Improving Alpha: Innovation in Investing, ESG and Technology

Improving Alpha: Innovation in Investing, ESG and Technology

The Improving Alpha: Innovation in Investing, ESG and Technology podcast with host Michael Oliver Weinberg, is built to engage with innovative allocators on forward thinking investment management business strategies and the challenges across alternative investment sectors. Through each of these discussions we will explore achievements, lessons learned and future advice for dealing with today’s financial markets. This podcast series is being powered by Vidrio. Learn more at Vidrio.com.

Episodes

Improving Alpha: Devana Cohen on Driving Investment Conviction for Improved Endowment Portfolio Performance

June 30, 2025 • 45 mins
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 …

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Improving Alpha: Gregory Brown on Deploying Alternative Research to Aid Institutional Investors.

March 3, 2025 • 41 mins
Being able to source accurate data across alternative markets is a complex process. Stocks, bonds, and futures offer continuous price updates and greater intelligence for investors. The landscape is evolving, with a growing number of cutting-edge investment researchers enhancing decision-making on policy issues that will help shape private markets investments for the future. In our …

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Improving Alpha: Robert Wolcott on the Proximity Revolution

February 3, 2025 • 39 mins
Institutional investors are not only concerned with searching for alpha opportunities in this market but how technology can aid in that search over time. In an age of digital transformation, how can investors become more competitive in their allocation decisions, and are they effectively adapting to geopolitical concerns, risk, inflation, and more? For this next …

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Improving Alpha: John Coffey’s blueprint for a shadow SEC and further regulations under a new Trump Administration

January 13, 2025 • 43 mins
In just a few days the second Trump administration will be sworn in to the office of the presidency. There has already been a lot of debate around security regulations and what that might mean for institutional investors. Could we see Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies go higher, how will carbon emissions be regulated and reported …

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Improving Alpha: Koray Caliskan on the ‘Data Money’ of cryptocurrency and future applications

December 16, 2024 • 46 mins
Back in the 16th century, when paper money made its debut in Venice, skeptics doubted it could ever replace the clinking of metal coins. Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves seamlessly blending paper, coins, and cryptocurrency. This cutting-edge currency has skyrocketed to a market capitalization of $2-$3 trillion and continues to surge. Just …

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Improving Alpha: Scott Chan on ‘Gearing Up’ a Collaborative Model to Mitigate Risks and Generate Returns

November 4, 2024 • 50 mins
Last year, we were honored to have Chris Ailman as a guest on the Improving Alpha podcast. Fast forward 12 months, and lightning has struck twice for the Improving Alpha team, as we welcome Scott Chan, the current CIO of CalSTRS, to the guest chair.  As the second-largest pension fund in the United States and …

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Improving Alpha: Shivaram Rajgopal on Ways to Eliminate Governance Disengagement and Zombie Organizations

September 30, 2024 • 42 mins
If you are a CEO at a large public company, who do you speak with when concerned about strategy, formulation of innovative ideas, or even execution of a plan to scale your business investments? Many believe that unless there’s a large activist event or news story, decision-making is solely your own. Is there a way …

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Improving Alpha: Catherine Ulozas on Innovating a Billion Dollar Endowment

September 9, 2024 • 38 mins
Information overload can occur in even the most skilled institutional investor when considering the amount of managers and intelligence competing for their time and attention. How can a leading endowment CIO or portfolio manager navigate the volume of financial statements, capital calls, risk/reward ratios, and more? How can they mentor junior analysts to find the …

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Improving Alpha: TC Wilson on Advancing the Practice of Good Medicine through Better Asset Allocation Strategies

July 30, 2024 • 36 mins
Today there’s tremendous focus around the practice of good medicine, the advancement of healthcare innovations, and positive patient outcomes. One company that embodies these characteristics and provides services to the healthcare industry is The Doctor’s Company. The Doctors Company began in 1976 during a crisis period in medical malpractice claims that were skyrocketing. Formed out …

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Improving Alpha: Chris Wiggins Exploring and Exploiting the Value of Artificial Intelligence

July 8, 2024 • 40 mins
Allocators face a barrage of ideas and debates around the use of artificial intelligence and large language models, better known as LLMs. How can huge amounts of investor data be transformed and enriched to solve challenges in asset allocations and improve an investment team’s strategy? Better yet, have we accumulated enough ‘scar tissue’ in artificial …

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Improving Alpha: Olivier Toubia and the Dark Side of Artificial Intelligence

June 24, 2024 • 39 mins
In an age of artificial intelligence, (AI) many allocators are realizing that humans alone, or software alone, can’t match or exceed the gains that occur when software and human expertise combine. Layer that into the ability of generative AI to do something better, faster, and more cheaply, and investors can begin to see a game-changing …

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Improving Alpha: David Teten on the Future of VC Models, Tools for Improving Alpha and the Portfolio Diversification Game

June 17, 2024 • 45 mins
The portfolio diversification game takes a ton of time, energy, effort, and even during the best of times companies that you might be super bullish about can flame out, just as easily as those that are near death, can suddenly rebound. This is certainly the case in areas of venture capital (VC) or angel investing. …

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Improving Alpha: Mazen Jabban on the Dangers of Delegating Away Allocator Innovation

April 15, 2024 • 31 mins
Navigating the world of technology innovations as a chief investment officer or portfolio manager is akin to a thrilling game of high-stakes poker or a graceful tango. Your success hinges on your ability to not just welcome incoming innovations but also effectively implement them, enhancing data transparency, boosting portfolio returns, and more. In this episode …

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Improving Alpha: Karen Yeyinmen on Strengthening the Institutional Investment Toolkit through Action Research

March 18, 2024 • 46 mins
Can a culture of growth and experimentation in institutional investing unlock deeper-level benefits to improving alpha? Would you be able to risk the old conception of yourself or your organization by exploring new forms of action and inquiry to help identify the best talent through due diligence or to combine two cultures post-Merger & Acquisition? …

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Improving Alpha: Ciamac Moallemi on the Black Box of Systematic Investing, Bitcoin, and Neural Networks

February 26, 2024 • 24 mins
Is bitcoin a ‘safe-haven’ or still too risky for institutional investors to include as part of a larger portfolio allocation? How is systematic investing changing today with the influence of neural networks and artificial intelligence?  Michael Oliver Weinberg, host of the  Improving Alpha: Innovation in Investing ESG, and Technology podcast invites Ciamac Moallemi, William von …

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

February 5, 2024 • 47 mins
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 …

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

January 8, 2024 • 42 mins
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 …

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

December 11, 2023 • 45 mins
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 …

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

December 4, 2023 • 48 mins
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 …

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

October 31, 2023 • 52 mins
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 …

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