14th Annual Sohn San Francisco Investment Conference to Convene Leading Investors and Support Local Nonprofits
Join Us for a Day of Great Content and Networking!
Gathering the best and brightest minds in investing, from Silicon Valley to Wall Street. Join us at the 14th annual Sohn San Francisco Investment Conference, where we bring together leading investment managers—and allocators — for a day of great content and networking.
The Sohn San Francisco Investment Conference is part of a series of global Sohn events that gather the world’s most successful investors to learn from and connect with each other throughout the year.
The conference will be hosted in person at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, in the heart of the financial district, as we remain committed to our local community. Funds raised will directly benefit nonprofits serving disadvantaged youth in the Bay Area, adding to the $2.6M the conference has raised over its first 13 years.
We are very excited to be back in person this year with expanded programming and the addition of the inaugural Women’s Brunch. We’re also partnering with iConnections to incorporate their Networking & Event App, which will allow participants to connect with fellow attendees and speakers. ‘Best ideas’ presentations will take center stage, providing top-tier insights from the brightest minds on Wall Street.
SOHN SAN FRANCISCO WOMEN’S BRUNCH
The inaugural networking brunch! Join Bay Area peers to learn about the latest trends and insights in the industry and beyond.
BEST IDEAS PRESENTATIONS
Exclusive ‘best ideas’ presentations from the brightest minds in investing!
SOHN SAN FRANCISCO – iConnections Network
Exclusive, in-app networking at the palm of your hand. Connect and meet with conference participants and attendees to share and discuss best investment ideas.
SOHN SAN FRANCISCO RECEPTION
Join us for a post conference reception to exchange ideas and network.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE 2023
SOHNSF WOMEN’S BRUNCH
10:00 – 11:30 AM – Waterfront Room – Atrium Lobby Level
SOHNSF WOMEN’S BRUNCH
10:00 – 11:30 AM – Waterfront Room – Atrium Lobby Level
Sponsored by:
10:00 AM
JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS
Founder & CEO,
How Women Lead
Biography
Julie Castro Abrams is the founder and Managing Partner of How Women Invest, an early stage venture firm focussed on high growth, tech enabled women-founded enterprises. The firm is a culmination of her lifetime of work propelling women founders to launch and find success with training, capital and networks. Julie brings her extensive experience identifying and supporting early stage entrepreneurs and twenty years as a CEO and board director. She is bringing her extensive networks, leadership and entrepreneurship experience to disruption of the venture landscape.
An active investor and advisor to start-ups, and as the leader of the nation’s largest microenterprise and microfinance organization for 11 years, Julie has helped launch a network of over 20,000 women into successful businesses. In her role as CEO of Women’s Initiative for Self Employment, an SBA Certified Development Financial Institution, Julie drove innovation in the US microenterprise and finance space. Investing in extensive research about the indicators of long term success for women entrepreneurs, Julie brings deep intellectual prowess, extensive networks and experience to this transformative venture firm.
Today she is advising the SBA, White House and Congress on national legislative initiatives to address economic opportunities for women. She serves on the California First Partners Project as an advisor regarding corporate board diversity. In her role as Founder and CEO of How Women Lead, she has been a driver of legislative initiatives and transformation in the US and California. Julie serves as an Advisor to financial services firms including the fin-tech start-up LENDonate and Nia Capital. She previously served as an advisor to Beneficial Bank and as the Governance Chair for the Association for Enterprise Opportunity and the Women’s Funding Network.
As the CEO of How Women Lead, she is at the center of the movement to disrupt antiquated, unequal systems by propelling women into even greater leadership roles and increasing opportunities for all women. Julie has been an essential driver of the ecosystem for women on corporate boards in California. Julie has been a national leader in the movement and drove the successful passage of the groundbreaking Senate Bill 826, requiring public companies to have women on their boards.
The recipient of many accolades, she has been awarded the More Jobs Genius Award, the Morgan Stanley Innovation Award, Cisco’s Innovation in Technology Award, the League of Women Voters’ Women Who Could Be President Award, the Stevie Award for Best Non-Profit Executive, and the Commission on the Status of Women’s Human Rights Award. She has also been featured in six books, including “Scrappy Women in Business,” “Women of Courage,” and “The Missing Mentor,” and
she has been featured in Fast Company’s video series “30 Second MBA.”
In Conversation with:
LINDSAY COSTIGAN, CAIA
Managing Director,
BNP Paribas
Biography
Lindsay Costigan is a Managing Director at BNP Paribas where she oversees Global Prime Finance Sales across the Western U.S. She is responsible for sourcing and maintaining financing relationships with hedge funds and asset owners. Lindsay also plays a vital role in BNP Paribas’ DEI efforts and is passionate about creating the next generation of leaders in finance. Lindsay is an active participant in Women in Global Markets where she helps recruit and mentor summer interns, analysts and up-and-coming women at BNP Paribas.
In addition to her professional pursuits, Lindsay is a mother of two young children, and competes in the equestrian sport of show jumping at the Grand Prix level. Lindsay serves on the Excellence in Investing for Children’s Causes Foundation Board and the Pepperdine University Board where she helps recruit undergraduates into finance. She is involved in various other non-profit organizations that provide support to underrepresented Bay Area youth.
In 2022, Lindsay was named a Pepperdine Graziadios Best for the World Leader. She was a speaker and panelist at Villanova’s Presenting Opportunities for Women (POW) 2022 Conference and the emcee for BNP Paribas’ 2022 and 2023 Hedge Fund Executive Summits. Lindsay was featured at Bloomberg’s inaugural Women’s Sell-Side network event in San Francisco and moderated a panel on the main stage at Scale Global in 2023. Lindsay has also been featured on the Coached podcast and The Chronicle of the Horse.
Lindsay earned her BA in Economics from Occidental College and her MBA from Pepperdine University. Lindsay is also a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA).
10:00 AM
JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS
Founder & CEO,
How Women Lead
In Conversation with:
LINDSAY COSTIGAN, CAIA
Managing Director,
BNP Paribas
Biography
Julie Castro Abrams is the founder and Managing Partner of How Women Invest, an early stage venture firm focussed on high growth, tech enabled women-founded enterprises. The firm is a culmination of her lifetime of work propelling women founders to launch and find success with training, capital and networks. Julie brings her extensive experience identifying and supporting early stage entrepreneurs and twenty years as a CEO and board director. She is bringing her extensive networks, leadership and entrepreneurship experience to disruption of the venture landscape.
An active investor and advisor to start-ups, and as the leader of the nation’s largest microenterprise and microfinance organization for 11 years, Julie has helped launch a network of over 20,000 women into successful businesses. In her role as CEO of Women’s Initiative for Self Employment, an SBA Certified Development Financial Institution, Julie drove innovation in the US microenterprise and finance space. Investing in extensive research about the indicators of long term success for women entrepreneurs, Julie brings deep intellectual prowess, extensive networks and experience to this transformative venture firm.
Today she is advising the SBA, White House and Congress on national legislative initiatives to address economic opportunities for women. She serves on the California First Partners Project as an advisor regarding corporate board diversity. In her role as Founder and CEO of How Women Lead, she has been a driver of legislative initiatives and transformation in the US and California. Julie serves as an Advisor to financial services firms including the fin-tech start-up LENDonate and Nia Capital. She previously served as an advisor to Beneficial Bank and as the Governance Chair for the Association for Enterprise Opportunity and the Women’s Funding Network.
As the CEO of How Women Lead, she is at the center of the movement to disrupt antiquated, unequal systems by propelling women into even greater leadership roles and increasing opportunities for all women. Julie has been an essential driver of the ecosystem for women on corporate boards in California. Julie has been a national leader in the movement and drove the successful passage of the groundbreaking Senate Bill 826, requiring public companies to have women on their boards.
The recipient of many accolades, she has been awarded the More Jobs Genius Award, the Morgan Stanley Innovation Award, Cisco’s Innovation in Technology Award, the League of Women Voters’ Women Who Could Be President Award, the Stevie Award for Best Non-Profit Executive, and the Commission on the Status of Women’s Human Rights Award. She has also been featured in six books, including “Scrappy Women in Business,” “Women of Courage,” and “The Missing Mentor,” and
she has been featured in Fast Company’s video series “30 Second MBA.”
Biography
Lindsay Costigan is a Managing Director at BNP Paribas where she oversees Global Prime Finance Sales across the Western U.S. She is responsible for sourcing and maintaining financing relationships with hedge funds and asset owners. Lindsay also plays a vital role in BNP Paribas’ DEI efforts and is passionate about creating the next generation of leaders in finance. Lindsay is an active participant in Women in Global Markets where she helps recruit and mentor summer interns, analysts and up-and-coming women at BNP Paribas.
In addition to her professional pursuits, Lindsay is a mother of two young children, and competes in the equestrian sport of show jumping at the Grand Prix level. Lindsay serves on the Excellence in Investing for Children’s Causes Foundation Board and the Pepperdine University Board where she helps recruit undergraduates into finance. She is involved in various other non-profit organizations that provide support to underrepresented Bay Area youth.
In 2022, Lindsay was named a Pepperdine Graziadios Best for the World Leader. She was a speaker and panelist at Villanova’s Presenting Opportunities for Women (POW) 2022 Conference and the emcee for BNP Paribas’ 2022 and 2023 Hedge Fund Executive Summits. Lindsay was featured at Bloomberg’s inaugural Women’s Sell-Side network event in San Francisco and moderated a panel on the main stage at Scale Global in 2023. Lindsay has also been featured on the Coached podcast and The Chronicle of the Horse.
Lindsay earned her BA in Economics from Occidental College and her MBA from Pepperdine University. Lindsay is also a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA).
NEXT WAVE SOHN SAN FRANCISCO
12:00 – 1:00 PM – Grand Ballroom – Street Level
NEXT WAVE SOHN SAN FRANCISCO
12:00 – 1:00 PM – Grand Ballroom – Street Level
Sponsored by:
12:00 PM
WELCOME
SETH BLACKMAN
President, Excellence in Investment in Children’s Causes Foundation
Biography
Seth is a partner based in KPMG’s San Francisco office and serves as the Bay Area’s Asset Management Practice Leader. In his role, Seth is responsible for leading the firm’s hedge fund, venture capital, private equity, and real estate sectors in the Bay Area. Seth works with both domestic and international clients within the alternative investment sector, including fund of funds. He has extensive experience with various investment products, strategies and structures where he provides clients with key considerations and best practices. Seth is an audit partner and member of the firm’s national leadership committee contributing to the growth and development of its asset management practice.
12:05 PM
INTRODUCTIONS
Peter Terrant,
Managing Director, BTIG
Biography
12:00 PM
WELCOME
SETH BLACKMAN,
President, Excellence in Investment in Children’s Causes Foundation
Seth Blackman, President, Excellence in Investment in Children’s Causes Foundation
Seth is a partner based in KPMG’s San Francisco office and serves as the Bay Area’s Asset Management Practice Leader. In his role, Seth is responsible for leading the firm’s hedge fund, venture capital, private equity, and real estate sectors in the Bay Area. Seth works with both domestic and international clients within the alternative investment sector, including fund of funds. He has extensive experience with various investment products, strategies and structures where he provides clients with key considerations and best practices. Seth is an audit partner and member of the firm’s national leadership committee contributing to the growth and development of its asset management practice.
12:05 PM
INTRODUCTIONS
PETER TERRANT,
Managing Director, BTIG
Biography
12:09 PM
ALEX BEINFIELD
Founder and CIO,
Blue Duck Capital
Biography
Alex is known for his contrarian instincts and willingness to question prevailing narratives. Speaking to his reputation as an insightful contrarian, multiple former colleagues have invested along side Alex in the Fund.
Alex graduated from Trinity College in 2006, where he was a member of the Men’s Tennis Team. He is an avid outdoorsman and lives with his family in Manhattan Beach, California.
12:21 PM
CONNOR HALEY
Founder and Managing Partner,
Alta Fox Capital
Biography
Before founding Alta Fox, Connor was an Analyst at Scopia Capital Management LP (2014-2017), a New York-based long/short investment firm founded in 2001. Connor graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with an A.B. in government. While working towards his degree, Connor was CIO and President of the Harvard Financial Analyst Club and ran a small cap investing blog, thevariantview.com.
12:33 PM
DAVID SEMENZA
Co-Founder,
Islander Capital
Biography
Prior to founding Islander Capital, David was a Partner and Senior Managing Director at Matrix Capital Management. He led investments for internet, media, and payments sectors while playing a major role in guiding the research process, recruiting, talent development, and investor relations. He joined Matrix’s Boston Office in 2010 and was named partner in 2012. In 2014, Mr. Semenza opened and led Matrix’s Palo Alto office. He worked closely with Matrix’s founder, David Goel, to help grow the firm from $600M to $8BN in assets under management.
Before joining Matrix, he spent three years at Cerberus Capital Management (New York City) focusing on private equity and distressed credit investments during the Global Financial Crisis. There he learned how to invest across-the-capital structure, and how to protect against downside risk.
David graduated from Brown University with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics – Economics. He was a four-year member of the Varsity Soccer team and played semi-professional soccer during his undergraduate summers.
12:46 PM
ALEX LERNER
Founder and CIO,
Foreword Capital
Biography
Alex received an MBA from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. He graduated with honors and holds a B.A. from Stanford University.
12:09 PM
ALEX BEINFIELD
Founder and CIO,Blue Duck Capital
Biography
Alex is known for his contrarian instincts and willingness to question prevailing narratives. Speaking to his reputation as an insightful contrarian, multiple former colleagues have invested along side Alex in the Fund.
Alex graduated from Trinity College in 2006, where he was a member of the Men’s Tennis Team. He is an avid outdoorsman and lives with his family in Manhattan Beach, California.
12:21 PM
CONNOR HALEY
Founder and Managing Partner,
Alta Fox Capital
Biography
Before founding Alta Fox, Connor was an Analyst at Scopia Capital Management LP (2014-2017), a New York-based long/short investment firm founded in 2001. Connor graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with an A.B. in government. While working towards his degree, Connor was CIO and President of the Harvard Financial Analyst Club and ran a small cap investing blog, thevariantview.com.
12:33 PM
DAVID SEMENZA
Co-Founder, Islander Capital
Biography
Prior to founding Islander Capital, David was a Partner and Senior Managing Director at Matrix Capital Management. He led investments for internet, media, and payments sectors while playing a major role in guiding the research process, recruiting, talent development, and investor relations. He joined Matrix’s Boston Office in 2010 and was named partner in 2012. In 2014, Mr. Semenza opened and led Matrix’s Palo Alto office. He worked closely with Matrix’s founder, David Goel, to help grow the firm from $600M to $8BN in assets under management.
Before joining Matrix, he spent three years at Cerberus Capital Management (New York City) focusing on private equity and distressed credit investments during the Global Financial Crisis. There he learned how to invest across-the-capital structure, and how to protect against downside risk.
David graduated from Brown University with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics – Economics. He was a four-year member of the Varsity Soccer team and played semi-professional soccer during his undergraduate summers.
12:46 PM
ALEX LERNER
Founder and CIO,
Foreword Capital
Biography
Alex received an MBA from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. He graduated with honors and holds a B.A. from Stanford University.
SOHN SAN FRANCISCO INVESTMENT CONFERENCE
1:30 – 5:00 PM – Grand Ballroom A – Street Level
SOHN SAN FRANCISCO INVESTMENT CONFERENCE
1:30 – 5:00 PM – Grand Ballroom A – Street Level
1:30 PM
OPENING REMARKS
SETH BLACKMAN,
President, Excellence in Investment in Children’s Causes Foundation
Seth Blackman, Excellence in Investment in Children’s Causes Foundation
Seth is a partner based in KPMG’s San Francisco office and serves as the Bay Area’s Asset Management Practice Leader. In his role, Seth is responsible for leading the firm’s hedge fund, venture capital, private equity, and real estate sectors in the Bay Area. Seth works with both domestic and international clients within the alternative investment sector, including fund of funds. He has extensive experience with various investment products, strategies and structures where he provides clients with key considerations and best practices. Seth is an audit partner and member of the firm’s national leadership committee contributing to the growth and development of its asset management practice.
1:30 PM
OPENING REMARKS
SETH BLACKMAN
President, Excellence in Investment in Children’s Causes Foundation
Biography
Seth is a partner based in KPMG’s San Francisco office and serves as the Bay Area’s Asset Management Practice Leader. In his role, Seth is responsible for leading the firm’s hedge fund, venture capital, private equity, and real estate sectors in the Bay Area. Seth works with both domestic and international clients within the alternative investment sector, including fund of funds. He has extensive experience with various investment products, strategies and structures where he provides clients with key considerations and best practices. Seth is an audit partner and member of the firm’s national leadership committee contributing to the growth and development of its asset management practice.
1:39 PM
ALEX GLESER
Portfolio Manager, TPG Public Equity Partners
Biography
1:39 PM
ALEX GLESER
Portfolio Manager, TPG Public Equity Partners
Biography
1:53 PM
SAIRA MALIK
Chief Investment Officer,
Nuveen
Biography
Saira is Nuveen’s Chief Investment Officer (CIO). In this role, she drives weekly market and investment insights and delivers client asset allocation views from across the firm’s investment teams. Saira also leads the the Global Investment Committee (GIC), bringing together Nuveen’s most senior investment leaders to deliver the best thinking and actionable portfolio allocation ideas for our clients across institutional and wealth channels. As Chair of the Equities Investment Council (EIC), she authors a quarterly market commentary. Additionally, Saira is the lead portfolio manager for the $120+ billion CREF Stock strategy and a listed portfolio manager for the $30+ billion CREF Growth and $20+ billion CREF Global Equities strategies. She also serves as the sole manager of a $5 billion global equity portfolio.
Since joining the firm in 2003, Saira has held a variety of positions. Prior to being named CIO, she was head of global equities portfolio management, and before that, head of global equities research. Previously, Saira was with JP Morgan Asset Management, where her roles included vice president/small cap growth portfolio manager and equity research analyst.
Saira holds the CFA designation and graduated with a B.S. in Economics from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and an M.S. in Finance from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She frequently appears on financial news networks such as CNBC, Bloomberg and Fox Business. Saira was named one of the LinkedIn “Top Voices in Finance” and has been profiled in Kiplinger’s and Barron’s, which ranked her among the top 100 most influential women in U.S. finance.
2:04 PM
iConnections presents:
The Allocators Perspective featuring:
ELIZABETH BURTON, CAIA
Managing Director and
Client Investment Strategist,
Goldman Sachs
Biography
Prior to joining HIERS, Ms. Burton served as Managing Director of the Quantitative Strategies Group at the Maryland State Retirement Agency. In this role, Ms. Burton was responsible for the $4.5B Absolute Return Portfolio and for risk management oversight of the $55B Plan. Ms. Burton joined the Agency in July 2016.
Previously, Ms. Burton owned William Street Advisory—a strategic advisory practice which she founded in 2013. Prior to that role, Ms. Burton was a Senior Economist and Expert Witness with Criterion Economics. Prior to that role, Ms. Burton was a Consultant at First Annapolis where she worked on M&A transactions and consulting the payments industry. Previous positions include: Co-Portfolio and Quantitative Risk Analyst with a South Africa-based fund of hedge funds, Trader (fixed income securities) for a risk management firm, and Portfolio Management Associate with a quant-focused fund of hedge funds.
Ms. Burton received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and French, cum laude, from Washington and Lee University, and her MBA in Finance, Econometrics & Statistics from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She is a Trustee of The Hill School, a private boarding school. She is also a CAIA charter holder. Ms. Burton was named one of Chief Investment Officer Magazine’s Top-40-Under-40 in June 2017. In 2019 Ms. Burton received the Industry Innovation Award for <$20B plan by Chief Investment Officer Magazine and was listed in the Power 100 in 2019, 2020, and 2021. In 2020 she was added to the list of top 1% of institutional investors by The Trusted Insight.
JUSTIN BARTON, CFA
President and Chief Investment Officer,
UCLA Investment Company
Biography
Mr. Barton began his investment career in Brown University’s investment office before joining Old Square Capital, a New York-based investment firm. He moved to London in 2011, where he worked for Investec Asset Management, an institutional investment manager. Mr. Barton has a BA degree from Princeton University and an MA in International Relations from the University of Cape Town. Mr. Barton holds an Investment Management Certificate from the CFA Society of the UK and the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.
2:38 PM
GIL SIMON
Chief Investment Officer & Managing Partner, SoMa Equity Partners
Biography
2:50 PM
DEEPAK SARPANGAL
Founder and Senior Managing Partner, Repertoire Partners
Biography
Deepak Sarpangal is the Founder and Senior Managing Partner of Repertoire Partners LP (“Repertoire”), an investment manager focused on engaged ownership of inordinately underappreciated, high-quality businesses experiencing favorable transformation.
Before founding a predecessor of Repertoire (Sarpa), Mr. Sarpangal was a Partner at Marcato Capital Management, which he joined at its inception. Previously, Mr. Sarpangal was a Principal and Consultant for Capricorn Investment Group, and investment professional with Farallon Capital Management and Goldman Sachs’ Principal Investment Area, where he also served as a portfolio company Board Observer. He began his career at Goldman Sachs as an analyst in the High Technology Group of the Investment Banking Division.
Mr. Sarpangal’s 20+ year career has been dedicated to principled and responsible management of corporate credit, private equity, and public equity investments across industries. Primarily based in North America, he has also worked in Europe and Asia, and as a governing board trustee of the Burlingame School District.
Mr. Sarpangal received an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, MA from the Stanford Graduate School of Education, and BA in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a Regents’ Scholar.
SOHN SAN FRANCISCO INVESTMENT CONFERENCE
3:30 – 5:00 PM – Grand Ballroom A – Street Level
SOHN SAN FRANCISCO INVESTMENT CONFERENCE
3:30 – 5:00 PM – Grand Ballroom A – Street Level
Segment Sponsored by:
3:34 PM
GLEN KACHER
Founder & CIO, Light Street Capital
Biography
Prior to forming Light Street, Glen joined Integral Capital Partners as a Principal in 1998 and served as a Managing Director from 2000-2010. Integral was one of the first crossover funds investing in both the public and private companies. Glen’s areas of investment focus at Integral included software, Internet, eCommerce, mobile hardware, PC hardware, security software, and networking. Glen led or co-led 46 of Integral’s venture investments during his tenure, including Agile Software, Arcsight, Epiphany, Extensity, Fortify Software, Interwoven, LogMeIn, OpenTable, and Overture/Goto.com.
Prior to joining Integral, Glen worked at Tiger Management in New York City from 1993 to 1996 as a full-time research analyst and from 1996 to 1997 as a part-time consultant while attending business school. At Tiger, Glen focused on investments in the software, video game, PC hardware, Internet, and networking industry sectors.
Glen holds an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, 1998, and a B.S. in Commerce with Distinction from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, 1993.
Glen is married to Amy Wardwell Kacher and they have three children. Glen and his kids are avid fans of the 49ers, Giants, Sharks, Warriors, and Stanford Football. Glen and Amy live with their family in Palo Alto, California.
1:53 PM
SAIRA MALIK
Chief Investment Officer,
Nuveen
Biography
Since joining the firm in 2003, Saira has held a variety of positions. Prior to being named CIO, she was head of global equities portfolio management, and before that, head of global equities research. Previously, Saira was with JP Morgan Asset Management, where her roles included vice president/small cap growth portfolio manager and equity research analyst.
Saira holds the CFA designation and graduated with a B.S. in Economics from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and an M.S. in Finance from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She frequently appears on financial news networks such as CNBC, Bloomberg and Fox Business. Saira was named one of the LinkedIn “Top Voices in Finance” and has been profiled in Kiplinger’s and Barron’s, which ranked her among the top 100 most influential women in U.S. finance.
12:21 PM
iConnections presents:
The Allocators Perspective featuring:
ELIZABETH BURTON, CAIA
Managing Director and
Client Investment Strategist,
Goldman Sachs
JUSTIN BARTON, CFA
President and Chief Investment Officer,
UCLA Investment Company
Biography
Prior to joining HIERS, Ms. Burton served as Managing Director of the Quantitative Strategies Group at the Maryland State Retirement Agency. In this role, Ms. Burton was responsible for the $4.5B Absolute Return Portfolio and for risk management oversight of the $55B Plan. Ms. Burton joined the Agency in July 2016.
Previously, Ms. Burton owned William Street Advisory—a strategic advisory practice which she founded in 2013. Prior to that role, Ms. Burton was a Senior Economist and Expert Witness with Criterion Economics. Prior to that role, Ms. Burton was a Consultant at First Annapolis where she worked on M&A transactions and consulting the payments industry. Previous positions include: Co-Portfolio and Quantitative Risk Analyst with a South Africa-based fund of hedge funds, Trader (fixed income securities) for a risk management firm, and Portfolio Management Associate with a quant-focused fund of hedge funds.
Ms. Burton received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and French, cum laude, from Washington and Lee University, and her MBA in Finance, Econometrics & Statistics from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She is a Trustee of The Hill School, a private boarding school. She is also a CAIA charter holder. Ms. Burton was named one of Chief Investment Officer Magazine’s Top-40-Under-40 in June 2017. In 2019 Ms. Burton received the Industry Innovation Award for <$20B plan by Chief Investment Officer Magazine and was listed in the Power 100 in 2019, 2020, and 2021. In 2020 she was added to the list of top 1% of institutional investors by The Trusted Insight.
Biography
Mr. Barton began his investment career in Brown University’s investment office before joining Old Square Capital, a New York-based investment firm. He moved to London in 2011, where he worked for Investec Asset Management, an institutional investment manager. Mr. Barton has a BA degree from Princeton University and an MA in International Relations from the University of Cape Town. Mr. Barton holds an Investment Management Certificate from the CFA Society of the UK and the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.
3:48 PM
JACOB RUBIN
Founder and Managing Member,
Philosophy Capital Management LLC
Biography
Prior to founding Philosophy Capital, Jacob spent six years investing at Lonestar Capital (2014-2019). Earlier in his career, he worked at JPMorgan, Macquarie, and Goldman Sachs. Jacob earned a BA in Economics-Philosophy from Columbia University (2006), an MBA from Stanford (2011), and an M.Phil. in Economics from Cambridge (2013). He lives with his wife, three children, and dog in Diablo, California.
2:38 PM
GIL SIMON
Chief Investment Officer & Managing Partner, SoMa Equity Partners
Biography
2:50 PM
DEEPAK SARPANGAL
Founder and Senior Managing Partner, Repertoire Partners
Biography
Deepak Sarpangal is the Founder and Senior Managing Partner of Repertoire Partners LP (“Repertoire”), an investment manager focused on engaged ownership of inordinately underappreciated, high-quality businesses experiencing favorable transformation.
Before founding a predecessor of Repertoire (Sarpa), Mr. Sarpangal was a Partner at Marcato Capital Management, which he joined at its inception. Previously, Mr. Sarpangal was a Principal and Consultant for Capricorn Investment Group, and investment professional with Farallon Capital Management and Goldman Sachs’ Principal Investment Area, where he also served as a portfolio company Board Observer. He began his career at Goldman Sachs as an analyst in the High Technology Group of the Investment Banking Division.
Mr. Sarpangal’s 20+ year career has been dedicated to principled and responsible management of corporate credit, private equity, and public equity investments across industries. Primarily based in North America, he has also worked in Europe and Asia, and as a governing board trustee of the Burlingame School District.
Mr. Sarpangal received an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, MA from the Stanford Graduate School of Education, and BA in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a Regents’ Scholar.
SOHN SAN FRANCISCO INVESTMENT CONFERENCE
3:30 – 5:00 PM – Grand Ballroom A – Street Level
Segment Sponsored by:
3:34 PM
GLEN KACHER
Founder & CIO, Light Street Capital
Biography
Prior to forming Light Street, Glen joined Integral Capital Partners as a Principal in 1998 and served as a Managing Director from 2000-2010. Integral was one of the first crossover funds investing in both the public and private companies. Glen’s areas of investment focus at Integral included software, Internet, eCommerce, mobile hardware, PC hardware, security software, and networking. Glen led or co-led 46 of Integral’s venture investments during his tenure, including Agile Software, Arcsight, Epiphany, Extensity, Fortify Software, Interwoven, LogMeIn, OpenTable, and Overture/Goto.com.
Prior to joining Integral, Glen worked at Tiger Management in New York City from 1993 to 1996 as a full-time research analyst and from 1996 to 1997 as a part-time consultant while attending business school. At Tiger, Glen focused on investments in the software, video game, PC hardware, Internet, and networking industry sectors.
Glen holds an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, 1998, and a B.S. in Commerce with Distinction from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, 1993.
Glen is married to Amy Wardwell Kacher and they have three children. Glen and his kids are avid fans of the 49ers, Giants, Sharks, Warriors, and Stanford Football. Glen and Amy live with their family in Palo Alto, California.
3:48 PM
JACOB RUBIN
Founder and Managing Member,
Philosophy Capital Management LLC
Biography
Prior to founding Philosophy Capital, Jacob spent six years investing at Lonestar Capital (2014-2019). Earlier in his career, he worked at JPMorgan, Macquarie, and Goldman Sachs. Jacob earned a BA in Economics-Philosophy from Columbia University (2006), an MBA from Stanford (2011), and an M.Phil. in Economics from Cambridge (2013). He lives with his wife, three children, and dog in Diablo, California.
4:14 PM
FRANKLIN PARLAMIS
Portfolio Manager and CIO, Aequim Alternative Investments
Biography
Franklin Parlamis began his career as an attorney with Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, where he was part of a small team representing the Russian government on its 1998 debt default and restructuring. Franklin also worked on domestic bankruptcies. In early 2000, Franklin joined an internal trading group at hedge fund manager Paloma Partners, which would shortly spin out and form Amaranth Advisors. At Amaranth, Franklin was responsible for roughly $1 billion in AUM, co-managing the convertible arbitrage and credit arbitrage portfolios and sole managing a book of convertible asset swaps and related structured finance packages. He was an early active participant in the credit default swap market. Franklin left Amaranth in 2005 and relocated with his family to Hawaii. In 2007, the family relocated again to the San Francisco Bay area, where he founded and managed the west-coast office for hedge fund manager Pine River Capital Management. At Pine River, Franklin oversaw roughly $600 million in AUM. He served as Portfolio Manager of the Pine River Convertibles Fund from 2009-2017, and also managed capital directly within the firm’s flagship multi-strategy product, the Pine River Fund, as well as additional capital in single-investor funds and the firm’s fixed-income specialty product, the Pine River Fixed Income Fund. Franklin was named a partner at Pine River in 2010 and departed the firm in 2017. He founded Aequim Alternative Investments in January 2018 where he also serves as Portfolio Manager and CIO. Franklin earned a BA in Mathematics and a Certificate in Russian Studies from Princeton University in 1993, a JD from Yale Law School in 1997 and an MA in Statistics from Yale School of Graduate Studies in 1997. He is married with 3 children and lives in Mill Valley, California, where Aequim’s office is located.
4:28 PM
JOSEPH R. SHAPOSHNIK
Portfolio Manager, TCW Group
Biography
4:14 PM
FRANKLIN PARLAMIS
Portfolio Manager and CIO, Aequim Alternative Investments
Biography
4:28 PM
JOSEPH R. SHAPOSHNIK
Portfolio Manager, TCW Group
Biography
4:45 PM
CLOSING REMARKS
SETH BLACKMAN,
President, Excellence in Investment in Children’s Causes Foundation
Seth Blackman, Excellence in Investment in Children’s Causes Foundation
Seth is a partner based in KPMG’s San Francisco office and serves as the Bay Area’s Asset Management Practice Leader. In his role, Seth is responsible for leading the firm’s hedge fund, venture capital, private equity, and real estate sectors in the Bay Area. Seth works with both domestic and international clients within the alternative investment sector, including fund of funds. He has extensive experience with various investment products, strategies and structures where he provides clients with key considerations and best practices. Seth is an audit partner and member of the firm’s national leadership committee contributing to the growth and development of its asset management practice.
1:30 PM
CLOSING REMARKS
SETH BLACKMAN
President, Excellence in Investment in Children’s Causes Foundation
Biography
Seth is a partner based in KPMG’s San Francisco office and serves as the Bay Area’s Asset Management Practice Leader. In his role, Seth is responsible for leading the firm’s hedge fund, venture capital, private equity, and real estate sectors in the Bay Area. Seth works with both domestic and international clients within the alternative investment sector, including fund of funds. He has extensive experience with various investment products, strategies and structures where he provides clients with key considerations and best practices. Seth is an audit partner and member of the firm’s national leadership committee contributing to the growth and development of its asset management practice.
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