In this episode, hosts Tano Santos and Michael Mauboussin speak with Kristin Gilbertson, CIO of Access Industries and former CIO of the University of Pennsylvania Endowment. Kristin shares her early interest in economic development and her unique journey through the World Bank, Stanford Management Company, and into managing a major university endowment. She outlines how risk awareness and preparation helped her successfully lead through the 2008 financial crisis and gives detailed insights into asset allocation, manager selection, and the nuances of family office investing. Kristin also discusses career strategies for students interested in the endowment and wealth management space and much more!

Key Topics:

● Kristin’s early life and interest in economics (3:33 ) 

● Influential professors and academic inspirations at Harvard (4:10 ) 

● Experience at the World Bank and the Young Professionals Program (10:09 ) 

● Joining Stanford Management Company and portfolio repositioning (15:05 ) 

● Moving to Penn and addressing portfolio gaps and alumni engagement (18:26 ) 

● The responsibilities and structure of a university CIO role (22:00 ) 

● Building Penn’s VC exposure and getting into Sequoia (26:20 ) 

● Kristin’s investment philosophy and fixed asset allocations (34:34 ) 

● Kristin’s role at Access Industries and managing a family office (38:16 ) 

● Differences between endowments and family offices (41:10 ) 

● Concerns about mega-cap stock valuations and ETF opportunities (46:34 ) 

● And much more! 

Mentioned in this Episode:

● Pioneering Portfolio Management by David Swensen

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