Schedule

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  • October 09


  • GCM Grosvenor welcomes women from across the industry to connect with one another at the SEM Conference’s third annual Women’s Networking event.

    Keynote Address:
    • Betsy Ziegler, Chief Executive Officer, 1871
    • Lilly Farahnakian, Managing Director, GCM Grosvenor

  • Attendees may select one multi-asset class panel to attend.

    Alternatives: The Next Generation
    The alternatives landscape has dramatically changed in the last decade. Managers are working harder to find the “white space” in the market, while investors must be open to unique and interesting takes on traditional strategies. Panelists discuss the merit of innovative ideas like multi-asset class investing, illiquid credit and structured equity, and explore how capital allocators can get comfortable with the next generation of alternatives.

    Moderator: Fred Pollock, Managing Director, GCM Grosvenor
    Presenters:
    • David Kay, Partner, Tenor Capital Management
    • Benji Patzik, Director, Segal Marco Advisors
    • Jayun Kim, Portfolio Manager, Government of Singapore Investment Corporation Private Ltd.

    Going with the (Deal) Flow
    In the past year, deal volume has increased while global deal count has declined, meaning larger check sizes on average at increasingly higher valuations. With an abundance of capital, longer holding periods and the significant purchasing power of strategic and financial buyers, competition for quality assets has been particularly fierce at the larger, more price efficient end of the market. A panel of experts explore how LPs and allocators are managing the shift and how GPs can stand out in this environment. LPs will discuss their approach to various asset classes and portfolio allocation strategy. GPs will focus on how they remain competitive and find value despite the bubbling pricing market in their respective asset classes.

    Moderator: Stephen Cammock, Vice President & Principal, GCM Grosvenor
    Presenters:
    • Matthew Coyne, Vice President, TorreyCove
    • Tony Lee, Managing Partner, One Rock Capital
    • Angela Miller-May, Chief Investment Officer, Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund
    • Manny Ybarra, Founder & President, Pillar Commercial


  • Peter Braffman will return with his popular in-depth analysis of the emerging manager landscape across four alternative asset types: private equity, hedge funds, real estate, and infrastructure. Using data derived from multiple sources, including meetings with thousands of fund managers over the past decade, part I of the presentation will give an update to his 2017 address. Peter will discuss topics such as how many emerging funds exist, what strategies they pursue, where they come from, and how they are (or are not) raising capital. This update will provide a quantitative backdrop to the second half of the session: building a robust emerging manager program. The session will conclude with a presentation on the current evolution of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas emerging manager program.

    Speakers:
    • Peter Braffman, Managing Director, GCM Grosvenor
    • Jase Auby, Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Teacher Retirement System of Texas


  • Join fellow attendees for networking, cocktails, and small bites among modern art in one of Chicago’s most unique and inviting venues. Together, we celebrate 12 years of connecting managers and investors in the joint pursuit of a more inclusive investment industry.

  • October 10



  • Speaker: Jon Levin, President, GCM Grosvenor

  • Trade Wars: Who Has the Advantage?
    When it comes to trade idea generation, sourcing and execution, is there an advantage to being a small or a large manager? To address that question, four managers pitch their best trade idea, highlighting why they believe their size gives them an edge. The audience will listen to the pitches along with featured capital allocators, who will respond and provide feedback.

    Moderator: Wai Yee Cheng, Senior Vice President, GCM Grosvenor
    Panelists:
    • David Chene, Co-Founder & Head of Sourcing, Kennedy Lewis
    • Anne-Sophie d’Andlau, Partner and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, CIAM
    • Chistophe Aurand, Chief Investment Officer – International, York Capital Management
    • Adam Cloud, Treasurer, City of Hartford
    • Sheng-Sheng Foo, Investment Officer, University of California, Chief Investment Officer of the Regents
    • Raj Iyer, Partner, Canyon Partners
    • Mark Koschik, Senior Portfolio Manager, Exelon Corporation

  • Optimizing Risk-Adjusted Returns in a Frothy Market
    Where is the best place to find opportunities on the risk/return spectrum in today’s infrastructure market? Panelists discuss the current infrastructure landscape, breaking down where value exists and/or how it is created in the current ecosystem.

    Moderator: Akhil Unni, Director/ Partner, GCM Grosvenor
    Panelists:
    • George So, Managing Partner, InstarAGF
    • Sarah Wright, Managing Partner, Hull Street
    • Blake Nixon, Chief Executive Officer, Geronimo Investments
    • Kathryn Liao, Principal, Allstate
    • Markus Pressdee, Senior Managing Director, AECOM

  • Near-Term Solutions for Long-Term Success: Innovative Ways to Jump-Start Your Fundraising and Build a Lasting Platform
    This interactive panel explores creative and underutilized strategies that GPs can use to make fundraising more efficient for all stakeholders. Hear how LPs and GPs consider seeded portfolios, preferred terms and other structures to match capital with the investment opportunities they see. Hear LPs discuss what stands out in today’s crowded market.

    Moderator: Ya Tung, Director & Partner, GCM Grosvenor
    Panelists:
    • Michael Duran, Managing Partner, Mill Point Capital
    • Karl Schade, Managing Partner, Presidio Investors
    • Kate Richard, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Warwick Energy
    • Sylvia Bell, Chief Operating Officer – Investment Management Division & Senior Managing Director – Emerging Manager Program, Teacher Retirement System of Texas
    • Nichole Wagner, Managing Director, East Rock Capital

  • State of Affairs: The Real Estate Emerging Manager Market
    As is the annual tradition, we kick things off with a data-filled, in-depth presentation on trends and activity in the real estate emerging manager market. Hosted by Peter Braffman, a member of GCM Grosvenor’s Private Markets Investment Committee and Head of Real Estate Investments, the session highlights the strategies, manager types and asset classes that are (and that are not) raising capital, the level of institutional appetite, and the latest in fund terms. New to this session will be a mapping of, and a deeper dive into, the growing number of funds targeting core strategies.

    Moderator: Peter Braffman, Managing Director, GCM Grosvenor

  • LPs will have the opportunity to select one to two managers, based on a manager-provided profile, with whom to meet in 20- to 30-minute sessions. The appointment portal will open a few weeks prior to the conference.


  • One-on-One on the Richter Scale
    GCM Grosvenor’s Investment Committee Chair, David Richter, hosts his annual one-on-one discussion with a prominent hedge fund manager. This session will feature an industry leader discussing his current investment views as well as his growth from a fledgling industry entrant to a well-known manager.

    Fireside Chat:
    • Jon Pollock, Partner, Co-Chief Executive Officer & Co-Chief Investment Officer, Elliott Management Corporation
    • David Richter, Managing Director, GCM Grosvenor

  • Assessing the state of Diverse Managers in the Real Asset Community
    Where does the real asset investment community stand with respect to women and diverse managers? A panel of LPs and GPs offer their perspectives on (i) the strides that have been made, (ii) why increased diversity is viewed as a strategic opportunity for the broader industry, and (iii) what stakeholders can do to help overcome obstacles and promote further growth.

    Moderator: Michael Rose, Director/ Partner, GCM Grosvenor
    Panelists:
    • Judy Chambers; Managing Director, Pension Consulting Alliance, LLC
    • Patti Melcher, Managing Partner & Co-Founder, EIV
    • James Reynolds, Jr., Managing Partner, JLC Infrastructure
    • Kate Richard, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Warwick Energy
    • Brian Swain, Director of Investments, Howard University

  • From Small and Emerging to Oversubscribed: One GP’s Success Story, One LPs’s Journey
    One manager shares their experience at a firm that has emerged as a market leader and continues to navigate the challenges of building an enduring business, culture and differentiated investment strategy. An LP will then reflect on the journey from launching an emerging manager program to developing into an institutionalized platform poised for sustainable impact.

    Fireside Chat:
    • Aris Hatch, Managing Director, GCM Grosvenor
    • Jennifer Baxter Moser, Managing Director, TSG Consumer
    • Jerry Albright, CIO, Teacher Retirement System of Texas

  • Spinning Out: Leaving the Mega Fund Behind and Loving It
    One of the largest areas of growth in the emerging manager market comes from individuals and teams that spin out of large and established funds to build their own platform. This panel showcases some of the market's latest entrants, all of whom had storied careers at some of the best firms in the industry. Together, we explore some of their motivations for leaving, lessons learned from managing institutional capital, and challenges faced in starting a new firm, including capital raising strategies and platform growth.

    Moderator: Elizabeth Weiner, Managing Partner, Sundial Park Group
    Panelists:
    • Lena Motz, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer, Stillwater Asset Management, L.L.C.
    • Eric Samek, Managing Principal, Brasa Capital Management
    • Chris Chee, Managing Partner, Redcar Fund Management L.P.
    • Marc Perrin, Managing Partner, The Roxborough Group, L.L.C.

  • LPs will have the opportunity to select one to two managers, based on a manager-provided profile, with whom to meet in 20- to 30-minute sessions. Meetings are not guaranteed and subject to availability. The appointment portal will close on October 5.


  • Walk the Line: Aligning Interests When Negotiating Terms
    In negotiations, there is often a winner and a loser. Term negotiations between hedge fund managers and their investors, however, can be more nuanced in seeking to benefit both parties. This panel welcomes emerging and established hedge fund managers, as well as hedge fund allocators, to discuss how they navigate potentially thorny issues to produce ideal outcomes.

    Moderator: Brad Meyers, Managing Director, GCM Grosvenor
    Panelists:
    • Mani Mahjouri, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer, Blueshift Asset Management
    • Sharmila Kassam, Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS)
    • Steve Millham, Chief Investment Officer, Northwood Investors
    • Jason Safran, Senior Asset Manager, TCU Investment Management
    • Ruchit Shah, Portfolio Manager, Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company

  • Third Time’s a Charm: Emerging Manager Fundraising and Investment Trends
    Continuing a conversation from the last two SEM Conferences, attendees will hear from infrastructure investment experts about current trends they are seeing and issues they are facing. Participants will walk away with a fresh perspective on capital raising and the current opportunity set.

    Moderator: Ravi Parekh, Director/Partner, GCM Grosvenor
    Panelists:
    • Carolyn Hansard, Director, Teacher Retirement System of Texas
    • Jason Munsch, Managing Director, Alberta Teachers Retirement Fund
    • Lisa Bacon, Senior Vice President, Meketa Investment Group, Inc.

  • Opportunities that Span Borders: International Small and Emerging Managers
    Panelists discuss the potential of creating sourcing channels that connect domestic LPs with overseas managers, and vice-versa, bringing together US-based emerging GPs with non-US LPs. They will explore this critical next step in the small and emerging manager market, and consider ways to unite these two emerging manager ecosystems.

    Moderator: Arnaud Lipkowicz, Managing Director, GCM Grosvenor
    Panelists:
    • Stella Xu, Managing Director, Quan Capital
    • Tadasu Matsuo, Head of Alternative Investment, Japan Post Insurance
    • Rafaèle Tordjman, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Jeito
    • Natalie Tydeman, Managing Partner, VT Partners L.L.P.
    • Noor Sweid, General Partner, Global Ventures

  • The Long and Winding Road: Where LPs are Taking their Emerging Manager Programs
    As the Real Estate Emerging Manager market enters its second decade, we have an opportunity as an industry to take stock of what has been accomplished to date, as well as consider where we go from here. This panel features some of the largest and most significant LPs in the space. Together, we examine the structures and nuances of their emerging manager programs, as well as how they are evolving as the programs mature. Topics include their focus on fund investing, the opportunities for separate accounts, new innovations in the space, and thought leadership around graduation.

    Moderator: Anar Chudgar, Director & Partner, GCM Grosvenor
    Panelists:
    • Kirk Sims, Investment Officer – Emerging Managers, Teacher Retirement System of Illinois
    • Rosa Vasquez, Investment Officer, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund
    • Michael Silva, Investment Officer, CalPERS
    • Nick Tramontana, Portfolio Manager, Texas Permanent School Fund
    • Matt Halstead, Investment Manager, Teacher Retirement System of Texas

  • LPs will have the opportunity to select one to two managers, based on a manager-provided profile, with whom to meet in 20- to 30-minute sessions. The appointment portal will open a few weeks prior to the conference.


  • Featured Speaker: Sara Blakely, SPANX Founder and Chief Executive Officer


  • 45-minute sessions that focus on business-related topics. The aim of these sessions is to provide LPs and GPs with additive tools they can immediately implement at their organization. Attendees may select one Beyond Investments panel to attend.

    ODD: Mitigating Operational Risk
    Operational risk is a type of risk that is not compensated with a risk premium. This session will highlight the importance of operational due diligence across multiple asset classes. The team will provide examples of common red flags that should be identified and evaluated when performing due diligence. The session will cover operational risk from the lens of a GP as well as a LP. GPs must create an operational infrastructure which minimizes operational risk while LPs must perform operational due diligence to identify and mitigate operational risk.

    Moderator: Ivaldo Basso, Managing Director, GCM Grosvenor
    Panelists:
    • Chris Cotton, Principal – Financial Operating Partner, Summit Park L.L.C
    • Chris Lombardy, Managing Director, Duff & Phelps
    • Stefanie Platnick, Vice President, GCM Grosvenor
    • Dasha Ziska, Vice President, GCM Grosvenor

    The Perfect Pitch (Book)
    In a crowded market, it’s important to ensure that your pitch book has clear messaging and its text, charts and graphics are easy to understand and add value. In this session, industry experts provide tangible techniques for developing marketing materials to help your pitch stand out from the others.

    Panelists:
    • Sharyn Murray, Vice President, GCM Grosvenor
    • Eleni Patel, Senior Vice President, GCM Grosvenor
    • Ya Tung, Director/Partner, GCM Grosvenor

    I Want A Diverse Organization!
    As our industry works toward creating a robust pipeline for diverse funds, we must mirror those efforts in our own organizations. In this session, industry veterans discuss best practices for recruiting, developing and retaining women and diverse talent, while working toward creating a more inclusive business environment.

    Moderator: Sandra Hurse, Managing Director, GCM Grosvenor
    Panelists:
    • Debra Somers, Head of Career Development, Girls Who Invest
    • Chavon Sutton, Director - Diversity and Inclusion, Bureau of Asset Management, Office of the New York City Comptroller
    • Lloyd Trotter, Found and Managing Partner, GeNX360