Investment Management Operations

Graeme Faulds is the CEO of Bipsync, a leading provider of modern research management software. Graeme spent 15 years as a private markets investor before building and selling his first fintech company, then ultimately stepping into the CEO role at Bipsync in 2023. Bipsync works with clients across the investment management industry, from allocators like endowments, foundations, pension funds, and family offices to GPs including hedge funds and private equity managers, helping investors capture, structure, and leverage collective intelligence at scale. For those familiar, we had Annie Kerns and Blake Fischer from UVA’s endowment on a previous episode to discuss how and why they selected Bipsync and that replay is in the feed. In our conversation, Graeme explains why organizing unstructured research has been Bipsync’s focus for more than a decade and how that foundation underpins everything they’re doing with AI. We talk about what’s real versus hype in AI, what a “good” data strategy and governance model actually looks like, and how roles are shifting as allocators hire more technical talent to design schemas, own data quality, and use tools like Bipsync’s Toro directly into research workflows. Learn More Follow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Access transcript with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Today’s Sponsored Insight highlights ⁠Bipsync⁠, the research management software that helps asset owners and managers optimize pre- and post-investment decision making. We spoke with Annie Kerns and Blake Fischer from the University of Virginia Investment Management Company, known as UVIMCO. Annie leads investment operations and Blake oversees technology at the $14 billion endowment. Annie and Blake offer a detailed case study on how investment technology decisions are made, the importance of sound research processes across the organization, and how Bipsync has fueled efficiency and collaboration at UVIMCO. Learn More Follow Capital Allocators at ⁠@tseides⁠ or ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Subscribe to the ⁠mailing list⁠ Access transcript with ⁠Premium Membership Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠)

Eric is the Chief Technology Officer at GCM Grosvenor, a global leader in alternative investments. Eric’s career path has taken him from starting as an ethical hacker at Deloitte, to leading technology and product innovation in fintech before playing a transformative role at GCM Grosvenor.I spent time with Eric unpacking how product management and automation are redefining technology’s impact on private markets. We discuss his CTO role, the shift to a product-driven strategy at Grosvenor, and how generative AI and data platforms are reshaping everything from client reporting to investment operations. Eric shares practical lessons on business alignment, trust building, and accelerating change in our industry.We also talk about Grosvenor’s approach to team enablement, talent development, and creating an innovative culture, including their firm-wide hackathon. For emerging managers and seasoned professionals alike, Eric offers actionable advice on technical strategy, partner selection, and what it takes to deliver differentiated technology today.Learn MoreFollow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Access transcript with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Ryan Eisenman is the CEO and co-founder of Arch, a tech platform redefining how allocators manage their private investments through what he calls the “Schwab for private markets”. Ryan shares his journey on how he met his co-founders, early challenges in selling to family offices, and the product’s evolution from automating K-1s to serving as a seamless digital hub for every private investment an LP holds. We explore Arch’s rapid growth to over 500 clients, their client-obsessed culture, why he sees being in-office is a competitive advantage and how they have expanded into capital call fraud detection and enhanced workflows. We wrap by discussing trends in private markets, their approach to organic versus inorganic growth and why he believes the future of private markets will look more like public market platforms - with integrated, user-friendly digital solutions. Learn More Follow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Access transcript with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

John Polis is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer at Star Mountain Capital.  John’s career path has led him to play a pivotal role in transforming Star Mountain in private credit in the lower middle market. I spent time with John unpacking how data and technology can meaningfully shape investment management operations. We discuss his dual role, the build over buy approach of Star Mountain’s tech stack, and how AI is transforming their investment and portfolio management processes. John shares lessons learned on team enablement, upskilling with AI, and designing platforms to scale. We also talk about Star Mountain’s approach to training, talent development, and maintaining that edge. For emerging managers and seasoned professionals alike, John offers practical advice on technical strategy, data readiness, and staying true to your business plan in a competitive landscape. Learn MoreFollow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Access transcript with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Chester Dawes is the COO and CFO at Palistar Capital, an alternative asset manager focused on investing in the future of mission critical digital infrastructure. Launching and growing a private equity firm is not easy. I enjoyed sitting down with Chester to discuss how his experience going from ‘big four’ accounting to industrial to private equity gave him a sense on how to navigate large and small firms from an operational perspective.     We discuss a wide range of topics from using Six Sigma for operational improvement, when to bring in the HR function, standing up affiliates to provide operational leverage, and how the cadence and requirements of portfolio company data has changed over time.   Learn More Follow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access transcript with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Melissa Stolfi is the Executive Vice President and Global COO of TCW, a leading global investment management firm with over $200 billion in assets.Being competitive in the global asset management space is an ongoing effort. I really enjoyed sitting down with Melissa to talk about her career evolution to TCW and how they've built their platform for resilience and expanding credit alternatives under the current market environment.We discussed their product expansion using innovative vehicles, key business partners, and how they're approaching the wealth channel with training and education from ETFs to interval funds and BDCs. There's a lot to cover! Learn MoreFollow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Access transcript with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Brian Douglas is the CEO of Graham Capital, one of the longest running macro investors.Going from CFO to the CEO seat is not a common route in our business so I was excited to talk to Brian. Brian’s career path started public accounting and he has spent the last 20 years at Graham moving from the CFO role to becoming CEO in 2019.Brian discusses how Graham has built and sustained its culture over its 25-year history. We discuss Graham’s evolution from a hedge fund to its expansion of product into sub advised funds, UCITs strategies while adding discretionary trading capabilities. We then cover key elements of founder level succession planning and how to develop emerging leadership.Learn More Follow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Access transcript with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Running and scaling a global fund group has its challenges. So when I was asking who I should talk to, Lisa's name came to the forefront.Her lens on the industry from the sell side to the buy side is quite unique. Lisa's recognized not only for driving operational excellence and revenue growth, but also for her ability to guide teams through transformation. Whether it's optimizing operations, enhancing cross team synergy, or future-proofing with tech innovation, Lisa shares firsthand insights from leading at the front of a global investment firm.We discuss how to scale complex investment strategies through product innovation and how selecting great outsourcing partners can be a key lever to overcome common cross-border operating challenges.   Learn MoreFollow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Access transcript with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠⁠⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠⁠⁠)

Ryan Ripp is the co-president and COO at Flat Rock Global, an alternative credit manager specializing in the junior tranches of CLOs.If you read anything about the industry, the headlines are often about how alternatives are making their way to the wealth channel. The thing I always turn to is how is this going to work operationally. There are so many aspects to explore like access, education, investment process, legal, onboarding, distribution, and tax reporting. To dig into the details, I turn to Ryan for some answers.Ryan shares his insight on how Flat Rock sees interval funds as an innovative structure for retail alternatives. We discussed some of the operational mechanics for a daily NAV, ongoing liquidity management, and service provider coordination that is different than the traditional private fund practices.With retail alternatives experiencing rapid growth across the industry and many players entering the space, it's an area to pay attention to.Learn MoreFollow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Access transcript with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠⁠)

Ryan Teal is a Partner and Head of Operational Due Diligence at Albourne, a global investment consulting firm.Ryan and I talk about the role of AI within the ODD lens.  Whether you’re an ODD practitioner or a manager trying to understand current trends you will want to take a listen.Ryan shares their approach on using AI as well as some recent survey data about adoption rates, common hurdles, and where the low hanging fruit is.We also discuss the growing trends and benefits of meeting transcription, report automation, and the power of data.One of the interesting things that we’re seeing is AI adoption is going to be a core competency for everyone in the industry - at all positions.Learn More  Follow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Access transcript with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠⁠)

Ashley Sweren is the COO and CCO at Standard Crypto, a venture capital firm focused on crypto, Web3, blockchain, and DeFi.With institutional investing, we are all keenly focused on finding uncorrelated assets. But here’s the catch: when you go beyond the fundamentals, things get interesting with diligence, operations and finding best in class service providers. To learn more about running a crypto fund, I sat down with Ashley to get her perspective. There are nuances with building, running and investing in an institutional quality product.Whether you are in operations, compliance, ODD or just curious - be sure to take a listen.   Learn More Follow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Access transcript with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠)

David Brenner is the COO of TIFF Investment Management, an OCIO for nonprofit organizations. Stepping into the COO role of an established manager takes a unique set of skills so I turned to David for his insight. We discuss the common challenges of assessing culture, talent, and legacy; and the importance of timing of when to listen and when to take action. We then turn to David’s perspective on his four pillars framework as TIFF shifts from what he calls going from TIFF 1.0 to TIFF 2.0. We talk about the role of AI and automation and why data transformation plays a critical role in everything that they do. Learn MoreFollow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Access transcript with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

Heather Kennedy Miner is the COO at Advent International, one of the largest private equity firms in the US.    I enjoyed sitting down with Heather to talk about her career path beginning with investment banking and then her 20 years at Goldman Sachs evolving into a variety of positions giving her a unique combination of technical and soft skills well suited for the COO role.   We discuss Advent’s 40-year evolution and why its doubling down on its commitment to being a pure play private equity firm when many others are diversifying asset classes.    Heather shares how the firm is thinking about strategy, growth, where they are with AI adoption and why developing top investors to also be great leaders is a priority to the organization. Learn More  Follow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Access transcript with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kent Collier is the CEO of Octus, the leading voice in data and intelligence for the credit markets. It was exciting to sit down with Kent to hear about his role as an investor and how he saw an opportunity in the market to create something bigger with the way Wall Street accessed critical information. Kent shares his experience on how they expanded from a single product to developing a full product roadmap, the tradeoffs of organic versus inorganic growth and why he is particularly excited about their recent acquisition of Sky Road,  a market-leading order management system.We then discuss the importance of their rebranding, the current state of GenAI in the credit markets and why today’s CEO must also act as the Chief AI Officer. Learn MoreFollow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Access transcript with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reena Jashnani-Slusarz is the chief operating officer and General Counsel at Juniper Hill, a multifamily office based in Menlo Park, California. I had fun sitting down with Reena to talk about her non-linear career arc to find herself in a GC and COO role.    This was a wide-ranging conversation touching upon some of the legal and operational complexities of investing in crypto from a VC perspective and how one gets up to speed on new asset classes like catastrophe reinsurance. This is all about the intersection of traditional operational frameworks on new and emerging asset classes.    We then discuss the current state of multi-family offices today and how investors want a higher touch experience and the implications for those in operations and beyond.  Learn More Follow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access transcript with ⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠

Letti de Little is the Chief Compliance Officer for Grain Management, a private equity firm that invests in telecom, infrastructure, and wireless spectrum assets.   Today’s LP is focused on finding uncorrelated assets more than ever.  But doing so often requires an understanding of the operational nuances which are different from buying traditional, tradable securities.  I spent some time with Letti to unpack some of the common legal and operational elements for investing in this asset class.    We cover how wireless spectrum auctions work and how Grain manages the dual regulatory oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Communications Commission.  We also talk about what ODD practitioners should know about with this lesser-known strategy.    Learn More Follow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠ Access transcript with ⁠⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠⁠

John Fitzpatrick is a Senior Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer of Alternative Asset Management Technology at Blackstone.   These are exciting times in technology with a lot of moving parts so I was excited to sit down with John to get his perspective on where we are today and where we’re going.   John shares his thoughts on the big picture with trends in data acquisition, automation and process improvement.   Whether you are a technologist or someone accountable for technology there are some great takeaways.   We also discuss common challenges of technology selection and adoption, budgeting, and how one can effectively manage expectations with non-technical leaders.   Learn More Follow Capital Allocators at ⁠⁠@tseides⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠ Access transcript with ⁠⁠Premium Membership⁠⁠

Melissa Dickerson is the Managing Director of Operations and CFO at Genstar Capital,  a private equity firm based in San Francisco and founded in 1988.   In today’s competitive market, a common road map to revenue diversification is product expansion or adding a new office overseas.   This conversation is a case study on having one strategy and one office.   Melissa shares her thoughts on how the industry has changed and how their operations, reporting and service provider model have evolved while expanding their LP base globally.    We then go further down the chain to explore the current state of portfolio companies and how go-to-market playbooks have changed from an all-in-one approach to using a specialist model on things like talent management, capital markets and finance.   Learn More Follow Capital Allocators at ⁠@tseides⁠ or ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Subscribe to the ⁠mailing list⁠ Access transcript with ⁠Premium Membership⁠

Scott Farden is the COO of Nonantum Capital Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm that spun out of Charlesbank Capital Partners in 2018.  Launching a first-time private equity fund has a myriad of challenges from leaving your old firm, raising capital, finding talent and activating operations, so I turned to Scott to share his experience.  We also cover topics like proper preparation and common pitfalls when pitching LPs, building a team that can evolve with future organization complexity and things one can do to proactively build culture for firm durability.   After our sit down, Scott shared that he believes that Operations can add alpha to a PE portfolio by running it so well that it leaves the investment team out of the back office.   Learn More Follow Capital Allocators at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access transcript with Premium Membership