Improving Alpha: Devana Cohen on Driving Investment Conviction for Improved Endowment Portfolio Performance
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Can prior career opportunities help you discover your true potential in institutional investing even if they’re not related to the finance sector? Maybe it reveals that ideal ‘a-ha’ moment that sets your future course.
In our latest episode of the Improving Alpha podcast, we welcome Devana Cohen, Chief Investment Officer of the United Jewish Appeal Federation, (UJA) to discuss her three-pronged mission approach, which manages $2 billion in assets. Listen in as Devana shares her journey from modeling electrons flowing through silicon as a semiconductor R&D analyst to careers in finance at The Ford Foundation, California Endowment, and then landing at the UJA.
Host Michael Oliver Weinberg and Devana Cohen cover the following key takeaways and more:
- How are current geopolitics impacting the UJA’s mission today.
- The prevailing thoughts on value investing strategies at the UJA and how Devana adds downside protection to the portfolio.
- The engineering mindset and how her process-oriented approach helps in manager selection, especially when thinking about ESG.
- Given the recent U.S. administration changes, how does the UJA view ESG investments, like carbon capture and sequestration.
- Does distressed credit offer attractive yields for the UJA portfolio today, and could Europe offer some unique options.
- Could there be less demand for venture capital in the future which will level the playing field and provide more early-stage opportunities.
- Real thoughts on co-portfolio managers and the challenges that exist with this model.
- And more!
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About Our Guest:
Devana Cohen is the Chief Investment Officer for the UJA-Federation of New York’s Endowment and Retirement Plans. Before joining UJA-Federation of New York in 2013, Ms. Cohen spent five years managing public market investments at the Ford Foundation and The California Endowment. Ms. Cohen was an Asset-Liability Manager at Toyota Motor Sales, where she also served as a member of the investment team that managed the pension plan assets. Before starting a career in investments, she was a Design Engineer developing semiconductor devices for International Rectifier. Ms. Cohen graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with dual BS degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and earned an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, specializing in Finance and Entrepreneurial Studies. Ms. Cohen is a CFA charterholder.
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.