Category: Investing

Improving Alpha: Russ Carson on the ‘lucky accident’ of a career in Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Philanthropy

Improving Alpha: Russ Carson on the ‘lucky accident’ of a career in Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Philanthropy

Be careful what you wish for, is a critical statement for those entering the field of private equity, and venture capital today. As the industry accelerates, increased government scrutiny, regulation, and a greater need to prove that your business is providing a productive service to society will come into play.

In our latest episode of the Improving Alpha podcast, our host, Michael Oliver Weinberg, sits down with Russell L. Carson, Founder & General Partner of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, and Chairman of The Carson Family Charitable Trust. 

Russ explores his own journey in both venture capital and private equity, what led him to create the Carson Family Charitable Trust, succession planning for his business, and why he’s become a student of improving the human condition.

Further highlights include: 

 

  • how his career evolved from managing $5 million in Citibank’s Venture Capital arm to leading his own firm managing over $31 billion in AUM through investments in healthcare and information technology sectors.

  • the objectives and structure of the Carson Family Charitable Trust, and how Russ balances the investments that he’s making today and the returns he can expect to get to zero out the trust by the end of 2050.

  • his involvement in the unique institution, Rockefeller University, and how he’s helping the university with funding solutions to mankind’s largest healthcare mysteries.

  • how he helped to create the New York Genome Center and how the cost to sequence a human genome has declined from $10,000 to $500 in the course of 10 years due to things like Nvidia GPUs, cloud computing, and machine learning.

  • his strategic view of making smaller acquisitions that create a much larger business out of a series of smaller parts and how it has been successfully applied to both healthcare and the information technology space.

  • differences between a public market investor and being a venture capital or private equity investor, and how Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe combine the two disciplines at times.

  • the creative tension between LPs and GPs across the Private Equity industry.

  • the “red flag” of a manager being unfocused in his approach to investing, and how having focus gave Russ a competitive advantage in the sectors that he serves.

  • thoughts on whether we’re getting too far when it comes to AI venture capital investments. Is it overvalued and overhyped?

  • his thoughts on Elon Musk and the impact on our world.

  • And more!

Connect with Michael Oliver Weinberg: 

Connect with Russ Carson:

About Russ Carson:

Russell L. Carson is Chairman of The Carson Family Charitable Trust, a private foundation that he started, along with his immediate family members, in 1991. The foundation is focused on New York City and supports non-profit organizations in the fields of education, poverty, healthcare, medical science, and culture. Mr. Carson is currently Chairman of The Rockefeller University, Chairman of the Partnership for Inner-City Education, co-Chairman of the New York Genome Center, Vice Chairman of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a Trustee of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, a Director of the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum and a Director of the Coalition for Opportunity in Education. He is also Chairman Emeritus of Columbia Business School and a Trustee Emeritus of Dartmouth College.

Since 1978 Mr. Carson has been a Founding Partner of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (WCAS), one of the country’s largest private equity firms. Over the past 38 years, WCAS has raised sixteen institutionally funded limited partnerships with a total capital of approximately $20 billion and has invested in over 250 companies. He led the firm’s healthcare investment practice for many years and is currently the Lead Director of Select Medical Corporation, a NYSE listed owner of long-term acute care hospitals, physical rehabilitation hospitals, and outpatient rehabilitation clinics which was founded by WCAS and the company’s management in 1987.

Mr. Carson attended public high school in Toledo, Ohio prior to receiving a BA degree in Economics from Dartmouth College in 1965 and an MBA from Columbia Business School in 1967. He received an honorary degree from Dartmouth College in 2015. He resides in New York City with his wife Judy and their two children, Cecily and Edward; all family members are Trustees of the foundation and active in its affairs.

The information covered and posted represents the views and opinions of the guest and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Vidrio Financial, and/or our host, Michael Oliver Weinberg. The Content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional investing advice. Always seek the advice of your financial advisor or other qualified financial service provider with any questions you may have regarding your investment planning.

The release date may not correspond to the recording date.

Improving Alpha: Sandro Salsano exploring synergies in investments, philanthropy and deep value strategies

Improving Alpha: Sandro Salsano exploring synergies in investments, philanthropy and deep value strategies

When it comes to geopolitical risk, company risk, or even balancing the costs of capital with the desire for quick profits, institutional investors are now taking a long-term approach to their future investments. How does this perspective impact the risk-reward dynamic for future returns, and are there sectors that may not be as flashy but offer better opportunities for generating alpha?

To answer these questions and more, Michael Oliver Weinberg, host of the Improving Alpha podcast invited Sandro Salsano, President of the Salsano Group, to get a sense of what he’s seeing in the world of emerging markets, private equity, philanthropy, and more.

Sandro discusses: 

  • the fascinating story behind his family office and Goldman Sachs interactions, and his insights into his innovative global strategies in the realm of private equity, emerging markets, and more.
  • his core sectors and investment horizon, and how they’re delivering alpha and positive cash flows in this market.
  • how he views partnerships with larger institutions to assist in putting capital to work for longer periods of time.
  • his view of the Latin American markets (including Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Peru) and how inflation plays a role in his strategic investments across the region.
  • balancing investments across philanthropic ideas and how these moves led him to a seat on the Board of Trustees at the University of San Diego. 
  • how he applies a measure of psychology to investing, and how being humble in life and investing has led to his overall success.
  • And more!

Connect with Michael Oliver Weinberg: 

Connect with Sandro Salsano:

About Sandro Salsano:

Sandro Salsano has been at the forefront of successful initiatives in investments, philanthropy, and education for more than two decades. Forbes called him the Warren Buffett of Central America on its cover and one of the world’s most iconic visionary and financial titans. The World Economic Forum named him Young Global Leader for his exceptional vision, courage, and influence to drive positive change in the world. In 2014 he formalized his philanthropy by co-founding the Salsano Shahani Foundation to focus on education. He is a Chairman of Global Dignity, a Member of the Judging Academy for the World’s Best School Prize, a Partner of the Tent Partnership for Refugees, a Member of the Academy for Global Teacher Prize, a Steering Committee member of 1640 Society, and pledged his support to TerraCarta. Sandro is President of Salsano Group, a multi-billion dollar private conglomerate holding company investing in private equity, real estate, and technology globally and he is President of Salsano Family Office. Sandro serves as a Trustee for the University of San Diego California and is on the Investment Committee for the Endowment of the University. A graduate of Bocconi University Milan with full grades, he also studied at Harvard, Oxford, and Princeton University. He and his wife Johanna have been married since 2014 and have two children.

The information covered and posted represents the views and opinions of the guest and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Vidrio Financial, and/or our host, Michael Oliver Weinberg. The Content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional investing advice. Always seek the advice of your financial advisor or other qualified financial service provider with any questions you may have regarding your investment planning.

The release date may not correspond to the recording date.

Improving Alpha: William J. Kelly, CAIA on disrupting data transparency in the institutional markets

Improving Alpha: William J. Kelly, CAIA on disrupting data transparency in the institutional markets

As institutional investments become increasingly intricate, it is crucial to bring transparency (and perhaps even enlightenment) to both GPs and LPs. Large data sets and the scale of innovative technology shows no signs of decelerating for those seeking alpha. Serving as a cautionary tale for this installment of Improving Alpha, a famous quote by renowned British Economist Ronald H. Coase once said, “ if you torture the data long enough, it will confess to anything”.

Join Michael Oliver Weinberg as he sits down with William (Bill) J. Kelly, CAIA, President & CEO of the CAIA Association, in this captivating episode. In just :40 minutes, Bill shares his insightful perspectives on the ever-increasing regulation of private markets and the importance of data transparency. Dive into the fascinating world of AI and large language models, and explore the latest trends in ESG. Don’t forget to click on the audio play button at the top of this page to uncover even more valuable insights.

Further highlights cover

  • a brief overview of CAIA and FDP, explaining their origins and their roles in the alternative investments industry
  • the critical importance of being able to upskill and cross-skill the cast of characters that define the investment process, and how the process has changed over the last 10 years.
  • will artificial intelligence ever be able to build a comprehensive mosaic around cash flow, manager letters, and more.
  • learning what’s on the minds of larger allocators when it comes to increasing regulation by the SEC, and would real opinions be presented better with a ‘truth serum’ cocktail on data transparency.
  • the huge potential of doing well at one pillar of ESG, while simultaneously nuking another pillar. 
  • And more!

Connect with Michael Oliver Weinberg: 

Connect with William (Bill) Kelly:

About William (Bill) Kelly:

William (Bill) J. Kelly, CAIA is the President & CEO of the CAIA Association. Bill has been a frequent industry speaker, writer, and commentator on alternative investment topics around the world since taking the leadership role at the CAIA Association in January 2014. Previously, Bill was the CEO of Boston Partners and one of seven founding partners of the predecessor firm, Boston Partners Asset Management which, prior to a majority interest being sold to Robeco Group in Rotterdam in 2002, was an employee-owned firm. Bill’s career in the institutional asset management space spans over 30 years where he gained extensive managerial experience through successive CFO, COO, and CEO roles. In addition to his current role, Bill is a tireless advocate for shareholder protection and investor education and is currently the Chairman and lead independent director for the Boston Partners Trust Company. He has previously served as an independent director and audit committee chair for ’40 Act Mutual Funds and other financial services firms. He is also currently an Advisory Board Member of the Certified Investment Fund Director Institute which strives to bring the highest levels of professionalism and governance to independent fund directors around the world. A member of the board of the CAIA Association, Bill also represents CAIA in similar capacities via their global partnerships with other associations and global regulators. Bill began his career as an accountant with PwC and is a designated Audit Committee Financial Expert in accordance with SEC rules. 

The information covered and posted represents the views and opinions of the guest and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Vidrio Financial, and/or our host, Michael Oliver Weinberg. The Content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional investing advice. Always seek the advice of your financial advisor or other qualified financial service provider with any questions you may have regarding your investment planning.

The release date may not correspond to the recording date.

Improving Alpha: Paul C. Sohn on targeting the ‘fat pitch’ in institutional investing

Improving Alpha: Paul C. Sohn on targeting the ‘fat pitch’ in institutional investing

Mastering the timing of investment markets is a formidable challenge that demands unwavering commitment to a well-defined methodology. It entails navigating through risks, optimizing volatility, and steering clear of managers who adopt a reckless “spray and pray” approach. 

Today, allocators must carefully consider the current market cycle, strategically position their incentives, and strike the right balance between liquid and illiquid assets. By embracing this approach, they can shield themselves from the anguish of overallocating in underperforming asset classes.

Join Michael Oliver Weinberg as he engages in a captivating conversation with Paul C. Sohn, Chief Investment Officer at Mont Alto Capital, in the latest episode of the Improving Alpha podcast. Paul provides his front-row insight and expertise on what he has observed over the last 20 years in hedge fund investing, macro portfolio management, and the formation of his family office, Mont Alto Capital. Listen to Paul as he discusses:

  • his background and what strategies he’s specifically leveraging to capitalize on ‘fat pitches’ in institutional investing.
  • his thesis on the Greek recovery trade, what Kyriakos Mitsotakis leadership means for the future of the country, and what the US could learn from his examples.
  • how his family’s timber business influenced Paul’s beliefs on ESG and why ESG in its current form is very similar to child brain thinking.
  • where is private equity allocations moving now that the wind in the sails has died down in comparison to the last decade of returns.
  • if commercial real estate will be a ‘whimper’ or a ‘bang’ in the coming years and does that create an opportunity for distressed buyers.
  • And more!

Connect with Michael Oliver Weinberg: 

Connect with Paul C. Sohn:

About Paul Sohn:

Mont Alto Capital is the family office of Paul Sohn. Paul spent 15 years as a portfolio manager at Soros Fund Management, Kingdon Capital Management, and Duquesne Capital Management. Areas of focus included tech, media, consumer, and macro. Mont Alto Capital seeks out proprietary deal flow in early and growth-stage private companies. Basic investment tenets include a search for asymmetric return profiles, a contrarian desire to be active in areas where other pools of capital are not, and an ability to execute a time arbitrage strategy that can focus on long-term returns. 

Paul Sohn takes an active role in a variety of investment projects. Vertical areas of focus include tech, media, natural resources, intellectual property, and real estate. The portfolio page includes a sample of projects where Paul Sohn has either a founding, board, investment, or advisory role.

The information covered and posted represents the views and opinions of the guest and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Vidrio Financial, and/or our host, Michael Oliver Weinberg. The Content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional investing advice. Always seek the advice of your financial advisor or other qualified financial service provider with any questions you may have regarding your investment planning.

Improving Alpha: Christopher Ailman, CalSTRS on Catching the Big Waves in Institutional Investing

Improving Alpha: Christopher Ailman, CalSTRS on Catching the Big Waves in Institutional Investing

Since its establishment in 1913, CalSTRS has been fully committed to maximizing the retirement benefits for its extensive network of educators throughout California. With a staggering $310 billion in assets under management through its defined benefit plan, the pension scheme continuously strives to strike a harmonious balance between achieving targeted returns and addressing industry-wide challenges such as diversification, innovation, potential warning signs from managers, global investment prospects, and much more.

Experience the latest episode of the Improving Alpha podcast, where Michael Oliver Weinberg is joined by Christopher J. Ailman, Chief Investment Officer, CalSTRS. With an impressive 40 years of experience in the business, Christopher’s unwavering passion for constant learning in the face of market volatility and seeking alpha strategies shines through. Don’t miss out on this insightful podcast episode – click on the media player above to hear Christopher’s valuable insights on:

  • what is the true essence of ESG and how will it impact CIOs in the next seven or twenty years? Explore the potential opportunities, risks, and the global CapEx needed so we don’t fry the planet. Discover Christopher’s perspective on whether exclusion or engagement is the preferred approach when navigating these waters.
  • why governance experiences natural fluctuations and how CIOs can play a crucial role in driving the movement towards enhanced investment board diversity. According to Christopher, it’s the concept of “iron sharpens iron” that fuels this dynamic process.
  • how is technology being leveraged across CalSTRS portfolio, especially being a division of the state of California, and how is an environment of continual learning helping their investment teams in approaching the next Tesla.
  • how he navigates the world of venture capital investments in California, where stringent disclosure laws prevail.
  • the insights into CalSTRS’ perspective on the role of China in institutional investments – friend or foe? .  
  • And more!

Connect with Michael Oliver Weinberg: 

Connect with Christopher Ailman:

About Christopher Ailman:

Christopher Ailman has been the chief investment officer of CalSTRS since October 2000. He leads an investment staff of more than 200 and oversees a portfolio valued at $307.9 billion as of September 30, 2023​​​​. He has more than 37 years of institutional investment experience.

He has served on several boards and advisory boards in the U.S. and U.K. He represents institutional investors on the MSCI Index Editorial Advisory Board, the PRI Asset Owners Advisory Committee, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Investor Advisory Group, and the Toigo Foundation. He is the chair of the 300 Club and co-chair of the Milken Global Capital Markets Committee. In 2016, he was part of the first cohort to achieve a Fundamentals of Sustainable Accounting (FSA) credential.

Ailman is recognized as one of the top CIOs both in the U.S. and globally. He has received numerous awards and recognitions: the Institute for Fiduciary Education’s CIO of the Year in 2000, the Richard Stoddard Award for service in the investment of public pensions in 2003, the Distinguished Service Award for Advancement of Latinos in Business from the New American Alliance in 2006, and Institutional Investor magazine’s Large Public Fund Manager of the Year Award in 2011. In 2013, aiCIO magazine named Ailman the No. 3 CIO in the world and Investment Innovator of the Year. In 2017, Ailman received Institutional Investor magazine’s first Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2018, he was named the top CIO in the world by Chief Investment Officer magazine. He is a regular guest on television and radio and is frequently quoted in major financial publications.

The information covered and posted represents the views and opinions of the guest and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Vidrio Financial, and/or our host, Michael Oliver Weinberg. The Content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional investing advice. Always seek the advice of your financial advisor or other qualified financial service provider with any questions you may have regarding your investment planning.

Improving Alpha: Scott Pittman on Maintaining Convictions and Balancing Portfolio Diversification at Mount Sinai’s Endowment

Improving Alpha: Scott Pittman on Maintaining Convictions and Balancing Portfolio Diversification at Mount Sinai’s Endowment

In today’s ever-changing investment landscape, not all institutional investors can conform to a one-size-fits-all approach. This is particularly evident in the healthcare endowment sector, where our esteemed specialist oversees a staggering $2.3 billion portfolio of endowed funds and long-term capital. When you add in the support for insurance-related assets, totaling approximately $4.0 billion, and benefit plan assets amounting to around $6 billion, it becomes clear that strong investment convictions are essential for navigating diversification challenges and driving innovation.

In this highly anticipated episode of the Improving Alpha podcast, join Michael Oliver Weinberg as he engages in a compelling conversation with Scott Pittman, SVP and Chief Investment Officer at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Gain valuable insights into Scott’s visionary objectives for the future and discover how he strategically harnesses the power of research, fundamental and quantitative analysis to drive exceptional performance and unlock investment value.

Scott discusses:

  • his career evolution and how his passion for investing and science led him to Mount Sinai’s endowment.
  • how a medical endowment compares and contrasts against other allocators and how the complexity of the healthcare industry impacts the team’s investment decisions.
  • where do directional risk taking strategies help to improve alpha across public and private markets, non-equity markets, and even credit.
  • his insightful perspective on diversification and its correlation with manager relationships, encompassing market exposure and active fees.
  • what sort of sector and industry trends does Mount Sinai research before diving into the regional investments in Europe, Asia, and other areas.
  • the significance of ESG considerations and the effective two-step process employed to align Mount Sinai’s views on ESG with their future investments
  • And more!

Connect with Michael Oliver Weinberg: 

To learn more about our host visit: https://www.vidrio.com/blog/improving-alpha-podcast-scott-pittman-convictions-diversification-mount-sinai-portfolio

Connect with Scott Pittman:

About Scott Pittman:

Scott Pittman joined the Mount Sinai Health System as the SVP and Chief Investment Officer in December 2008.  The Investment Office is charged with managing the institution’s $2.3 billion endowment and long-term capital.  The office also helps advise on $5.0 billion of insurance-related assets and $5.5 billion of benefit plan assets.  Scott serves as the Chairman of the FOJP Investment Committee as well as the Investment Committee Chairman for Healthfirst.  Scott also serves on the Investment Council for TIAA-Nuveen.

Prior to joining Mount Sinai, Scott was the Director of Investments at Baylor University.  He also served as an instructor in the Hankamer School of Business and taught Baylor’s Portfolio Practicum course where students actively managed a $6.5 million investment portfolio.  Before joining Baylor’s Investment Office, Scott taught Corporate Finance and Economics at the University’s business school, and he spent several years in the healthcare industry.

The information covered and posted represents the views and opinions of the guest and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Vidrio Financial, and/or our host, Michael Oliver Weinberg. The Content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional investing advice. Always seek the advice of your financial advisor or other qualified financial service provider with any questions you may have regarding your investment planning.

 

Improving Alpha: Jose Eduardo Siman on Succession Planning Challenges and Innovating the Family Office

Improving Alpha: Jose Eduardo Siman on Succession Planning Challenges and Innovating the Family Office

Given the continued volatility and inflationary pressures in the financial markets, many family offices are looking to shift their asset allocation to help provide better performance and lower overall risk. With pressures mounting, we wanted to get a sense of how global family offices are answering the innovation question for not only their current technology solutions but also in terms of succession planning.

In our latest episode of Improving Alpha: Innovation in Investing, ESG & Technology, Michael Oliver Weinberg sits down with Jose Eduardo Siman, President, Intradeco Inc. who talks about what is needed for family offices to succeed today, in terms of governance, innovation and more.

Jose discusses: 

  • how the Warren Buffet model of decentralization from holding company to subsidiaries may be a future innovation.
  • how Jose strives to reinvest 70% of the profits while allocating 5% into socially responsible projects.
  • innovation by way of improving his retail sales operations, recycling textiles, and reducing overall sanitation costs through these processes.
  • succession planning and how to separate governance/ownership from management for the next generation of professionals to take over operations.
  • fraud and how he dealt with an investment that didn’t turn out to be what was expected even following lengthy due diligence discussions.
  • And more….

Connect with Michael Oliver Weinberg: 

To learn more about our host visit: https://www.vidrio.com/blog/improving-alpha-podcast-jose-siman-family-office-challenges

About Jose Eduardo Siman:

Born in San Salvador, El Salvador. Mr. Siman received an MBA from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, New York, New York in 1969. Mr. Siman began his professional career with Procter and Gamble in Toronto, Canada, before joining his family’s business in 1979. Since, this business has grown from one department store in San Salvador, El Salvador to a multinational business group with significant operations in retailing, consumer finance, apparel manufacturing and real estate in twenty six countries throughout the Caribbean, Central America and the United States currently living in the United States. Mr. Siman is President of the Salvadoran American Humanitarian Foundation (SAHF), Miami, Florida. 

 

The information covered and posted represents the views and opinions of the guest and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Vidrio Financial, and/or our host, Michael Oliver Weinberg. The Content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional investing advice. Always seek the advice of your financial advisor or other qualified financial service provider with any questions you may have regarding your investment planning.

Improving Alpha: Gitanjali Swamy Building a Collective Intelligence Throughout the Asset Community

Improving Alpha: Gitanjali Swamy Building a Collective Intelligence Throughout the Asset Community

How can leaders in asset management and strategic asset allocators help improve the collective intelligence at their organizations by leveraging the power of diversity? 

In our latest episode of the Improving Alpha podcast, Michael Oliver Weinberg speaks with Gitanjali Swamy, PH.D., Senior Legislative and Policy Advisor, Massachusetts State Senate, Managing Partner, IoTask on how leaders approach the more social aspects of ESG.

Gitanjali further discusses: 

  • How her early educational career helped shape her outlook on diversity across various startups and businesses
  • What can interfere with a truly diverse collective intelligence
  • How to improve diversity and lead to better decision making
  • What is the 3-stage process that can help the asset community build a better collective for diversity
  • How one’s customer base and allocators may improve their collective intelligence and enable better outcomes
  • And more

Connect with Gitanjali Swamy:

About Our Guest:

As an entrepreneur, Dr. Swamy has founded, grown, or served as a board director in innovation enterprises and new investment funds for clients like MIT Corp and Fabindia. As a professional, she has led the investment sourcing, structuring, and transaction of seed to over a billion USD deals, in her investment or management consultant roles at The Carlyle Group Booz Allen & Hamilton, and IoTask, where she is Managing Partner. Dr. Swamy has also served in line-management roles at The Mathworks and Mentor Graphics. She is also a representative to the EQUALS Global Partnership (a Joint Venture of the ITU, GSMA, UNU, UN Women). . She has also served as faculty at Harvard and Columbia University, where she taught classes in finance and policy

Connect with Michael Oliver Weinberg: 

To learn more about our host visit: https://www.vidrio.com/blog/improving-alpha-podcast-gita-swamy-diversity-collectiveintelligence

The information covered and posted represents the views and opinions of the guest and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Vidrio Financial, and/or our host, Michael Oliver Weinberg. The Content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional investing advice. Always seek the advice of your financial advisor or other qualified financial service provider with any questions you may have regarding your investment planning.

The release date may not correspond to the recording date.

Improving Alpha: Tensie Whelan Discusses Extracting Value from Sustainability

Improving Alpha: Tensie Whelan Discusses Extracting Value from Sustainability

For those working on asset allocations in today’s volatile markets, are there ways to differentiate between sustainability and ESG? Furthermore, how do you create a harmonization in a triple bottom-line approach that deals with job growth and creation, taking care of your employees and the planet, and ensuring profitability? 

In this episode, Michael Oliver Weinberg, co-founder, Improving Alpha Podcast Series, is joined by Tensie Whelan, Clinical Professor of Business and Society and Director, Center for Sustainable Business, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, NYU, to discuss more on the topic of sustainability, and how companies can look at their own profiles in the market when considering risk, competitor analysis, competitor advantage and more.

Tensie further discusses: 

  • Her background including work with the Rainforest Alliance, building that organization to a $50 million in revenue across 60 countries.
  • Embedding sustainability as a core to any business strategy which equates to driving better financial performance.
  • What is the “Rosie Return on Sustainability Investment” and the 9-mediating factors that drive better performance as it relates to the core of your business.
  • The ability of companies to quantify sustainability risk, and how a scale can be applied for investors looking at a given sector.
  • What is the materiality matrix, transparent reporting (against KPIs as well as international standards), and strategic imperative of the company as it relates to sustainability investment methodology
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Tensie Whelan:

About Our Guest:

Tensie Whelan (NYU ‘80), Clinical Professor for Business and Society, is the Founding Director of the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business, where she is bringing her 25 years of experience working on local, national and international environmental and sustainability issues to engage businesses in proactive and innovative mainstreaming of sustainability.

Connect with Michael Oliver Weinberg: 

To learn more about our host visit: https://www.vidrio.com/blog/improving-alpha-podcast-tensiewhelan-esg-sustainability

The information covered and posted represents the views and opinions of the guest and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Vidrio Financial, and/or our host, Michael Oliver Weinberg. The Content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional investing advice. Always seek the advice of your financial advisor or other qualified financial service provider with any questions you may have regarding your investment planning.

The release date may not correspond to the recording date.