Julie Koeninger is Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager in Agriculture at Manulife Investment Management, where she leads business development for Manulife Investment Management global agriculture strategy. She has over 30 years of experience in agriculture investing, having worked in a series of roles at other institutions prior to joining Manulife and led the first ever securitization of US Agricultural mortgages.

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.

Episode 284: Julie Koeninger of Manulife Investment Management: Ploughing her own Furrow in Agricultural Investing