Episode 321: Lisa Laird of Mercy Investments: On the importance of Kindness as a Path to Impact

Lisa Laird is CIO at Mercy Investment Services in St. Louis. She has previously held senior strategist roles as well as other healthcare leadership roles, and currently holds a number of additional board roles.

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.