Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry

Leda Braga – Systematica Investments (Manager Meetings, EP.10)

Sep 9, 2021

Guest

Leda Braga

Guest

Mario Therrien

Leda Braga, founder and CEO of Systematica Investments, shares insights from her journey leading a $10 billion quantitative hedge fund. In conversation with Mario Therrien from CDPQ, they explore the significance of unique investment strategies and the criteria for selecting systematic managers. Leda discusses the challenges she faced as a woman in finance, the importance of diversity, and how to navigate market volatility through tail-risk strategies. They also touch on modern investment dynamics and the necessity of data-driven decision-making.

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ANECDOTE

Leda's Engineering Background

Leda Braga's background is in engineering, not finance.
She transitioned to finance in London during the derivatives boom in the 1990s.

INSIGHT

Few Women in Finance

Leda Braga faced few women in finance, similar to her experiences in engineering and academia.
She persevered through potential biases and focused on delivering good work.

INSIGHT

Why So Few Women?

Three factors contribute to the scarcity of women in finance: bias against mathematics, perceived lack of flexibility, and the industry's image of risk-taking.
Leda Braga actively supports initiatives like "Math for Girls" to encourage women in mathematics.

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