The Fiftyfaces Podcast

Jenna Gerstenlauer is founder and managing partner of Sound Mark Partners, a commercial real estate investment firm based in Connecticut, which focuses on investing in real estate debt for an institutional client base. The firm is notable for its all female executive team.Our conversation centers on her experience as a founder, and some of the nuances of real estate finance. She discusses the people who have inspired her and supported her along her journey and lists the challenging questions that need to be asked about diversity in the profession. She strongly believes in the importance of socio-economic diversity and cites how having this in her team enables them to invest with more understanding of the stakes and human impact of real estate, in particular in the area of affordable housing.

Dawid Konotey-Ahulu is an entrepreneur in financial services, technology and elderly care and the co-founder of Redington, the London-based independent pensions and insurance advisory group with $500 bn in assets under advisement, as well as mallowstreet.com, a social media platform connecting the pensions and insurance industry. He has had a long career in financial services and is a high-profile advocate for diversity within the financial services community and one of the leaders behind the recent initiative #100blackinterns. He is also the founder of Partnership for Change, which is driving a social movement to help improve the lives of older people, and Spellbound!, which helps young people develop their public speaking skills so that they can be passionate, compelling and inspiring. Our conversation traces Dawid's journey into investment, his experience as a founder, his passion for the financial services industry and his wide range of public interest projects.

In Series 2 of the Fifty Faces Podcast we speak with another 10 investors from areas as diverse as private wealth, investment consulting, public pension funds, real estate, venture capital and asset management. We hear about their lived experience, what it was and is like to be a minority in our profession, and about their setbacks and what drives them now. We hear what they think of recent initiatives to improve diversity in the profession and what they think of them, and we hear what we can do better. With thanks to our outstanding guests on Series 2: Dawid Konotey-AhuluJenna GerstenlauerDavid HickeyJustina EttehArthur OlunwaElissa BayerArun KelshikerKaren ShackletonAyo AyodeleTheresa Boyd

Grainne Dooley was most recently Deputy CIO at ClearMacro Ltd, and previously ran fixed income portfolios at a large asset manager. She has extensive experience in the areas of fixed income, derivatives and a strong interest in innovation within financial services. Our conversation discusses her journey into investment in London in the 1990s as well her experience as an investment committee member and chair of the investment committee of the endowment of Trinity College Dublin. We discuss innovation in financial services, the experience that females in finance might have had and how this is changing, and the importance of building financial independence from a young age.

Alison Major Lépine is Head of Research and Strategy at Absolute Return Partners, based in London, which she joined in 2015 after almost 10 years at the UK Railways pension scheme, where she was responsible for over £1bn in various absolute return strategies. Previously, she was an Investment Manager at IKANO across a number of asset classes. Prior to joining IKANO, she worked as an Associate at Russell and as a Senior Consultant at FactSet. Alison started her career as a trainee at the European Commission and is a CFA Charterholder. Our conversation discusses Alison's journey through investment and how she is using the current remote working environment to deepen and broaden her research and enhance her client offering. We also touch on work-life integration and the importance of networking for young professionals.

Mel Lindsey is Managing Partner of Nile Capital Group based in the Los Angeles Area. He is already a veteran of the asset management industry having established the US asset management arm of a Swiss Asset Manager in 2004 and grown it to a peak of $78 bn in AUM in 2008 before successfully launching an IPO in 2009. In 2014 he set up Nile Capital Management, which is a company that takes strategic stakes in asset managers specifically at their growth phase. Our conversation discusses sales alpha, what it is, and how you learn to create it, some of the challenges facing emerging independent firms, and what the key features are to sustainable growth - such as the halo effect, ownership incentives and speed.

Patricia (Trish) Halper is a member of the Board of Advisors of Ativo Capital, a Chicago-based asset manager. Trish was previously CIO and Partner at Chicago Equity Partners, where she spent 21 years and most recently headed up the quantitative equity investment process. She is a trustee of the La Rabida Children’s Hospital in Chicago, among other board and volunteer roles. Our conversation covers the experience of women in investing and in financial education, the importance of engagement and authenticity and how to communicate with clients during good and bad times.

Rahul Moodgal has been described as a “Master Fundraiser” and currently works in a business development for various asset managers, including hedge funds as well as having a rich portfolio career which includes various charities and a role as an angel investor. He describes himself as a Contrarian and a Humanitarian.Our conversation discusses how to build a business in asset management, the central importance of relationships, resilience and learning to cope with rejection. He mentions the dangers of ESL - ego, speed and leverage, and lessons he has learned from a quarter century of building businesses in asset management.

Sally Bridgeland needs no introduction in London institutional investing circles. Following a long career as an actuary, investment consultant and investor, culminating in a role of CEO at BP Pension Trustees for the 19 BN GBP BP pension fund, she has pivoted to an extensive portfolio career. Since 2014 she has held roles at Nest, USS, Lloyds Banking Group, Avida International, RAF Central Fund, Nesta, the Nuclear Liabilities Fund, the Local Pensions Partnership, Impax Asset Management and Royal London. Her portfolio is a very full one, but she still finds the time to commit to her passion for education in mathematics through the Royal Society and Loughborough University and is Honorary Group Captain in the Royal Air Force, No 601 Squadron. Our conversation discusses Sally's journey into investment, the role that learning maths had in her story, and her lifelong passion for ensuring that maths is taught effectively and in a way that conveys its beauty. We also discuss her investment beliefs and lessons learned through a career in consulting and then as an asset owner.

Roy Kuo is team head of alternative strategies at the Church Commissioners for England, which has £8.5bn in assets under management, with £1.4bn in hedge fund strategies and £1.7bn in alternative private market strategies. He previously held a series of roles in consulting and asset management, and is an active participant on the conference circuit for alternative assets, as well as a thought leader for institutional investors. Our conversation covers Roy's very early interest in investing, his journey to a role as an asset owner, how he strives to "always be learning" and his formula for improving productivity throughout his career. It is a stimulating and thought provoking discussion.