#8 Fabiana Fedeli: The Firm, Fair & Fearless Leader

In this insightful and highly enjoyable episode of Stratospheric Leaders, I sit down with Fabiana Fedeli, Chief Investment Officer, Equities, Multi Asset and Sustainability of M&G Investments. Fabiana leads a global team of 170 people, overseeing more than $70 billion in assets.

We start by going back to where it all started. Born in Rome, Fabiana’s work ethic was already evident at the age of 8, cleaning the leather covers of antique books for a family friend, earning 20 pence per book. Her second official job - ice cream maker, a role still listed in her Italian professions booklet.

Fabiana’s international career started in Tokyo, where she began her career as an equity analyst at ING Barings after completing a Master’s degree at a Japanese university. Her path included time in hedge funds, before moving into leadership roles in asset management.

Fabiana is a leader who balances strength with heart - firm, focused but fair, warm yet uncompromising. She sets a high bar and isn’t afraid to make the tough calls. In this episode, she offers powerful insights on what it truly takes to lead at the top - blending excellence with empathy and great energy.

Key Takeaways:

·      Leading with culture, respect, and pride

·      Knowing your outlets—and using them

·      Sleep as a strategic advantage

·      The pressure of the leadership seat

·      Making tough people decisions

·      Mentorship and the power of a trusted tribe

·      Turning hard feedback into growth

·      Why self-awareness and accountability matter

·      Embracing failure as part of the journey

·      Staying adaptable to stay ahead