a large public pension fund and describe some of the key attributes of that fund and its asset allocation. We discuss the challenges of underfunding and what that means in terms of cash flow focus and asset allocation, and also examine the interplay between the officer and consultant relationships and how they are evolving.

We conclude with a discussion of diversity within the profession and the challenges that diverse and emerging managers face and examine the role that public pensions can have in amplifying and assisting these managers grow to their full potential. 

This episode is supported by PIMCO, a global leader in active fixed income with deep expertise across public and private markets. PIMCO invests their clients’ capital in income and credit opportunities that span the liquidity spectrum, leveraging their decades of experience navigating complex debt markets. Their flexible capital base and deep relationships with issuers have helped them become one of the world’s largest providers of traditional and alternative investment solutions and a valued financing partner. Visit pimco.com to learn more.

PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America LLC in the United States and throughout the world.

We hear about his upbringing in Montreal, how he changed his major in college and ended up somewhat accidentally in finance and the serendipitous twists and turns that saw him develop a multi-asset competence.  Some of this came from his original back office experience, and we tie together the skillsets that both front and back office roles require.

Pivoting then to discussing the multi-asset approach today, we discuss the individualization of investing – and how imprinting the personality of an institution (or an individual) on their investment portfolio is just a broader societal trend of customizing everything. We discuss the implications of this for portfolio construction, risk and how investment products are delivered. 

We move then to discuss some of Jai’s many other interests – in particular Jazz, and his musical passion.  We talk about the evolution of this art form, where it sits in society today, and what we can learn from the perfection of a jazz solo. You can read more about the National Jazz Museum in Harlem on their website here: https://jmih.org/

This episode is supported by PIMCO, a global leader in active fixed income with deep expertise across public and private markets. PIMCO invests their clients’ capital in income and credit opportunities that span the liquidity spectrum, leveraging their decades of experience navigating complex debt markets. Their flexible capital base and deep relationships with issuers have helped them become one of the world’s largest providers of traditional and alternative investment solutions and a valued financing partner. Visit pimco.com to learn more.

PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America LLC in the United States and throughout the world.

In this first of two dynamic podcasts featuring leading female voices in financial planning today – the other is Marguerita Cheng - to be released later in the series -  we discuss the various stages of Cary’s career, which had some setbacks in that for a period she was forced to be less visible and less forward with her own identity and voice. She is now rebuilding this as she moves again into her own practice, and we discuss the book she is writing and publishing soon designed around women and investing and motivated to plug the gap in this area. 

This episode is supported by PIMCO, a global leader in active fixed income with deep expertise across public and private markets. PIMCO invests their clients’ capital in income and credit opportunities that span the liquidity spectrum, leveraging their decades of experience navigating complex debt markets. Their flexible capital base and deep relationships with issuers have helped them become one of the world’s largest providers of traditional and alternative investment solutions and a valued financing partner. Visit pimco.com to learn more.

PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America LLC in the United States and throughout the world.

Kristina starts our conversation describing her education and what drew her to the world of finance. We hear about her early career pivots and how she was handpicked to lead the Business and Technology function and how she grew in to this new role. We share a vignette about the leadership at William Blair – in particular Stephanie Braming – who featured in an earlier podcast in this series in March 2022 - see https://www.fiftyfaceshub.com/129-stephanie-braming-of-william-blair-on-critical-thinking-and-transforming-recruitment/ and the power of engaged and generous leadership and what a gift this can be. 

We turn then to discussing the challenges of technology today – touching on AI and how this will transform our industry as well as the priorities on her mind in this role.  We end with a reflection on D&I, as well as on the values that have driven Kristina to always be learning and growing throughout her career.  

This episode is supported by PIMCO, a global leader in active fixed income with deep expertise across public and private markets. PIMCO invests their clients’ capital in income and credit opportunities that span the liquidity spectrum, leveraging their decades of experience navigating complex debt markets. Their flexible capital base and deep relationships with issuers have helped them become one of the world’s largest providers of traditional and alternative investment solutions and a valued financing partner. Visit pimco.com to learn more.

PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America LLC in the United States and throughout the world.

Our conversation starts with her childhood and in particular her high school years, when Keri spent up to 40 hours per week practicing figure skating alongside academic commitments.  With a strong aptitude for math but not some of the other subjects she was not an obvious candidate for attending Columbia, but thrived once she arrived there and found herself drawn to finance. While her figure skating was replaced by ski racing, she pivoted to finding a career on the shop floor of an investment house. 

Having started in a sales role that probably was not the best fit, we hear about her retooling and pivot into more investment centric roles and hear about some of the role models who led and inspired her during this time.  She ultimately grew numerous private credit businesses within other hedge funds before developing her own fund, and we discuss this trajectory and some of its ups and downs. 

Keri is firmly at the coal face in private credit and I ask her about some of the dynamics going on behind the scenes there such as actual defaults and workouts, and we learn a lot that may not make the headlines.

Finally we hear about the utmost importance of networking, particularly for women in the profession and we hear about how Keri has personally helped many women to find positions. 

This episode is supported by PIMCO, a global leader in active fixed income with deep expertise across public and private markets. PIMCO invests their clients’ capital in income and credit opportunities that span the liquidity spectrum, leveraging their decades of experience navigating complex debt markets. Their flexible capital base and deep relationships with issuers have helped them become one of the world’s largest providers of traditional and alternative investment solutions and a valued financing partner. Visit pimco.com to learn more.

PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America LLC in the United States and throughout the world.

We start with asking about the arc of the investment world, then look to the evolution of private wealth and what matters, we talk about the development of institutional portfolios and how our work is changing, even though certain areas remain overlooked. 

Guest descriptions:

Keri Findley, who is Chief Executive Officer of Tacora Capital, which focuses on Asset-Based Private Credit Opportunities in Specialty Finance and Insurance.  She was previously a partner at Third Point.

Tony Dote, who just recently retired from a role of Managing Director at Lazard Asset Management, where he spent over 40 years. He started his career in insurance and then investment consulting.

Jai Jacob, who recently ended a 25+ year career at Lazard Asset Management where he headed up the Quantitative, Alternatives and Multi-Asset Investment Group which oversaw c. $35 bn in AUM. 

Penny Green who is finally retiring from the investment industry at the end of the month following an over 30-year career.  

Jennifer Devine, who is Head of Wiltshire Pension Fund, and a thought leader in the field of sustainable investing.

Kristina Blaschek, who is Director of Business and Technology within the Investment Management division of William Blair, based in Chicago. She started her career in investment banking, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Auditorium Theatre. 

Jessica Karr, who is the founder and managing director of Coyote Ventures, an investment firm that focuses on backing founders who are solving problems that disproportionately affect overlooked populations with a foundation in women's health. 

Ghiané Jones, who is Deputy CIO at the Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois, where she is based in their Chicago office. She previously was Managping Principal at Meketa Investment Group, a role she held for over 6 years, and prior to that worked in a range of financial services roles including in institutional ETF Sales at Invesco and Northern Trust, and as a Regional Consultant at Goldman Sachs.

Marguerita Cheng, is CEO of Blue Ocean Global Wealth, based in the Washington DC area, as well as being a Founding Member of Kiplinger Advisor Collective and The Authentic Asian. A keen runner, she was co-founder of 261 Fearless Incl, a global non-profit organization that uses running as a vehicle to empower and unit women, as well as Girls on the Run, where she is a Soulmate. She is a podcast host – of Margaritas with Rita, where she shares financial literacy and financial planning advice.

Cary Carbonaro, who is an award-winning financial advisor, a women and wealth expert and a CFP board ambassador. She is currently senior vice president of Advisors Capital, where she was noted in the 2024 NASDAQ Advisor Council and as a Top Advisor in 2023 Investopedia.

Kevin has had a career of over 30 years in investment consulting, and it had a somewhat “accidental” start – being driven more by location and convenience than a calling.  Things quickly shifted however, and Kevin found that working with public funds where the possibility to add value and have impact was high and the touchpoints with investment committees and Boards frequent and satisfying.

We move then to discuss some of the challenges facing public funds more broadly and the mélange of policy issues, economic challenges and resource constraints that create a unique workload for the investment consultants serving this segment.  Staying with policy we discuss the relevance of ESG and D&I issues for this client segment and how investment consultants are staying ahead of the curve to ensure that this mission can be fulfilled. 

Series 3 of 2024 is supported by Ruffer and Nuveen. Ruffer is a London based asset manager - founded in 1994 - managing over $25 billion for institutions, pension funds, charities and individuals. They have a single investment approach that aims to deliver positive returns across the full range of market conditions.  Nuveen has provided investment excellence for 125 years. With expertise across income and alternatives, Nuveen continues to expand its capabilities while maintaining its legacy as a leading investment manager. Visit Nuveen.com to learn more. Investing involves risk; loss of principal is possible.

As we chart the course of David’s career we chart the arc of Golub Capital’s at the same time – discussing the origins of the concept of a private lending firm and how it had its roots in private equity.  Designed to solve a problem, offer certainty of execution and built on a network of relationships we hear how a lot of hard work – and a little bit of luck – lead to the positioning that they enjoy today.

We move then to discuss the nature of the private credit market and how it has evolved over the course of Golub’s history.  We examine its significantly enhanced breadth and sophistication today.

One of David’s key personal interests is in culture and we speak in particular about the role that culture plays at Golub.  The firm dedicates significant resources to training, coaching and creating a sense of belonging for its team members. We speak about the role of feedback and accountability as well as the way that junior professionals are mentored and learn how to take risk.  Finally we discuss the role of worrying and how for a credit investor it seems to go with the territory. 

Series 3 of 2024 is supported by Ruffer and Nuveen. Ruffer is a London based asset manager - founded in 1994 - managing over $25 billion for institutions, pension funds, charities and individuals. They have a single investment approach that aims to deliver positive returns across the full range of market conditions.  Nuveen has provided investment excellence for 125 years. With expertise across income and alternatives, Nuveen continues to expand its capabilities while maintaining its legacy as a leading investment manager. Visit Nuveen.com to learn more. Investing involves risk; loss of principal is possible.

We turn then to unpacking Total Fund Investing at CPP Investments, and learn how it prioritizes best overall portfolio construction for risk-adjusted returns and involves tradeoffs across different asset classes. We speak about how organization size matters in implementing such an approach and how scale and resourcing lends itself to thinking holistically in this way.  We also discuss how it affects mindset, and true team mindset and accountability. The three elements of governance, diversification and culture are discussed in detail. 

Digging into some more detail, Derek explains how the team has a reference portfolio and a “factor first” approach around tilting away from that. We discuss the stability of various factors and how the macro backdrop is factored in.  Finally Derek discusses what it is like to work at CPP investments and how the mission of the organization and the fact that it serves over 21 m beneficiaries and contributors across the country is such a motivator.  

Series 3 of 2024 is supported by Ruffer and Nuveen. Ruffer is a London based asset manager - founded in 1994 - managing over $25 billion for institutions, pension funds, charities and individuals. They have a single investment approach that aims to deliver positive returns across the full range of market conditions.  Nuveen has provided investment excellence for 125 years. With expertise across income and alternatives, Nuveen continues to expand its capabilities while maintaining its legacy as a leading investment manager. Visit Nuveen.com to learn more. Investing involves risk; loss of principal is possible.

The profile of professional athletes is unique in terms of earning – and can resemble the inverse of a J curve – in that earnings can be front end loaded but can taper off once a career recedes or retirement occurs.  This underscores the importance of planning, budgeting and preparing for a career beyond elite sports, and we discuss the educational and practical components of this.

Series 3 of 2024 is supported by Ruffer and Nuveen. Ruffer is a London based asset manager - founded in 1994 - managing over $25 billion for institutions, pension funds, charities and individuals. They have a single investment approach that aims to deliver positive returns across the full range of market conditions.  Nuveen has provided investment excellence for 125 years. With expertise across income and alternatives, Nuveen continues to expand its capabilities while maintaining its legacy as a leading investment manager. Visit Nuveen.com to learn more. Investing involves risk; loss of principal is possible.

Now global head coach at MMC Marsh McLennan, Nicci works with teams to help the company secure more deals.  We speak about the dynamics of being memorable in these presentations, and how prioritizing the needs of the audience is paramount. 

We discuss the poor retention levels of audiences, citing the Ebbinghaus Curve of Forgetting and the staggering amount of information that is forgotten as time passes from the date of acquiring it.  This reinforces the importance of repetition and follow up. 

Nicci cites the “day, week, month” mantra for follow up, which sets the cadence for interactions after the initial meeting, and a host of other tips for making presentations memorable, including that it really is not about the presenter. 

Our conversation starts with his international background, which saw his family move from India to Holland when Varun was only 4 years old, and the imprint that that multi-cultural yet well-integrated backdrop provided. We hear then about his career journey, which saw him move from management consulting into investing via a serendipitous meeting and reading material, which encouraged him to “follow his dream”.

A move to Hong Kong followed, and a career in emerging market investing unfolded, with all of the travel, variety and intellectual stimuli that such a career would suggest. We discuss the features of emerging market investing, the rout that it has experienced over the past few years and the increased investor interest in emerging markets ex-China portfolios.  

Finally we reflect on some of the most insightful investor letters that Varun has enjoyed receiving because they provide insights as to how to think. We return to the exhortation to “follow the dream” and examine what makes it worthwhile.  

Series 3 of 2024 is supported by Ruffer and Nuveen. Ruffer is a London based asset manager - founded in 1994 - managing over $25 billion for institutions, pension funds, charities and individuals. They have a single investment approach that aims to deliver positive returns across the full range of market conditions.  Nuveen has provided investment excellence for 125 years. With expertise across income and alternatives, Nuveen continues to expand its capabilities while maintaining its legacy as a leading investment manager. Visit Nuveen.com to learn more. Investing involves risk; loss of principal is possible.

In this very real conversation we talk about Avivah’s path to coaching and the importance of rethinking what we thought we knew about our lifespans, employment trajectories and retirement path. She draws upon her analogy of life having four quarters, and makes the point that most of us have discounted the potential of the third quarter – the years between 50 and 75. 

We discuss the perils of trying to compress too much into the second quarter in particular – to try to “have it all” instead of spreading out goals and achievements.  We look at the endless potential of this phase and ask how employers can embrace this and in so doing promote more diversity in the workplace and more sustainable employment practices. 

Given that Avivah is a coach we discuss the role of coaching and how it might be integrated into careers at an earlier stage than currently.  We also discuss continuing education and how universities and other institutions should adapt to the demand for lifelong learning.  Finally we look at the role of intuition, and how trusting one’s instincts can be central to career success. 

Our conversation starts with the school of hard knocks – a strict Catholic schooling outside Chicago, and we trace Jim’s early years, which weren’t always easy within the school system. After dropping out of high school he joined the military and this was the regulation that he needed to calm down and develop a plan.  He spent decades in the police and there became interested in the pension system and protections in place for beneficiaries.

This sparked a second career as a connector, Trustee and advocate for public pension funds around the US, and the founding of first the Illinois Public Pension Funds Association and then the National Public Pension Funds Association. We talk about the challenges and priorities for public pension funds today and the way that advocates, officers and trustees are beginning to tackle them.

Series 3 of 2024 is supported by Ruffer and Nuveen. Ruffer is a London based asset manager - founded in 1994 - managing over $25 billion for institutions, pension funds, charities and individuals. They have a single investment approach that aims to deliver positive returns across the full range of market conditions.  Nuveen has provided investment excellence for 125 years. With expertise across income and alternatives, Nuveen continues to expand its capabilities while maintaining its legacy as a leading investment manager. Visit Nuveen.com to learn more. Investing involves risk; loss of principal is possible.

We start our discussion with a tribute to Stephanie’s grandmother who taught her about stocks and the markets, sowing the seeds of an interest in finance that has been lifelong. We trace her education in a women’s college, through to her entry into finance and her progression through the ranks of an investment bank.

We move then to discuss the evolving nature of institutional and private wealth product demand, and how it has changed over recent years.  We speak in particular about the role of alternative assets and the culture of firms that endure. 

Series 3 of 2024 is supported by Ruffer and Nuveen. Ruffer is a London based asset manager - founded in 1994 - managing over $25 billion for institutions, pension funds, charities and individuals. They have a single investment approach that aims to deliver positive returns across the full range of market conditions.  Nuveen has provided investment excellence for 125 years. With expertise across income and alternatives, Nuveen continues to expand its capabilities while maintaining its legacy as a leading investment manager. Visit Nuveen.com to learn more. Investing involves risk; loss of principal is possible.

Our conversation charts both Ciara’s career and the evolution of wealth management in Ireland over that 30 year period. We discuss how she developed her own identity and risk tolerance as a financial advisor, and the way that she encouraged clients to “walk with her” during turbulent market conditions to ensure that their portfolios were resilient. 

We conclude by discussing Ciara’s next chapter now, post retirement, which will involve a lot of travel and pursuit of her love of art and art history in particular.  We speak about what she has learned from studying this area and the enhanced perspective and insight it provides. 

Series 3 of 2024 is supported by Ruffer and Nuveen. Ruffer is a London based asset manager - founded in 1994 - managing over $25 billion for institutions, pension funds, charities and individuals. They have a single investment approach that aims to deliver positive returns across the full range of market conditions.  Nuveen has provided investment excellence for 125 years. With expertise across income and alternatives, Nuveen continues to expand its capabilities while maintaining its legacy as a leading investment manager. Visit Nuveen.com to learn more.

Investing involves risk; loss of principal is possible.

Our conversation starts with her very early days in public service, and how typing and softball were an unusual combination that led to an opening opportunity.  She recalls how she rose through the ranks in Washington State, ultimately running the Department of Retirement Systems and chairing the Washington State Investment Board. She notes that what people say about you you in the form of endorsement can be more effective than what you say about yourself.

We move then to her role at CalPERS and the change that it involved and ask what is at the forefront of her mind today.  We discuss a wide range of topics from the challenges of funding, stakeholder management and flexing the muscle around change that steering this level of assets.  Topics that CalPERS is particularly active around include climate change - and it has committed $100 bn to climate innovation as well as diverse managers, where it has contributed $4 bn just in recent allocations. 

We conclude with a broad discussion on pension fund governance, the challenges and opportunities of working in the public arena and the mindset that sets one up for success. 

Series 3 of the 2024 Fiftyfaces Podcast is sponsored by Ruffer and Nuveen. 

Our conversation starts with Rick’s passion for marketing – how it developed and why the connection with the consumer is so critical. We refer to the Star Wars analogy of hero and guide or mentor and translate this into marketing financial services, asking who the true hero of that story should be?

This lyrical conversation shifts from music to consumer goods marketing, to notorious marketing fails to unforgettable classics in terms of consumer connection. We end with an examination of impact and higher purpose, and look at how companies that draw this connection end up enjoying long term success.  So we ask – what is your purpose – and who is the hero of your story? 

This podcast is kindly supported by Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. and Ninety One Asset Management.

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners. Ninety One Asset Management is  a global asset manager with emerging markets roots that brings a different perspective to active and sustainable investing.

We start by tracing that career evolution – and Hallie’s early days playing competitive sport. We look at lessons from that and how she developed an interest in finance and investing.

Given her experience in OCIO firms, we speak about the development of that industry and the evolution of client demand.  We move then to discuss Expect Equity and the pivotal role it plays in supporting, seeding and nurturing emerging investment managers.  We discuss the initial cohort of portfolio managers and ask what it takes to be supported and to thrive. 

This podcast is kindly supported by Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. and Ninety One Asset Management.

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners. Ninety One Asset Management is  a global asset manager with emerging markets roots that brings a different perspective to active and sustainable investing.

We chart Brent’s path to finance and hear early on about his interest in gaming, poker and riding motorcycles.  This prompts a few detours around parallels between these interests and the art of investing – we hear about risk taking, decision making and strategy. 

Brent describes a career path that was not exactly a smooth road, but the destination was still a fulfilling one, and we then move to discuss portfolio construction, governance and what “off the beaten path” looks like in terms of portfolio construction. We discuss orthogonal return drivers as well as rethinking more conventional ones.

This podcast is kindly supported by Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. and Ninety One Asset Management.

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners. Ninety One Asset Management is  a global asset manager with emerging markets roots that brings a different perspective to active and sustainable investing.

Our conversation starts with her journey from India to the US, and her career path through marketing and strategy that led to her current role at Northwestern Mutual. We spend some time on that role – and on the integration of insurance, investment and annuities that lie behind the unique approach to financial planning there.  We then cycle through a range of topics including AI and its impact on financial planning, the importance of values and how leadership styles evolve. We end with a reflection on the role of directors and how alignment with the purpose of an organization is key. 

This podcast is kindly supported by Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. and Ninety One Asset Management.

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners. Ninety One Asset Management is  a global asset manager with emerging markets roots that brings a different perspective to active and sustainable investing.

Our conversation starts with a story about a father, a daughter and a starfish – and how each of us has the ability to make a difference to one piece of the puzzle.  This ability to make impact – large or small – far or near – is a hallmark of Grace’s role at the center of connections in the investment industry and as founder of TIDE.  

We hear about her first entry point into finance – how she didn’t hide her love of socializing, and how, while maybe not a conventional attribute for finance, this proved to be the secret sauce that enabled her to grow her network.

We hear then about the origins of TIDE, and how its birth during the pandemic was full of both challenge and opportunity.  We hear about the challenge of access to capital for emerging managers and how smaller, more personal networks help to bridge some of the gap. 

As a networker extraordinaire Grace has some excellent advice as to how to build and nurture connections and we are delighted to share them here with you.

This podcast is kindly supported by Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. and Ninety One Asset Management.

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners. Ninety One Asset Management is a global asset manager with emerging markets roots that brings a different perspective to active and sustainable investing.

Our conversation starts with Maggie’s family life, and how some of the twists and turns in her early life led her to want to be prepared for the unexpected, especially when it came to financial preparation. We speak about this experience helps her understand the breadth of issues on her clients’ minds, and ultimately helped her to build her practice.  We move then to her values as a financial adviser, how she starts the conversation with clients and how she believes the wants and needs of clients are evolving. 

This leads us to a discussion of robo-advisers, and some of the more commoditized aspects of financial advice.  We highlight how the increased focus on behavioral advice and the psychology of money is leading to a diverging path from this commoditization.  We tackle some of the common errors when it comes to managing one’s finances – shortfalls in communication – particularly between couples, a failure to plan within a business as time is so stretched. 

We conclude with a chat on a subject close to both of our hearts – running and how empowering it is, particularly for young girls.  Maggie is a passionate supporter of and volunteer with Girls on the Run, and we discuss the lessons in leadership, confidence and self-direction that this brings. 

This podcast is kindly supported by Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. and Ninety One Asset Management.

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners. Ninety One Asset Management is  a global asset manager with emerging markets roots that brings a different perspective to active and sustainable investing

That is where we start, with her career in law, and her pivot that saw her move from there into investment management and finally the ultimate pivot that saw her launch Pluscios with Connie. We hear about the ups and downs of starting a firm with an unforgiving market backdrop and some misadventures on the fund-raising side.

We move then to spend some time on the case for hedge funds, and how it has evolved over time, in light of this shifting market backdrop. We speak about the changing shape of investor demand too, and the evolving role of hedge funds and absolute return strategies more broadly.

This podcast is kindly supported by Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. and Ninety One Asset Management.

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners. Ninety One Asset Management is  a global asset manager with emerging markets roots that brings a different perspective to active and sustainable investing

We start with a discussion of the emerging landscape of “financial therapy”, and ask what it is and why it is important. Staying within private wealth ask about the threat from robo-advisers and look at ways to holistically think about protection as well as enabling our clients to prosper.  We move on then to discuss the changing shape of asset management, particularly around the generation of alpha and hear from a professor at Harvard about what he sees as fundamental shifts in this landscape.  

We cycle then from alternatives hearing from a founder of a hedge fund of funds firm to a divergent thinker in the investment office of one of the Mid-West’s largest health systems (who also treats us to a detour on his (prior) passion for poker and motorbikes). We move then into discussing diverse managers – amplifying them and getting them funded until we come to a triumphant landing then around topics we should all think more about – telling our story, and remembering who the hero should be. 

Our featured guests on Series 2 are:

Daniele Beasley whose focus is on “helping clients understand their money so that they can focus on their meaning”.  S approach to financial planning.

Carina Diamond, who is a wealth management leader with particular experience in growing and building businesses.  She founded Stella Secunda Partners and is a founder of Diversitas, a national education program - designed to expand diversity in wealth management.

Maggie Rapplean, a partner at Moneta, with a particular focus on family office clients.

Kelly Chesney, who is principal and co-founder of Pluscios Management, a fund of hedge funds manager based in the Chicago area. The firm, founded in 2006, has two female founders.  

Aditi Javeri Gokhale Chief Strategy Officer, President of Retail Investments and Head of Institutional Investments at Northwestern Mutual, based in Milwaukee.  

Randy Cohen, who is a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School. 

Brent Mattis, who is a Principal at Cleveland Clinic Investment Office. He specializes in idea generation, manager selection and financial modeling for the investment portfolio and likes to look “off the beaten path” for opportunity.

Grace Reyes, who is the CEO and Founder of TIDE – The Investment Diversity Exchange, which she founded as a way to connect key industry players to promote diversity and inclusion in the investment industry.  

Hallie Label, founder of Expect Equity, based in Baltimore. 

Rick Weissinger, Chief Marketing officer of Moneta.

Series 2 is kindly supported by Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. and Ninety One Asset Management.

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Ninety One Asset Management is  a global asset manager with emerging markets roots that brings a different perspective to active and sustainable investing.

Twenty Concierge Wealth Management

Colearning Books (Financial Literacy Coloring Books)

Connect on LinkedIn

Join

Financial Therapy Association

Financial Therapy Association 2024 Conference

Read

Financial Therapy: Theory, Research, and Practice (The Financial Therapy Bible, a must read)

Financial Therapy Journal 

Learn

University of Georgia 

The Affirming Advisor Program

Financial Therapy Master Series

This podcast will form part of Series 2 of the 2024 Fiftyfaces Podcast, which is kindly supported by Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. and Ninety One Asset Management. 

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc. is a diversified, multi-affiliate asset management platform that partners with more than 30 best-in-class affiliated and independent investment managers. Its unique platform delivers strategic value through a full suite of distribution, operational and administrative services available to affiliates and partners. Ninety One Asset Management is  a global asset manager with emerging markets roots that brings a different perspective to active and sustainable investing. 

• The 2024 inflation outlook
• Why the US consumer has proven so resilient, and why have bad vibes sometimes dominated despite this.
• The likely future direction of rates
• Do small cap stocks make sense any more? When will they look attractive again?
• Should we read anything into the rise of Bitcoin interest (again)?
• What do geo-political risks and looming elections mean for markets?

This is a fast-paced discussion delivered with David's inimitable wit and charm. Food for thought as we embark on a 2024 laden with promise and macro events. 

 
Our conversation is a sweeping one which traces the origins of Julie's passion for empowering women in professional settings and spends considerable time on the benefits of networking, knowledge sharing and developing a voice. We talk about the benefits of a community, and how to build one, and how to bridge the confidence gap that many women experience when it comes to finance and money matters. This relates to empowerment and inviting more women in to finance and investing, which for some is angel investing.

Julie discusses the importance of angel investing as both spark and growth capital in an ecosystem, and how going about it can generate the virtuous cycle of more confidence, more status and better community and relationship.

We move then to discuss the need for a New Table, at which women and men are represented equally, and how to message this so that women respond and get the support they need.  There is more information about How Women Lead here: https://www.howwomenlead.com/the-movement 

Series 1 of 2024 is supported by Apollo Global Management, a leading provider of alternative asset management and retirement services solutions. Apollo seeks to provide clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum and is focused on empowering retirees, building and financing stronger businesses and driving a more sustainable future. 

Our conversation starts with Jason’s studies at Syracuse University, where he majored in finance and entrepeneurship and moves then to his early entry into the asset management industry at Goldman Sachs, where he cycled through nine different roles across the business in 22 years. 

We return then to his training and roots in entrepreneurship to link it to building client solutions, which is his current focus, and look at the craft involved in this. We also bring in the global perspective, given his recent trips to clients around the world.  This brings us to the evolving role of alternatives in client portfolios, the increased awareness of income and its importance, and the future of the 60/40 portfolio.  

Staying on innovation, we look to the evolving nature of private wealth offerings, how the advisory world is shifting as client needs change, and the role that accessible and digestible education and training plays in this.  . 

In the context of product launches and assessing client appetite Jason broaches the topic of where this fails, and what can be learned from maybe evolving too quickly. 

Delivered through a lens that embraces complexity and the challenge of pattern recognition, this is a master class in the art of building client solutions and its many facets.

Series 1 of 2024 is supported by Apollo Global Management, a leading provider of alternative asset management and retirement services solutions. Apollo seeks to provide clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum and is focused on empowering retirees, building and financing stronger businesses and driving a more sustainable future. 

Now we are back to our main series focused on investment professionals but love runs through it like a golden thread.  Love, discipline, lessons from parents.  Our guests include a former college football player, who spent time working as a prison guard before returning to university and ultimately entering the investment industry, an expert on music valuation, multiple ESG and pensions specialists and founders of fund companies - large and small.  

Our Series 2 guests are:

Eddie Welch, who is an alternative asset specialist at Nuveen, a role he has held since April 2021.  He previously worked as an Associate at CIM Group, focused on real estate investing, and prior to that and his degree at Ohio State University worked in a wide variety of roles and played college football, all of which we discuss in our podcast.

 
Jennifer Grancio  is Chief Executive Office at Engine No. 1.  Engine No. 1 is an investment firm that identifies value creation opportunities in once-in-a-generation systems changes the economy is now going through. She is based in the San Francisco Area.  She previously founded and ran her own firm advising CEOs on accelerating revenue growth and prior to that was a Managing Director at Blackrock, where she led businesses and global distribution teams for close to 20 years.  She is a Board Member of the MannKind Corporation and Ethic investments. 

Barry Massarsky is a Partner and Co-Practice Leader, Music Economics and Valuation Services at Citrin Cooperman.  The Founder of Massarsky Consulting, which he sold to Citrin Cooperman early in 2022. He is credited with pioneering the economics of royalty cash flows in the early 1990s and together with his business partner, Nari Matsuura, developed a model to guide banks lending to music investors. Last year Massarsky Consulting valued over 300 catalogs totaling more than $6.5 billion. 

 
Maneesha Ghiya is Managing Partner and Founder of FemHealth Ventures, a firm focused on providing investment capital to entrepreneurs focused on women’s health. Investing in healthcare since 2000, Maneesha has invested via public equities, private equities and as a hedge fund specialist.  She is a Senior Advisor to ExSight Ventures, an ophthalmology-focused venture capital fund and serves on multiple boards.  

Adam Saron is Founder of Clara-Pensions, a member-first consolidator of defined benefit pension schemes. He previously ran Black Ant Investment Management, a long-biased value investor, which invested in both public equities and corporate credits. 

Afsaneh Beschloss is the Founder and CEO at RockCreek, an investment firm which invests across diverse sectors with a special focus on climate, affordable housing and education investments in developed, emerging and frontier markets. She is on the Board of Directors of the Global Advisory Council of the Bretton Woods Committee, a Member of the Board of Directors of the Council on Foreign Relations and holds numerous other Board and Trustee roles.

Kate Nevin is President and Portfolio Manager at TSWII Capital Advisors, a role she has held for over 20 years.  She is active with many industry groups (such as The Academy of Institutional Investors and Nexus) and community organizations focused on conservation and gender equality and was a Riley Diversity Fellow. She is passionate about aligning value and investing in diversity.

 
Sarah Whitley is Chair at Future Asset, an organization which connects girls, teachers and advisors to the diversity of opportunities in asset management.  Based in Edinburgh, she was previously Head of Japanese Equities at Baillie Gifford and currently holds a number of director roles, including as External Director at Rakuten, and Chair at the Edinburgh Festival Endowment Fund.

 
John Harney,  is a Senior Consultant with AON, where he focuses on helping pension scheme sponsors to manage pension risks and maximise potential upside.  He is based in the Oxford area.  I cam across John through mutual friends in the industry and because I was drawn in particular to his Linkedin posts that mentioned his joy in cooking and baking, which we discussed as part of the Love series as a bonus episode. 

 
Charlotte O’Leary is Chief Executive Officer and Director of Pensions for Purpose, which exists as a bridge between asset managers, pension funds and their professional advisers, to encourage the flow of capital towards impact investment. She has had a long career in investment management, with a particular focus on pensions as well as ESG and impact investing. She is also a passionate participant in fitness competitions, which we discussed as part of the Love series as a bonus episode. 

Series 2 of 2023 is kindly sponsored by Beach Point Capital Advisors, an investment manager that believes in investment beyond the traditional.  It specializes in credit investments and employs a flexible, value-oriented, risk-controlled focusing on complex and less well-followed opportunities.  

You can find all of our podcasts on The Fiftyfaces Hub, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Our first podcast is with Jessica Kosmowski, a Managing Principal at Deloitte, where we start by discussing the most exciting tech trends surrounding us today and Jessica reflects on how she has treated not being well represented as a senior woman in tech. 

We hear then from the venture capital investor Katie Jacobs Stanton. Katie is the founder and general partner of Moxxie Ventures, She talks about areas that excite her today- particularly climate tech and healthcare, and shares the tips she believes will get more women the skills they need to get funded by investors like her.  She talks about hiring talent, and the imposter syndrome that is felt universally.

Our next guest, Alicin Reidy Williamson, also believes in networks.  She is the chief diversity and culture officer for Yahoo.  She describes the importance of having a personal board of directors, but also believes in the importance of strong leadership, of a very particular kind - feminist leadership. Alicin also believes in creating a culture of belonging, and she gave an example of what that means. 

Our final guest in the series, Fiona McDonnell, a tech executive of Booking.com describes what it is to have full self awareness and how we can learn it. She discusses her recent book, and reflects on what it was that stopped her from bringing her whole self to work. 

You can follow our series on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.  You can find all of our content on the Fiftyfaces Hub - fiftyfaceshub.com, and this series is featured on the Monumental Me website at www.monumentalme.com/podcast. 

We start with her upbringing in London and how she moved to study law at Cambridge but found she didn't have the mindset to work as a lawyer.  Instead her creative instincts led her to journalism and eventually editing. We talk about how her initial "cheekiness" helped her to find a break in the competitive world of journalism, and how very humble beginnings led to the a flourishing Food PR company after she moved to Lincolnshire.

Caroline's career now celebrates every aspect of food - through The Food Awards Company and Food FM radio, and we hear about how we are on the cusp of a global food revolution, where the provenance of food, the importance of food and new innovation in the world of food is creating so much buzz.

Caroline talks about the origins of each of these businesses, and how her experience of Covid and looking after her elderly mother saw her seeing food as a healer and a source of joy.  We hear about the innovations that are currently exciting her and how food can be a source of better mental health and better overall wellness.

You can find out more about the Food Awards Company on https://www.thefoodawardscompany.co.uk creating and about FoodFM at https://foodfmradio.com

That business was Chill Anywhere, which was initially conceived as an accessible meditation studio which would target busy professionals.  That was of course, derailed by Covid, and we speak about the pivot that Chill undertook then evolving into an online-based service, including an App, corporate programs and hybrid delivery solutions.  We hear about the evolution going on and the awakening of the importance of wellness to mental health in the workplace and beyond.

Laura's other passion project is the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation and we speak about the work of that foundation and the awareness and education that that furthers.

There is more information about Chill Anywhere here: https://www.chillanywhere.com/about and a taster video from that on our Fiftyfaces Hub here: https://www.fiftyfaceshub.com/chill-pause-for-your-mental-wellbeing/.

This podcast is being released as a bonus to coincide with the month of February 2023 and our love and wellness series. It will also form part of Series 2 of the 2023 Fiftyfaces Podcast.

We turn then to talk about a topic that has been a driver for Stuart throughout his career, which is about offering opportunities in the workplace to "cv-less" talent, that has not come through the normal qualification channels. He notes that there is a talent pool that has been missed for a long time, and details initiatives he has put in place in his workplaces to address this over the years. He cites the importance of support and encouragement throughout one's career, especially in the early years and the role played by mentoring and coaching.

Some of the highs of Stuart's career derived working with great teams, and we discuss the importance of this and how sometimes leaving a great team can be a low point, but is the normal progression of our work-lives.

Series 1 of 2023 is brought to you with the kind support of HarbourView Equity Partners, a global investment firm focused on opportunities in the entertainment and media space. Founded by Sherrese Clarke Soares, HarbourView is a long-term investor in content with an industrial platform built to protect, optimize, and enhance the legacy of premium IP. With a vision of becoming a true stakeholder in the global value of content, HarbourView believes creators deserve a seat at the table creatively and economically, owning their narrative and maximizing value for all. https://www.harbourviewequity.com/

In celebration of our partnership with HarbourView Equity Partners we have selected a separate piece of music for each of the podcasts in this series.  We hope you enjoy them.

Our conversation starts with Michael's first introduction to the world of investing, which was around the family dinner table at which multiple generations met and investments - as well as sports - were discussed.

We move from there to his first formal roles in the area, at Goldman, Sachs and Pacific Holding Company and we talk about finance in the early 1980s, and how, sometimes, one can end up with far more responsibility than imagined, and how this can lead to the most profound learning experiences. And then to the launch his own long/short hedge fund and the hedge fund investment landscape of the 1990s.

Our conversation moves to the complexities of starting a firm, raising capital, developing clients and staying the course. We look at the need to evolve and adapt in new environments; leveraging core competencies, retooling product lines and extending the duration of one’s capital base as new opportunities emerge.  This was particularly relevant when Michael and his co-founder developed the hedge fund secondaries business at Dorchester Capital Advisors.

Series 1 of 2023 is brought to you with the kind support of HarbourView Equity Partners, a global investment firm focused on opportunities in the entertainment and media space. Founded by Sherrese Clarke Soares, HarbourView is a long-term investor in content with an industrial platform built to protect, optimize, and enhance the legacy of premium IP. With a vision of becoming a true stakeholder in the global value of content, HarbourView believes creators deserve a seat at the table creatively and economically, owning their narrative and maximizing value for all. https://www.harbourviewequity.com/

In celebration of our partnership with HarbourView Equity Partners we have selected a separate piece of music for each of the podcasts in this series.  We hope you enjoy them

Museum of Art among other Board Roles.  She is also trained as a Neuroleadership Coach

Richard Okello is CEO and Co-founder at Sango Capital, an investment firm he founded 10 years ago that has a particular focus on investing in Africa.  He previously was a principal at Makena Capital, and prior to that in a series of roles at Bridgewater Associates.

Jon Lulu is a senior executive within a real estate investment management platform. He has had a long career in capital raising and real estate in particular.  Prior to his MBA he studied geography as an undergraduate and this is just one of many strands of his unorthodox background that we discuss.

So join us from Tuesday January 10 when we kick off Series 1 over the next five weeks.  You can find all of our content on the Fiftyfaces Hub - fiftyfaceshub.com as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. This year we are making our listeners aware that you can support our work on Patreon, which is a platform to support creators and content developers.  Any monthly contribution is appreciated and enables us to continue to amplify voices across the Investment profession and others.  You can support our work here: https://www.patreon.com/fiftyfacespodcast

Series 1 of 2023 is brought to you with the kind support of HarbourView Equity Partners, a global investment firm focused on opportunities in the entertainment and media space. Founded by Sherrese Clarke Soares, HarbourView is a long-term investor in content with an industrial platform built to protect, optimize, and enhance the legacy of premium IP. With a vision of becoming a true stakeholder in the global value of content, HarbourView believes creators deserve a seat at the table creatively and economically, owning their narrative and maximizing value for all. https://www.harbourviewequity.com/

In celebration of our partnership with HarbourView Equity Partners we have selected a separate piece of music for each of the podcasts in this series.  We hope you enjoy them.  

Julie has had an over 20 year background in financial services where she has developed market leading innovations at Wells Fargo, Charles Schwab Advisor Services, SEI Investments and Autodesk Ventures.  She began her career as a US Naval Aviator flying the SH03 Sea King helicopter.  Among her other roles, Julie is Chairman of the Board of Swords to Plowshares, a nonprofit helping over 3000 military veterans, and until recently was Captain in the California State Guard. 

Our conversation starts with Julie's naval training and some of the situations she found herself in - requiring split second decisions, composure under pressure and leadership.  We speak about the diversity in the military during her career and how it evolved since then.  We transition then to what inspired Julie to enter the world of finance and how the desire to make an impact was central to this.  We explore this further - looking at the kind of impact that is possible in finance.

Democracy investments uses its proprietary algorithm to detect and direct capital to countries with demonstrated hallmarks of democracies, but as our democratic ideals are not universally shared, I asked her how dynamic (or static) these classifications were. What follows is a fascinating discussion about what makes a successful democracy and we then reflect on the values and learnings from her career in the military as a means to understand this more fully.  

We end with Julie's reflections on the people and ideas that have inspired her, and reflect on the part we play as individuals in the whole.  You won't want to miss this part of the discussion. 

Series 5 is sponsored by Astarte Capital Partners, an asset management firm focused on sustainable real asset sectors, acting as anchor investor and partner to specialist emerging managers. Astarte is headquartered in London with a presence in Sydney and Toronto.

Matt lost his sight at the age of 24, and became legally blind within a matter of days.  We discuss how he pivoted from a practical perspective, which enabled him to continue his career and to thrive there.  We discuss the inclusion of people with similar disabilities in the professional world, and examine the massive advances in technology which are making access more seamless.  Biases and prejudices however are less  dynamic in changing and Matt reframes the term “persons with disability” as “persons with determination”.

We discuss many of the organizations and advocacy groups that are furthering better inclusion and then move to discuss Matt’s current passion for WeVidIt, democratizing access to this form of investment and the fundamentals that underlie it.

This podcast was previously released as a bonus in recognition of April 27 being International Guide Dog Day.

Series 4 was sponsored by Alvine Capital.  Founded in 2005, Alvine Capital is a specialist advisor and placement boutique focusing on assisting European Institutional Investors within Alternative Investments.  It partners with best in class managers, adding value to investors by helping to navigate this very fragmented market

We also spend some time on her involvement in the CFA Institute and reflect on how that organization has evolved for the modern industry.  We look at the future of investment committee and board roles and the skillset that is involved for each.

Heather reminds us that when we look for role models all that we see are the accomplishments and the finished products and not the false starts, the errors, the u-turns - all of this is "left on the cutting room floor".  

Series 4 was sponsored by Alvine Capital.  Founded in 2005, Alvine Capital is a specialist advisor and placement boutique focusing on assisting European Institutional Investors within Alternative Investments.  It partners with best in class managers, adding value to investors by helping to navigate this very fragmented market. 

We hear about life’s setbacks, and how we rarely see the failures or false starts that end up on the cutting room floor, and about the importance of breadth v. depth as well as the importance of nurturing the variance in life as well as investing.

So take time during your summer road trip or plane journey to recharge and arrive inspired.  Hear from these 10 inspiring guests:

James Penney is Chairman of Darwin Alternative Investment Management Ltd, a firm that offers innovative Alpha driven investment solutions for long term investors. He has had a varied background that involved time doing mission-based work in Latin America during his study of theology, he has spent time as an academic and as an consultant before developing his asset management business.  Darwin Alternative Investment Management, through its investment products promotes the dignity of people at every stage of their lives, and is the sponsor of our Next Chapter podcast series. 

Heather Brilliant is the President and CEO at Diamond Hill Capital Management, a $30 billion asset manager headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. She previously was Chief Executive Officer Americas at First State Investments, and prior to that was CEO at Morningstar, Australasia, and formerly Global Head of Equity and Credit Research. She's had a career long involvement with CFA Institute globally, and was formerly Chairman of the Board, as well as a Director and Board Member for over seven years.

John Bowman is Executive Vice President of the CAIA Association, and a prolific writer and commentator on the investment management industry. He has written about the subject of culture, restoring the virtuous reputation of the industry and ensuring that dialogue and education are maximized, particularly in the area of alternative investing.

Cynthia Steer has had  a multi-decade career in investment management, spending time as an investment director, CIO and Chief Retirement Strategist at a series of large consulting firms, and she now holds a broad range of investment committee and independent director roles.

Aaron Joseph is Senior Vice President Investor Solutions at Blue Vista Capital Management, a Chicago based real estate investment manager focused in particular on middle market equity, student housing and real estate credit. He previously worked as deputy sustainability officer in the Office of the Mayor in the city of Chicago, and as a Strategy Manager at Urban Partnership Bank focused on providing banking services for impact capital and urban real estate investors.

Eve Ellis is a wealth advisor with William Blair. She has a particular interest in socially responsible and impact investments and manages two proprietary portfolios, a gender parity strategy and a dedicated diversity and inclusion strategy. She is also a member of the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible investment. She has received multiple awards, including featuring on the Crain's New York Women and Financial Advice inaugural list in 2020. And the Forbes America's Top Women Wealth Advisors Best in State.

Zia Uddin is President of Monroe Capital LLC, an asset management firm headquartered in Chicago, which invests in middle market companies in North America through a range of products. Prior to joining Monroe he focused on middle market private equity investing for most of his career. Currently, he sits on a range of private company boards as well as on a public company board.

Jason Mitchell is co-head of responsible investments at Man Group, and the host of a sustainable future podcast at the Man Institute, a podcast that he has hosted since 2018, and has now passed its 55th episode. He writes and speaks widely on sustainability issues, as well as serving on a number of committees such as Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, and World Bank Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition.

Matt Sherwood, Ph.D. is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WeVidIt Media, a video streaming platform that leverages data and analytics for a more inclusive and profitable entertainment industry. We met while he worked as an asset allocator, where he headed up public market investments for MMBB Financial Services.  He has spent time as a guest lecturer and an appointed professor at Columbia University and The King’s College in New York, and has authored a textbook on the topic of ESG Investing. He is a board member of the Guide Dog Foundation and American Vet Dogs and serves on the Lavelle Fund’s Investment Committee.

Steve Kim is a partner in investment strategy and risk management at Verdis Investment Management in the Philadelphia area. He has focused over 30 years in his career in implementing and managing operating infrastructures. Prior to his role at Verdis he held various Chief Technology Officer roles, he now focuses on integrating his insight from systems modeling and data analysis into an investment approach, particularly in the venture capital arena.

All of our podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcast channels.  You can find all of our content on the Fiftyfaces Hub (fiftyfaceshub.com) including resources and other material to enhance your career.