Money Maze Podcast

Ron Biscardi, CEO and founder of iConnections, shares his journey from engineering to creating a pivotal platform for the alternative investment industry. He explains the innovative approach behind building technology to facilitate connections between managers and allocators. Highlights include the importance of data in enhancing productivity, the success of in-person conferences post-COVID, and the transformative impact of networking on business growth. Ron also discusses community initiatives that emerged during economic challenges, reflecting his commitment to building relationships in the investment landscape.

Noor Sweid, Founder and Managing Partner of Global Ventures, is a prominent angel investor recognized in 'FORBES 100 Most Powerful Business Women 2025.' She shares her inspiring journey from consultancy to venture capital, highlighting investment dynamics in the MENA region, where half the population is under 30. Noor discusses industry opportunities in fintech and agritech, her investment selection criteria, and the traits of successful entrepreneurs. She emphasizes the importance of relationship-building in the venture capital space, especially for women.

Michael Manning, CEO of NEPC, leads an investment consulting firm with nearly $2 trillion under advice. He discusses the evolution of investment consulting, detailing its shift from serving institutional clients to engaging individual investors. Michael analyzes the investment landscape, including the debate between active and passive strategies, and potential risks in private equity and private debt. He emphasizes the importance of diversification, adaptive approaches, and the changing dynamics of public and private equity markets.

Discover the art of asking the right questions in business and its impact on smart investment decisions. Dive into the benefits of long-term investments, particularly in infrastructure. Explore innovative thinking and the importance of strong assumptions to adapt to economic shifts. Gain insights from top figures in finance as they share their wisdom on navigating the complex world of capital allocation. Enjoy a fresh perspective with occasional guests from the arts and broader business sectors.

Chris Wood, a renowned global strategist and author of 'Greed and Fear', makes a bold prediction about the US stock market reaching a peak akin to Japan's in 1989. He shares insights on the implications of current economic uncertainties, AI's impact on market dynamics, and the evolving status of the dollar. The discussion also dives into investment strategies for gold and Bitcoin amidst geopolitical tensions, highlighting opportunities in emerging markets. Wood's analysis offers a fascinating view on navigating today's complex financial landscape.

Carson Block, Founder and CEO of Muddy Waters, specializes in short activism and is known for his in-depth investigations into troubled companies. In this engaging discussion, he highlights the evolving landscape of short selling post-COVID, the challenges faced amidst bullish market trends, and the role of AI in identifying potential short candidates. Block reflects on the need for resilience in a speculative market, the ethical dilemmas of financial practices, and opportunities in emerging sectors like Vietnam's resources, painting a complex picture of today's investment climate.

Neil Woodford, a renowned British fund manager often dubbed 'Britain’s Warren Buffett', shares his rollercoaster investment journey. He discusses his triumphs during his years at Invesco Perpetual and the lessons learned from managing £15bn. Delving into the pivotal moments that led to his fund's suspension, he reflects on the pitfalls of shifting to illiquid assets. Woodford also tackles the complexities of regulatory pressures and the innovative yet challenging landscape for UK small to mid-sized companies, while remaining optimistic about future investment opportunities.

Scott Kleinman, Co-President of Apollo Asset Management, shares insights from his extensive experience in a firm managing over $750 billion. He dives into the fascinating convergence of public and private markets, highlighting how traditional investment strategies are evolving. Kleinman discusses the impacts of passive investing on market dynamics and liquidity. He also addresses opportunities outside the US and emphasizes the importance of hard work and curiosity for the youth, reminding listeners to always ask 'why?'. A treasure trove of finance wisdom!

Howard Marks, Co-founder of Oaktree Capital Management, is a celebrated voice in investing, known for his insightful memos. In this engaging conversation, he emphasizes that it's not about what you buy, but what you pay. Marks discusses the necessity of being contrarian and warns against the perils of overconfidence. He shares how human emotions influence market cycles and the importance of intellectual humility when navigating uncertainty. Additionally, he touches on the implications of rising government debt while advocating for personal fulfillment over pure profit.

In this episode we’ve been very fortunate to find someone who ranks amongst the most qualified anywhere in the world to discuss this topic. He was the former CFO of Billiton, then as CEO, built Xstrata into one of the world’s largest diversified mining companies, helping grow their market value from US$500m to US$60bn, at one point employing over 90,000 people. In this conversation we examine the most important supply and demand mismatches of critical materials. We assess the energy transition, discuss where the opportunities and challenges lie, what Vision Blue Resources is seeking to build, and how investors are positioned. We expand the conversation to discuss valuation opportunities in the wider commodity space, geopolitical hotspots and their implications for commodity prices.  Mick also talks about effective management, building optionality into your business and why investors misunderstand how mining companies frequently demonstrate much better governance and responsibility than standard thinking suggests. ​​The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, IFM Investors, World Gold Council and LSEG. Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedIn | Watch on YouTube