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Brandon Sedloff and Andrea Auerbach sit down at the IPEM Private Markets Conference in Paris to explore how institutional allocators navigate today's complex private markets landscape. Andrea, who leads Cambridge Associates' global private investments team, brings 25 years of experience sourcing and underwriting private equity, venture capital, and co-investment opportunities for about 1,000 clients across hundreds of billions in assets. The conversation on The Distribution covers how the private markets have evolved from simple buyout strategies 30 years ago into a fragmented ecosystem of thousands of specialized managers, and why that complexity creates both opportunity and challenge for allocators today. They discuss: - Why headline benchmark returns don't reflect anyone's actual portfolio performance in private markets - How sector-focused investing and growth equity strategies create allocator alpha through information and relationship asymmetry - The behavioral tells that reveal organizational health during manager due diligence, from how teams handle underperforming assets to how they treat receptionists - How evergreen and semi-liquid fund structures are reshaping capital deployment dynamics and creating new risks around shared assets and pricing pressure - Why the lower middle market and independent sponsor space represent emerging sources of alpha as larger platforms expand in both directions This episode offers a practical look at how sophisticated allocators build conviction, manage illiquidity risk, and maintain diversified exposure to the private economy in an era when traditional fund structures are no longer the only option. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:06:05) - How private markets got complicated in 30 years (00:07:44) - Cambridge Associates and the total portfolio approach (00:09:44) - Defining investable opportunities (00:10:52) - Allocator alpha and private market data (00:13:02) - Manager selection and underwriting people (00:15:31) - The tells that reveal a manager's true character (00:18:46) - The role of private markets in portfolios today (00:22:32) - Why the headline benchmark isn't anyone's return (00:24:33) - Illiquidity as a feature in changing times (00:26:54) - Evergreen funds and semi-liquid structures (00:28:57) - Lower middle market and independent sponsors (00:30:00) - First-time funds and alignment (00:32:15) - Implications of evergreen structures (00:34:16) - Advising families and institutions (00:36:40) - Outro Links: Andrea on LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-auerbach/ Cambridge Associates - https://www.cambridgeassociates.com/ Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/ Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/

Brandon Sedloff and Adel Alderbas sit down at the IPEM Private Markets Conference in Paris to discuss Wafra's distinctive approach to middle market investing. Alderbas, Chief Investment Officer at Wafra, shares how the firm leverages its dual DNA as both GP and LP to build partnerships across a $30 billion platform. The conversation explores how Wafra identifies investor entrepreneurs, structures minority GP stakes to preserve founder control, and executes operational roll-ups in overlooked sectors where institutional capital rarely ventures. They discuss: - Why Wafra only takes minority stakes in GPs and designs sunset provisions that reward growth - How owning 32 GP stakes creates an "IQ multiplier" that surfaces investment opportunities years before the broader market - The operational playbook behind roll-up strategies in marinas, express car washes, and data centers - What separates investor entrepreneurs from talented portfolio managers during diligence - Why returning capital to LPs during a business pivot built trust that compounded into future allocations This episode offers a detailed look at how institutional capital, operating expertise, and a 40-year track record combine to generate alpha in the middle market. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:48) - Growing up in Kuwait's merchant culture (00:07:21) - The power of doing a little bit more (00:09:39) - Becoming CIO at Wafra (00:11:42) - Wafra's 40-year heritage and LP-GP hybrid model (00:16:58) - Pivoting from equities to middle market alternatives (00:23:57) - Finding investor entrepreneurs in GP stakes (00:29:11) - Minority stakes maintain alignment (00:33:48) - Marina roll-ups and middle market operations (00:38:35) - Data centers and the IQ multiplier from GP stakes (00:42:00) - The lesson on fair negotiations (00:43:22) - Focusing on the next 12 to 36 months Links: Adel on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adel-alderbas-7489b953/ Wafra - https://www.wafra.com/ Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/ Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/

Brandon Sedloff and Jamie Montgomery explore the power of compounding across networks, knowledge, and capital in this episode of The Distribution. Montgomery, founder and managing partner at March Capital, shares insights from a forty-year career spanning aerospace consulting, merchant banking, and venture investing. The conversation traces his path from caddying for stockbrokers in 1960s Seattle to building an early growth fund that has deployed close to $2.5 billion, with a decade-long focus on AI before it became mainstream. They discuss: - Why compounding your network and knowledge matters as much as compounding capital - How becoming an AI-first company must be led by the CEO, not delegated - The role of market size as the critical test in early growth investing - What it takes to reposition existing portfolio companies for an agentic AI world - Why the Montgomery Summit creates organic community rather than controlling outcomes This episode offers a grounded perspective on building meaningful companies, the velocity of capital, and navigating cycles without losing sight of long-term opportunity. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:37) - Getting into finance and investing (00:08:47) - From UCSD to the Pentagon (00:12:18) - Connecting the dots on a winding career path (00:23:14) - March Capital's focus and approach (00:28:10) - Repositioning portfolio companies for AI (00:35:04) - What to look for in early growth investing (00:38:10) - The Montgomery Summit and building community (00:44:34) - What's top of mind right now (00:48:56) - AI's impact on the economy Links: Jamie on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemontgomery/ March Capital - https://marchcp.com/ Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/ Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/

Brandon Sedloff and Matt Adler explore the world of small bay industrial real estate and the path from family business to independent fund manager. Adler, founder and managing partner of Adler Real Estate Partners, shares how he spun out of a third-generation family operation to build a specialized platform focused exclusively on multi-tenant light industrial properties across the Sun Belt. The conversation on The Distribution reveals why this once under-the-radar asset class has become one of real estate's most sought-after sectors and how focused operators compete when larger managers enter the space. They discuss: - Why spinning out of a family business required balancing independence with preserving relationships - How small bay industrial became a "HALO" asset class, hard assets with low obsolescence, resistant to AI disruption - What institutional investors misunderstand about office build-outs in industrial properties - How a disciplined operator grows NOI even when interest rates move against them - Why staying focused on one property type in mid-sized deals creates competitive advantage against mega managers This episode offers practical insight for anyone interested in niche real estate strategies, the transition from operating partner to fund manager, or how specialist platforms win by executing better than diversified competitors. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:57) - Matt's family real estate background (00:09:49) - Early career and deciding to leave the family business (00:11:19) - Working with Apollo and the GFC (00:14:18) - Starting the fund business (00:16:29) - Spinning out from the family business (00:21:25) - Adler Real Estate Partners today (00:23:59) - Small bay industrial explained (00:28:09) - Why small bay industrial is hot right now (00:31:36) - HALO and the AI advantage (00:32:47) - Competition and differentiation (00:38:01) - The office buildout misconception (00:42:36) - Competing with mega managers (00:46:34) - Headwinds and opportunities ahead (00:50:53) - Closing thoughts Links: Matthew on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mladler/ Adler Partners - https://adler-partners.com/ Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/ Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/

Brandon Sedloff and Russ Flicker explore the institutional hotel business and the journey from practicing real estate law to building a vertically integrated hospitality firm. Flicker shares how AWH Partners emerged from a borrowed desk during the Great Recession and what shaped his approach to investing through work at the Trump Organization and Blackstone. The conversation covers how AWH differentiates itself through in-house management and development capabilities, and why Flicker believes middle-market hotel assets present compelling opportunities today. They discuss: - Why Flicker left Blackstone to start AWH despite limited visibility on deal flow or capital - How starting with no formal office taught essential lessons about investor expectations and capital raising - Why seller-prepared hotels often hide operational risks that integrated teams can identify during underwriting - How vertical integration across acquisition, management, and renovation creates accountability advantages - Why hotels reprice daily in inflationary environments while other real estate takes years to adjust This episode offers perspective for investors evaluating hotel allocations, operators building differentiated platforms, or anyone navigating the transition from institutional roles to entrepreneurship during market downturns. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:00:57) - Introducing Russ Flicker and AWH Partners (00:02:42) - From engineer's son to real estate lawyer (00:08:38) - The dotcom startup and meeting his wife (00:11:52) - Landing at the Trump Organization (00:20:47) - Why Russ left Trump for Blackstone (00:23:33) - Working at institutional scale versus entrepreneurial scale (00:26:58) - The Ian Schrager disaster and the taxi accident (00:32:24) - Founding AWH from a borrowed desk in 2008 (00:40:27) - Building AWH into a vertically integrated platform (00:46:00) - Why hospitality gets misunderstood as high risk (00:49:58) - Opportunity in the next 24 to 36 months Links: Russ on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-flicker-67821712/ AWH Partners - https://www.awhpartners.com/ Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/ Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/

Brandon Sedloff and Susan Long McAndrews explore the evolving landscape of private markets distribution on The Distribution. Susan brings over two decades of experience from Pantheon, where she led both GP allocation and built the firm's wealth channel from the ground up. Now advising private equity firms on wealth and 401(k) strategies, she offers insight into what works, what doesn't, and where the market is headed. They discuss: - Why evergreen funds were never primarily about liquidity and what the recent gating headlines missed - How single GP evergreen funds are reshaping access for both wealth clients and small institutions - Why private equity belongs in 401(k) plans and what it will take to get there at scale - The sales misalignment behind recent evergreen fund gates and how to properly position these products - What mid-market firms should consider before launching a wealth channel strategy This episode clarifies the real value proposition of evergreen structures and identifies which private markets firms are positioned to succeed in wealth distribution. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:15) - Early influences on investing (00:06:45) - Career path from Morgan Stanley to Russell (00:08:53) - Pentagon and China policy work (00:13:00) - Journey to Pantheon (00:15:09) - Allocating capital and manager selection (00:17:18) - What made a great manager (00:19:39) - Building the wealth channel (00:23:12) - Scaling evergreen funds (00:26:39) - Market evolution from 2020 to 2025 (00:28:50) - Gating headlines and evergreen misunderstandings (00:29:30) - Why evergreen funds work (00:36:16) - Advising wealth advisors today (00:38:56) - Single GP evergreen solutions (00:41:32) - Advisory work after Pantheon (00:44:46) - Should mid-market firms enter wealth (00:49:07) - Looking ahead at private markets (00:50:03) - The case for private equity in 401(k)s (00:52:05) - Transparency and technology in evergreens (00:54:45) - Realizations and market health Links: Susan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-long-mcandrews/ Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/ Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/

Brandon Sedloff and Melvin Hibberd explore the evolution of GP solutions and what it takes to build durable enterprise value in private markets. Hibberd, chief investment officer at Hunter Point Capital, shares his path from engineering in northern England to leading investments across a $10 billion platform. The conversation examines how GP solutions expanded from simple minority stakes into a full menu of capital options, and why that shift reflects the maturation of asset management as a business, not just an investing activity. They discuss: - Why succession planning will drive transaction volume for the next decade, despite only 38% of GPs having a plan while 96% of LPs say it matters - How managers' capital needs have evolved beyond permanent equity into preferred capital, NAV lending, and commitment financing - What defines a persistent right to win in a market where every firm claims proprietary deal flow and differentiated sourcing - Why bilateral partnerships often create more value than broad auctions when aligning on growth, governance, and long-term strategy This episode offers practical perspective for founders and leaders navigating strategic capital decisions in an increasingly complex market. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:41) - Introducing Melvin (00:04:14) - Growing up in northern England (00:06:52) - Engineering at Cambridge and summers in Japan (00:08:57) - Starting at a family office (00:10:35) - Business school and the intentional career path (00:15:00) - Building a GP stakes platform at Blackstone (00:19:10) - Why leave Blackstone for Hunter Point (00:26:04) - The evolution of GP solutions products (00:30:17) - Building enterprise value in investment firms (00:32:25) - Succession as a deal driver (00:35:45) - What makes a persistent right to win (00:47:53) - Advice for founders seeking capital partners (00:50:40) - Where Hunter Point is investing today (00:53:40) - Closing Links: Hunter Point Capital - https://www.hunterpointcapital.com/ Melvin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melvin-hibberd-bab4b018b/ Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/ Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/

Brandon Sedloff and Alex Robinson explore the accelerating intersection of artificial intelligence and private markets operations. Robinson, co-founder and CEO of Juniper Square, explains why investment managers must reimagine their businesses around AI rather than treating it as a simple productivity tool. The conversation balances technical strategy with practical leadership advice for non-technical founders navigating rapid transformation. They discuss: - Why making your company "AI legible" requires recording meetings, writing down processes, and controlling your data layer - How Robinson runs Juniper Square through ORCA, a synchronous operating system designed for AI-native decision-making - The difference between technology companies building AI applications and service providers arranging human capital - Why the industry will bifurcate between "sharpshooters" with distinctive strategies and scale players with compute budgets - How to evaluate partners in a noisy market where every vendor claims to be AI-first This episode from The Distribution offers a roadmap for investment managers seeking to apply AI thoughtfully without becoming technologists themselves. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:41) - The functional singularity moment (00:06:00) - Why AI deployment is a CEO's job (00:07:46) - Becoming an on the record company (00:11:22) - Running a company with ORCA (00:14:57) - Practical advice for non-technical leaders (00:16:11) - Just start writing it down (00:17:22) - The Aunt Millie problem and AI legibility (00:22:18) - Cutting through vendor noise (00:25:21) - What won't change in partnerships (00:26:12) - Trust and comprehensive platforms matter (00:29:01) - Protecting your data moat from labs (00:31:06) - Understanding the applied AI layer (00:35:00) - How Juniper Square is deploying AI (00:35:22) - Three transformation domains (00:42:12) - Tech companies versus human capital shops (00:45:36) - The future of investment management (00:46:11) - Sharpshooters and scale players (00:49:32) - Does data scale matter for GPs? (00:52:05) - Most excited about AI in medicine (00:53:23) - Closing thoughts on hackathons Links: Alex on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrob22/ Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/ Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/

Brandon Sedloff sits down with Dan Carr and Peter Weiss, co-founders of Alpaca Real Estate, for a live conversation recorded at their annual Aspen Real Estate Summit. The two met as analysts at JP Morgan in 2011 and spent a decade building expertise at major institutions before launching their own opportunistic real estate private equity fund in late 2022. What sets Alpaca apart is their commitment to building a technology-first culture from inception, treating their data infrastructure and tech stack as foundational to the investment process rather than an afterthought. They discuss: - Why timing mattered when they saw the Fed's rate increases creating a repricing moment in commercial real estate - How they built a seven-stage deal pipeline with 1,000 transactions cataloged in a proprietary data lake before deploying agentic AI - Their focus on tailwind asset classes like build-to-rent townhomes and infill industrial, where structural demand drives conviction - The cultural challenge of technology adoption and why organic buy-in matters more than mandates - Forward purchase structures that shift construction risk to homebuilders while controlling land upfront This episode offers a practical look at what it takes to launch and scale an investment platform built on data discipline and institutional-grade operations in a shifting market. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:00) - Recording live at Alpaca's Aspen summit (00:05:20) - Getting into real estate investing (00:10:23) - Meeting at JP Morgan in 2011 (00:11:35) - Building the REPEN networking group (00:12:34) - Post-JP Morgan career paths (00:15:27) - The 2022 wake-up call from Dan (00:17:49) - Capitalizing a first-time fund (00:18:35) - Building technology into the DNA (00:22:56) - Creating clean data infrastructure (00:26:55) - Cultural adoption of technology (00:31:42) - Alpaca's investment focus today (00:33:45) - Residential and industrial strategies (00:36:04) - Operating with partners versus direct (00:38:38) - Closing thoughts for investors Links: Dan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-carr-98a0a91b/ Peter on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-weiss-86675635/ Alpaca Real Estate - https://alpacarealestate.com/ Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/ Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/

Brandon Sedloff and Bill McMorrow trace the evolution of Kennedy Wilson from a $57,000 real estate auction company in 1988 to a global investment firm managing nearly $38 billion in assets. McMorrow shares how a series of pivotal relationships, from early banking mentors to partnerships with George Graziadio and Fairfax Financial's Prem Watsa, shaped the firm's trajectory across four decades of real estate cycles. The conversation on The Distribution reveals how McMorrow identified opportunities in Japan during the 1990s, Ireland and the UK following the Great Recession, and multifamily housing markets when regional banks retreated in 2023. They discuss: - Why McMorrow focuses exclusively on housing across the US, Ireland, and the UK after owning every asset type - How a half-hour conversation at a Berkshire Hathaway meeting led to $20 billion in joint ventures over sixteen years - The discipline of saying yes to start the journey, even when the path forward isn't clear - Why narrowing focus and tuning out noise matters more than ever in today's information-saturated environment - What McMorrow learned from working on commercial fishing boats, in a slaughterhouse, and growing up in a family of nine kids This episode offers insight for investors navigating uncertainty, building long-term institutional relationships, and recognizing contrarian opportunities when markets feel murky. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:43) - Bill McMorrow's early life and formative years (00:05:31) - Banking career and move to Philadelphia (00:08:43) - Acquiring Kennedy Wilson in 1988 (00:10:51) - Expanding to Japan in the 1990s (00:12:14) - The Great Recession and meeting Prem Watsa (00:15:06) - Kennedy Wilson's culture and growth to $38 billion (00:16:36) - Growing up in a family of nine (00:22:25) - Building relationships with foreign investors (00:24:25) - The Ireland opportunity and Bank of Ireland deal (00:30:55) - Kennedy Wilson's business model today (00:31:24) - Focus on housing and recent acquisitions (00:39:11) - Staying focused and tuning out the noise (00:44:22) - The importance of starting the journey (00:45:39) - Taking chances and betting against the crowd (00:47:45) - Looking ahead: opportunities and strategy (00:54:34) - Closing thoughts Links: Kennedy Wilson - https://www.kennedywilson.com/ Juniper Square - ⁠⁠https://www.junipersquare.com/⁠⁠ Brandon on LinkedIn - ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonsedloff/⁠

Brandon Sedloff and John Bowman explore the future of private markets through the lens of CAIA Association's recent research report, "The World Rewired." Bowman, CEO of CAIA Association, shares insights from eight global roundtables with over 120 C-suite executives across major financial centers. The conversation examines how geopolitical shifts, evolving product structures, and talent needs are reshaping portfolio construction and investment strategy. Bowman argues that the post-World War II regime of low rates, stable globalization, and minimal inflation has ended—requiring allocators to fundamentally rethink how they build portfolios. They discuss: - Why geopolitics may replace asset allocation as the primary framework for portfolio construction - How tokenization could solve liquidity challenges better than traditional gate structures - The shift from hiring job-ready specialists to recruiting systems thinkers with interdisciplinary judgment - Why the Gulf region has become a serious contender as the capital of private capital This episode offers a strategic roadmap for institutional investors, asset managers, and private markets professionals navigating a regime change in global markets. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:28) - Introducing John Bowman and CAIA (00:02:59) - Early career and path to finance (00:07:58) - Transition from asset management to CFA Institute (00:11:49) - Journey through CFA Institute (00:17:00) - Leading CAIA and building community (00:29:11) - The World Rewired research report (00:34:25) - Product innovation and the retail push (00:44:06) - Geopolitics as portfolio framework (00:49:01) - Middle East sovereign wealth dynamics (00:52:19) - Talent and systems thinking (00:56:47) - Where to learn more Speaker Profiles:   Brandon Sedloff     LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/     Website — https://brandonsedloff.substack.com/   John Bowman     LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlbowmancfa/ Organizations:   CAIA Association — https://caia.org/   Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/

On this episode of The Distribution, Brandon Sedloff and Raphi Schorr explore what makes inefficient markets the last bastion of alpha in private investing. Schorr, Deputy Chief Investment Officer and Partner at HighVista Strategies, explains how his firm deploys $14 billion across overlooked corners of the market, from lower middle market private equity to venture capital, private credit, and public biotech, where large addressable markets, poor information, and limited competition still reward patient capital and deep networks. They discuss: - Why lower middle market private equity operates beneath the radar of most institutional investors - How backing fund one managers in venture capital creates decades of compounding access - Why 50% of the S&P 500 is venture-backed and what that means for where value is created today - The rise of GP-led secondaries in the lower middle market as sponsors seek to hold their crown jewels longer - How pattern recognition built over 20 years helps identify winning managers and companies in fragmented markets This episode offers a clear view into how experienced allocators find alpha in markets most investors never see. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:05) - Meeting Raphi Schorr and HighVista Strategies (00:02:32) - Mathematics and early investing exposure (00:06:40) - From physics to operations research (00:09:27) - Joining HighVista and the shift to private markets (00:12:10) - Building the firm from day one (00:16:28) - What HighVista does today (00:20:18) - Inefficient markets and where alpha lives (00:24:54) - Pattern recognition in lower middle market PE (00:28:00) - Balancing analytics with relationships (00:31:10) - Access and the venture capital power law (00:34:44) - Backing fund one managers (00:42:29) - Creating optionality through early partnerships (00:48:22) - Structural themes for the next 36 months (00:52:41) - What keeps Raphi up at night (00:54:54) - Closing thoughts on talent and opportunity Speaker Profiles:   Brandon Sedloff     LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/     Website — https://brandonsedloff.substack.com/   Raphi Schorr     Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelschorr/ Companies:   Juniper Square — https://www.junipersquare.com/   HighVista Strategies — https://www.highvistastrategies.com/

Brandon Sedloff and David Weisburd explore the hidden psychology behind venture capital fundraising and LP decision-making on The Distribution. Weisburd, co-founder of Weisburd Pierce and host of How I Invest, shares insights from hundreds of conversations with institutional allocators managing over 10 trillion dollars in assets. The discussion reveals why LP incentives often diverge from traditional performance metrics, how career risk shapes investment behavior, and why media has become a structural advantage in private markets. They discuss: - Why LPs use a "double gated" diligence process that most GPs misunderstand - How the average pension CIO tenure of 6.1 years creates rational but seemingly counterintuitive investment patterns - Why elite Ivy League endowments are shifting away from blind pool funds toward direct investments and SPVs - The mechanics of anchor investor psychology and momentum in fundraising - How media functions as a network effect business and relationship-building tool at scale This episode offers a practical framework for understanding how capital allocation decisions actually get made in venture and private markets. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:32) - David's immigrant journey and first ventures (00:04:16) - Starting the How I Invest podcast (00:05:29) - Growing up poor and the mindset it created (00:08:06) - The stamp of approval from elite institutions (00:11:32) - From Tuck to 10x Capital (00:14:08) - What is a media-driven venture firm (00:17:00) - Why media is a moat in venture capital (00:20:28) - Advice for GPs on podcast guesting (00:23:03) - The psychology of elite listening (00:27:25) - Theory of mind and the LP LLM (00:29:09) - The rational irrationality of LP behavior (00:43:00) - Themes guiding capital allocation (00:49:05) - Advice for GPs and LPs (00:51:41) - Outro Speaker Profiles:   Brandon Sedloff     LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/     Website — https://brandonsedloff.substack.com/     Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/   David Weisburd     LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/dweisburd/     Twitter / X — https://x.com/DWeisburd     Weisburd Capital — https://www.weisburdpierce.com/ Podcasts:   How I Invest — https://howiinvestpodcast.com/episodes

Brandon Sedloff and Mike Cordingley explore what it takes to build durable, scalable private markets firms in an era of constant disruption. Mike leads the strategy, leadership, and advisory group at Ferguson Partners, a talent management and strategic advisory firm that works with about half of the public REITs and many of the largest private equity and real estate platforms. His work takes him inside these organizations as they navigate fundamental shifts in leadership, operating models, and business strategy. The conversation on The Distribution covers how private markets firms have reached an inflection point where the entrepreneurial, founder-led models that drove early growth now face pressure from rising costs, compressed fees, and the need to retain next-generation talent. Mike explains why founders must move beyond an investment thesis to develop a true enterprise strategy, and why the CEO's role is evolving from chief decision-maker to platform architect who distributes decision rights across the organization. They discuss: - Why succession planning has become a business imperative as founder-led firms face generational transitions - How decision architecture creates competitive advantage by pushing decisions closer to where value is created - Why AI represents a people transformation challenge, not just a technology implementation - The concept of zero-based org design and what it means to treat operating models as design choices rather than fixed structures This episode offers practical frameworks for leaders wrestling with how to scale their organizations, develop talent, and prepare for the next phase of growth in private markets. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:00:33) - Why founders need an enterprise strategy (00:02:20) - Mike's path to management consulting (00:07:17) - The role of consultants in private markets (00:09:29) - Four big trends shaping private markets today (00:13:27) - How we got to this inflection point (00:17:49) - Navigating founder succession and talent retention (00:30:59) - Decision architecture as a competitive advantage (00:38:59) - Operating model as a design choice (00:42:28) - Distributed accountability and data access (00:46:27) - Precision talent matching (00:50:40) - AI as a people transformation, not just efficiency (00:53:17) - Closing Links: Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonsedloff/ Mike on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikecordingley/ Ferguson Partners - https://www.fergusonpartners.com/ Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/

Brandon Sedloff and Elizabeth Burton explore the shifting landscape of institutional investing, macro strategy, and the growing case for credit over traditional private equity allocations. Burton brings a unique perspective shaped by her time as an allocator at the Maryland State Retirement System and as CIO of the Employees' Retirement System of Hawaii before joining Fortress Investment Group as chief strategist. The conversation touches on her unconventional path into finance, the lessons she learned managing public pension capital, and why she believes floating rate credit deserves a larger role in institutional portfolios. They discuss: - Why floating rate credit offers better downside protection and fee alignment than private equity in a higher-rate environment - How debt monetization and money supply growth could push inflation back above 4% by year-end - Why AI is creating a divide between investors who can move quickly on co-investment opportunities and those constrained by governance structures - The consumer credit opportunity in prime and near-prime segments that many institutional investors are overlooking - How anchoring investment strategy to a single variable like the 10-year Treasury can simplify decision-making across asset classes This episode offers a clear-eyed view of the challenges facing institutional investors in the 2030s and the strategic shifts required to meet return targets in a persistently higher rate world. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:30) - Elizabeth Burton's early life and path to finance (00:03:50) - From horse farm to Wall Street (00:06:10) - College choice and French politics major (00:09:08) - First finance role and Santa Barbara internship (00:12:16) - Mortgage-backed securities and Chicago MBA (00:15:55) - Baltimore payments consulting detour (00:19:37) - Transition to LP side at Maryland Retirement (00:26:20) - Becoming CIO in Hawaii (00:32:30) - Joining Fortress as chief strategist (00:35:25) - The strategist role and economics anchor (00:41:00) - Fortress overview and consumer focus (00:44:10) - Inflation outlook and floating rate credit case (00:47:20) - The bunker portfolio thought experiment (00:51:30) - AI creating investor haves and have-nots (00:54:30) - Closing Links:   Brandon Sedloff     LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/     Website — https://brandonsedloff.substack.com/  Elizabeth Burton     LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethtburton/ Companies:   Fortress Investment Group — https://www.fortress.com/investors/financial-advisors   Juniper Square — https://junipersquare.com