The Fiftyfaces Podcast

Judy Chambers is Managing Principal of Meketa Invstment Group, an investment consulting firm. She has had a long career in investment consulting and prior to that investment banking. Based in NYC, she is Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Toigo Foundation, and sits on the Board of the Community Service Society of New York. Judy had an exceptionally early start in the world of investing - starting as an intern at JP Morgan at the age of 15. She has not stopped since. Our discussion covers her moves through investment banking and then investment consulting, and some insights she gained along the way as to the power structures she would encounter as she built her career. Now, in an investment consulting role, she is instrumental in identifying promising minority led investment firms, and we discuss the enduring challenges that these firms face in getting a seat at the table.Judy is currently Chair of the Advisory Board of the Toigo Foundation and we discuss the benefits that this program and affinity groups provide in nurturing diverse talent within the investment profession.

Tom Majewski is managing partner of Eagle Point Credit Management, which focuses on investments in CLOs – or Collateralized Loan Obligations - and CLO equity. Prior to founding Eagle Point he held a variety of roles on Wall Street, mainly in the fixed income area. We talk about how he planned his career in 5 year increments, the chain of managers and mentors who influenced him and his thought process in establishing his own firm. We spend quite a bit of time discussing how the market backdrop has required building resilience and in particular examine how the investment management industry dismantles complexity for investors. This touches the importance of transparency and disclosure.His philosophy is one of playing the long game and we will learn what this means in investments, in work relationships and in life. We discuss his emphasis on inter-personal dynamics and connecting with investors.

Dr. Christine Chow is global tech lead and head of Asia and GEMS in EOS, the engagement arm of the international business of Federated Hermes. She has had a global career, spanning Asia, the US and Europe, and is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence. Christine pursued her PhD mid-way through her investment career and we talk about the challenges that that presented, in addition to her juggling work and family. She has a wealth of anecdotes gathered from her time in Asia and when moving through the ranks of finance, and she has been pivotal in shifting perceptions on interview panels and in seeking to eradicate bias within firms. One of the most fascinating aspects of Christine's story is what happened when she conducted an experiment - she applied for some jobs using her Chinese name, and applied for other jobs using a non-Chinese name. What ensued was both surprising and disappointing. Tune in to find out more.

Tony Dalwood is Chief Executive Officer of Gresham House, an alternatives asset management business based in London. Its product range includes forestry, renewables, infrastructure, housing, private equity and strategic public equity funds. Prior to this he spent time at a range of leading asset management firms where his investment activities included both public and private equity. He holds a number of investment committee and NED roles and is a former rugby player and current rugby coach. Our conversation traces Tony's career in investing, the lessons he learned from his time playing rugby and how they transfer to finance and investment. We talk about how his interest in ESG and sustainable investing evolved and why the ability to adapt is a key skill to have in the world of investing.

In Series 3 of the Fiftyfaces Podcast we hear the stories of another 10 inspiring investors from around the world. Some started early - from an internship at JP Morgan at the age of 15, to another who attended Notre Dame university at the age of 16. One pivoted from a PhD in Medieval History to a career in investing, while one turned to one mid-career, and is brutally honest about the toll it took. One played professional rugby, another was a professor in AI. Some careers are meticulously planned, some happen almost by accident. Five have built their own businesses. People and relationships are key - often parents, colleagues, and sometimes clients. Each story is rich with personal experiences, setbacks, learning and wisdom.

Theresa Boyd is a Principal in the Private Markets division of Invesco Ltd., where she constructs portfolios of venture capital funds for mainly institutional clients. Originally from Canada, she went to business school in the UK and now lives and works in the US.Our conversation digs into the mindset required to select and build a portfolio of venture capital funds, and what this teaches one about risk, loss and innovation. We explore what it is that she loves about the world of private equity and venture capital, and why diversity in this area still needs a lot of work, and not just on the investment side of the equation, as tech itself has some notable shortcomings in this area too.

Ayo Ayodele and I got to know each other when he was working as an Assistant Treasurer and Deputy Chief Investment Officer at the City of Chicago. He now works in Global Wealth Management at a large firm in Chicago, and prior to his role at the City of Chicago worked in a series of investment banking roles, including 3 years at Afrinvest West Africa, based in both London and Lagos. He was educated in Nigeria, Harrogate in the UK and the University of Arizona. Our conversation traces his journey from Lagos, to the UK, to Chicago, back to Lagos and back again, and discusses the secrets to success in building a rolodex in private wealth. We also discuss the right of passage of public service, and the insights that that provided. Finally, we examine what it means to be an ally, and which allies are the most helpful, as well as mentors who have influenced him and encouraged him in his current field.

Elissa Bayer is a Senior Investment Director at a large wealth manager based in London, and has held a range of private wealth and investment roles throughout her career. Elissa was one of the first women to take a seat in the London Stock Exchange and blazed a trail through private wealth in London, where she is still active today.Our conversation discusses her journey into investment, how she developed a client base, character traits that helped her to develop her extensive network and how it felt to be in such a minority in the profession.

Arun Kelshiker has held a series of roles in asset managers including head of Asset Allocation and Portfolio Strategy, across Europe and Asia. He is heavily involved in the CFA Society and committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within the investment profession. He has interests in behavioural finance and sustainable and impact investing. Our discussion is very broadranging - touching on the differences between asset allocation in private wealth v. institutional investing and global differences in preferences and approaches. We look to the evolution of the asset management universe and forecast where innovation will lead it. Finally we discuss insights from behavioural finance, and how these can shape the asset manager of tomorrow.

Karen Shackleton is the founder and head of Pensions for Purpose, a collaborative initiative to promote understanding of impact investment for institutional investors. This is in addition to a portfolio career which includes roles as investment adviser to four local authority pension funds, as well as Chair and Non-Executive Director roles. She has spent most of her career in investment, including time as a fund manager, client relationship manager and chief executive of an Investment Advisory Firm. She is a frequent speaker on the institutional investor circuit and a passionate advocate for knowledge and action in impact investment. Our conversation covers Karen's journey into investment, her investment beliefs and how she developed her portfolio career. We examine in particular how she came to be a passionate advocate for investing for impact, what impact investing means to her and the genesis of the Pensions for Purpose platform. Finally, we seek and fail to determine if computers are in fact "mañana or megabucks" . . . you'll just have to listen in to find out more about this conundrum.