The Fiftyfaces Podcast

We are delighted to bring you Series 3 of our 2025 series, which we again are launching amid significant volatility in markets. However, as you will hear, the more things change, the more they stay the same. We start this series down under, hearing from Debby Blakey, CEO of Hesta, who describes what it means to be a “Super with Impact”, and a gutsy advocate for a fair and healthy community.  We turn then to portfolio management, as Krishna Mohanraj of Diamond Hill talks about the power of the team, and how he approaches international investment, and then take the LP perspective, and chat with Jen Choi, CEO of ILPA, about the changing face of private equity and LP advocacy.  Stuart Dunbar of Baillie Gifford talks us through the changing shape of client engagement when it comes to large asset managers, while we dive into the topical issue of LGPS pension fund pooling with long-time LGPS fund leader, Jo Kempton of Lincolnshire Pension Fund. We are back to Diamond Hill with a fascinating interview with Henry Song, who explores the human side of finance and what we get wrong in competency interviews and moving then to the world of quantitative investing, Artemiza Woodgate lifts the veil on quantitative investing, and what we sometimes overlook. We stay somewhat in the world of quantitative investing in our interview with Kristen Van Gelder, who has spent her entire career tracing the evolution of hedge funds, and the relevance of hedge fund of fund solutions for client portfolios from her role at Evanston Capital Management. Then we pull the lens back, with Nick Spencer of Milliman who advocates for a systems thinking approach to risk when it comes to sustainability issues – and we explore what this means for the future of the investing style.  We end then coming full circle with our exploration of values-based investing with a wonderful interview with Lisa Laird, who is CIO of Mercy Investments Services, Inc. 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.

Daniel Gore is a Founding Partner of Orthogonal Partners, a boutique asset manager investing in "next generation" alternative investment strategies.  He has had an extensive career in investing, including time spent in angel investing, in a family office and in film finance. He is currently pursuing opportunities in small and mid market UK firms.   Our conversation starts with the path that Dan took to this point, which included numerous different opportunities for learning – and we hear about the importance of trust and integrity as values that transcend different investment areas. Dan reflects on his unconventional career, gaining a broad understanding of different asset classes and the importance of backing the right teams. Moving now to Orthogonal partners, we speak about its range, and why it is a source of unconventional returns, and we discuss the structural funding gap in the UK SME market and the government's efforts to address it through the British Business Bank. We dive in to some details of the UK SME market, which presents a meaningful opportunity set with 5.6 million SMEs accounting for 99% of all businesses and 60% of private sector jobs.  We conclude with some reflections on the power of networking and the value of building relationships from the start of one's career. Thank you Eagle Point Credit and Benefit Street Partners for supporting this series!With over $12 billion of AUM, Eagle Point Credit Management is a premier investment firm focused on generating strong returns for its clients through sourcing, evaluating and executing investments in CLOs, Portfolio Debt Securities and other credit investments that it believes shave the potential to outperform their respective markets generally.Benefit Street Partners is a leading global alternative credit asset manager offering clients investment solutions across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including direct lending, special situations, structured credit, high yield bonds, leveraged loans and commercial real estate debt and equity. As of December 31, 2024, BSP-Alcentra had $76 billion of assets under management.

Fernando Vinzons is Chief Investment Officer at the Chicago Teacher’s Pension Fund, a role he has held for almost 3 years. He previously spent over 13 years at the Cook County Pension Fund and started his career in investment research. Our conversation starts with Fernando's initiation into stock picking, and how he earned the ropes pitching stock ideas to a legendary hedge fund manager. We move then to his move to an allocator role, and the entrepreneurial nature of his formative years, when resource constraints required the wearing of many hats.We move then to the Chicago Teachers Pension Plan and we discuss their diversity program in detail - we hear how the pension fund is leading the way in diversity, with over 51% of their portfolio managed by MWBE firms. The Fund's "First Look" program gives smaller investment firms a platform to showcase their talents and break through traditional industry barriers.  We discuss the benefit that this dialogue can create for these emerging managers who still struggle to get air time. Ending with advice and reflections, Fernando offers a reminder to stay calm, focus on long-term strategies, and remember that there's more to life than work stress. He also touts the benefit of travel to broaden the mind and offer more perspective. Thank you Eagle Point Credit and Benefit Street Partners for supporting this series!With over $12 billion of AUM, Eagle Point Credit Management is a premier investment firm focused on generating strong returns for its clients through sourcing, evaluating and executing investments in CLOs, Portfolio Debt Securities and other credit investments that it believes shave the potential to outperform their respective markets generally.Benefit Street Partners is a leading global alternative credit asset manager offering clients investment solutions across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including direct lending, special situations, structured credit, high yield bonds, leveraged loans and commercial real estate debt and equity. As of December 31, 2024, BSP-Alcentra had $76 billion of assets under management.

Peter Wilson is Managing Director at HarbourVest Partners, a private markets specialist firm with over $140 billion in assets across 14 offices. Peter has worked at HarbourVest for most of his career, in a series of roles, most recently as one of two members of the firm's Executive Management Committee which ran the firm from 2012 to 2024. In this broadranging discussion, Peter discusses his career journey and the firm's evolution as well as that of the private equity industry more broadly. We discuss the shift from standardized to bespoke investment strategies, catering to institutional and high net worth clients and some of the more derivative strategies that have emerged, such as secondaries, NAV lending and co-investments. We discuss the the importance of authenticity in leadership and why pushing outside one's comfort zone and taking on stretch challenges is so important to continue to grow in one's career. Thank you Eagle Point Credit and Benefit Street Partners for supporting this series!With over $12 billion of AUM, Eagle Point Credit Management is a premier investment firm focused on generating strong returns for its clients through sourcing, evaluating and executing investments in CLOs, Portfolio Debt Securities and other credit investments that it believes shave the potential to outperform their respective markets generally.Benefit Street Partners is a leading global alternative credit asset manager offering clients investment solutions across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including direct lending, special situations, structured credit, high yield bonds, leveraged loans and commercial real estate debt and equity. As of December 31, 2024, BSP-Alcentra had $76 billion of assets under management.

Tom Doyle is Partner and Head of NAV Financing at Pemberton Asset Management, a role he has held for over three years. He previously held a similar role at 17Capital. Our conversation takes us on a tour through the evolution of private markets, the role of innovation in it and some of the dynamics that have driven NAV financing. We dig in to the evolving nature of client demand and understanding of some of these strategies and look to parallels such as the development of secondary markets in terms of the speed of acceptance and normalization of some private equity strategies.Moving then to career progression, Tom discusses some of the key figures who inspired him throughout his career, including some leaders who taught him how to analyze complex situations, and think critically. We end with the pursuit of excellence in delivery of client interactions, and the power to "elevate" every interaction, every pitch, every client experience.Thank you Eagle Point Credit and Benefit Street Partners for supporting this series!With over $12 billion of AUM, Eagle Point Credit Management is a premier investment firm focused on generating strong returns for its clients through sourcing, evaluating and executing investments in CLOs, Portfolio Debt Securities and other credit investments that it believes shave the potential to outperform their respective markets generally.Benefit Street Partners is a leading global alternative credit asset manager offering clients investment solutions across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including direct lending, special situations, structured credit, high yield bonds, leveraged loans and commercial real estate debt and equity. As of December 31, 2024, BSP-Alcentra had $76 billion of assets under management.

Cathy Bevan, Head of Structured Credit at Benefit Street Partners, shares her unexpected journey from mathematics to finance. She delves into the intricacies of structured credit, discussing its evolving role and potential in today’s market. Cathy emphasizes the importance of taking risks, mentorship, and personal growth while navigating a career in finance. She also addresses issues of diversity and inclusivity in the industry, reflecting on how personal experiences shape one’s professional path and the significance of enjoying the journey over merely reaching goals.

Series 2 of the 2025 podcast was born into a time of tremendous market turbulence. In our ten conversations with a diverse range of guests – sourced globally, we go top down, and bottom up – into the weeds, and take helicopter views. Tune in to hear about the technologies in venture capital and climate tech that excite even the most experienced investors who have seen multiple cycles with podcasts featuring Hunter Somerville and Beverley Gower-Jones, OBE on topics of big swing innovation in venture capital and what is on the cutting edge of climate tech. Erik Hirsch of Hamilton Lane describes private equity's evolution, the essential role of data and what lies ahead, while Peter Wilson of Harbourvest shares his views on the topic as well as the importance of authenticity.Fernando Vinzons, CIO at Chicago Teachers Pension Fund updates us on the fund's growth and in particular the resilience of its emerging manager strategy, while Dan Gore of Darwin Alternative Asset Management describes the opportunity in small and mid-cap UK firms. Rich Byrne seamlessly marries lessons from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (in which he is a decorated champion) with lessons from the private credit world, while Cathy Bevan, also of Benefit Street, walks us through the evolution of structured credit over the past decade. Staying on credit, Sonali Pier of PIMCO describes her own journey from working as a credit trader into her current role, and we dive into the fascinating and emerging area of NAV lending with a discussion with Tom Doyle of Pemberton Asset Management.Please follow us for the launch of the second part of Series 2 next week: You can find all of our podcasts on The Fiftyfaces Hub, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you Eagle Point Credit and Benefit Street Partners for supporting this series! With over $12 billion of AUM, Eagle Point Credit Management is a premier investment firm focused on generating strong returns for its clients through sourcing, evaluating and executing investments in CLOs, Portfolio Debt Securities and other credit investments that it believes shave the potential to outperform their respective markets generally.Benefit Street Partners is a leading global alternative credit asset manager offering clients investment solutions across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including direct lending, special situations, structured credit, high yield bonds, leveraged loans and commercial real estate debt and equity. As of December 31, 2024, BSP-Alcentra had $76 billion of assets under management.

Victoria Barbary  is Director of Strategy & Communications for the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF) in which her focus is to help sovereign wealth funds become better investors for the benefit of their citizens.  She formerly worked in research roles relating to Sovereign Wealth Funds and prior to that was a PhD student in the field of Victorian History. Our conversation starts by setting the stage with sovereign wealth funds around the world, setting out the different sizes, structures and objectives that characterize the landscape. We move then into the goals of IFSWF, which are standard setting, knowledge sharing and representation, and describe what each goal means in real terms. Given the reach of sovereign wealth funds and their influence on local economies, we focus on the current trends around productive finance, sustainability, governance and staffing, and look to the future in terms of the surge of influence of these institutional investors.This podcast - a throwback to our first Series is is proudly brought to you by bfinance—a trusted partner to the world’s leading institutional investors. With a proven track record in strategy, implementation, and oversight, bfinance delivers bespoke investment consultancy that empowers asset owners to achieve their unique objectives. Whether it’s refining portfolio strategy, selecting fund managers, monitoring performance or getting better value for money, bfinance combines global expertise with tailored solutions to unlock value for their clients. To learn more about how they’ve supported over 500 clients in 45 countries, managing assets totalling over $9 trillion, visit bfinance.com.

Rich Byrne, President of Benefit Street Partners and a decorated Brazilian Jiu Jitsu champion, dives into the crossover of finance and martial arts. He shares his unique journey from fine arts to finance, emphasizing creativity's role in the industry. Rich discusses how lessons from Jiu Jitsu—like embracing discomfort and learning from failures—can enhance resilience in professional life. He highlights the importance of humility in leadership and nurturing company culture, while exploring the evolving landscape of alternative credit and real estate lending.

Sonali Pier is a Managing Director at PIMCO in Newport Beach, with a particular focus on Multi-Sector Credit.  She previously worked as a credit trader and was named recently to the Marketwatch 50 most influential people in markets.  Our conversation starts with her education, and a stock picking competition at the tender stage of sixth grade, which launched an interest in finance and economics.She moved then through various trading and finance roles into a credit specialty, and shares some of the insights that she learned along the way. Now at PIMCO we discuss the current landscape for multi-sector credit and some of the opportunity set. We discuss how PIMCO strives in particular to hone the culture within its investment teams to optimize contributions from every level of the organization. In looking back at her career in financial markets,  Sonali emphasizes the importance of adaptability, citing her exposure to six bosses in five years.We round up by highlighting the need for diverse investment teams and the importance of embracing change in the financial industry. Thank you Eagle Point Credit and Benefit Street Partners for supporting this series! With over $12 billion of AUM, Eagle Point Credit Management is a premier investment firm focused on generating strong returns for its clients through sourcing, evaluating and executing investments in CLOs, Portfolio Debt Securities and other credit investments that it believes shave the potential to outperform their respective markets generally. Benefit Street Partners is a leading global alternative credit asset manager offering clients investment solutions across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including direct lending, special situations, structured credit, high yield bonds, leveraged loans and commercial real estate debt and equity. As of December 31, 2024, BSP-Alcentra had $77 billion of assets under management.