DiscoverIn Good Company with Nicolai TangenRobert Wallace: Managing Stanford’s Endowment, Balancing Risk, and Driving Innovation
Robert Wallace: Managing Stanford’s Endowment, Balancing Risk, and Driving Innovation

Robert Wallace: Managing Stanford’s Endowment, Balancing Risk, and Driving Innovation

Update: 2025-08-27
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What shapes the investment strategy behind one of higher education's largest endowments? Nicolai Tangen sits down with Robert Wallace, CEO of Stanford Management Company, who oversees more than $40 billion for Stanford University. From his unique journey as a professional ballet dancer to becoming a leading institutional investor, they explore the endowment model's challenges, the art of selecting private equity partners, and what makes truly great investors excel. Robert shares how he transformed Stanford's investment approach by dramatically consolidating their external partnerships, and reveals why passion for the work matters more than financial rewards. Stanford's endowment distributes $2 billion annually, supporting students and research. Tune in for an insightful conversation!


In Good Company is hosted by Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management. New full episodes every Wednesday, and don't miss our Highlight episodes every Friday. 

 

The production team for this episode includes Isabelle Karlsson and PLAN-B's Niklas Figenschau Johansen, Sebastian Langvik-Hansen and Pål Huuse. Background research was conducted by Isabelle Karlsson.

 


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Robert Wallace: Managing Stanford’s Endowment, Balancing Risk, and Driving Innovation

Robert Wallace: Managing Stanford’s Endowment, Balancing Risk, and Driving Innovation