Thomas Knowles is Managing Partner of Gratitude Railroad. Gratitude Railroad is a community driven impact investing firm championing innovative businesses that generate compelling financial returns and enduring impact.
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243. Kelly Chesney of Pluscios Management: Solving for Absolute Return – From Abundance to Scarcity and Back Again
Kelly Chesney is principal and co-founder of Pluscios Management, a fund of hedge funds manager based in the Chicago area. The firm, founded in 2006, has two female founders, and we interviewed Connie Teska, the other founder, in this earlier episode of the Fiftyfaces Podcast. She has a long history in investment management, particularly in the area of funds of hedge funds, investing and consulting and started her career as an attorney.
Bonus: Richard Okello of Sango Capital – From Radical Candor to Opportunity in Abundance
Richard Okello is CEO and Co-founder at Sango Capital, an investment firm he founded 10 years ago that has a particular focus on investing in Africa. He previously was a principal at Makena Capital, and prior to that in a series of roles at Bridgewater Associates. He sits on several fund advisory boards, portfolio company boards as well as the boards of the African Leadership Foundation and Human Horizons Foundation.
Connie Teska – A Founder with Experience in Abundance
Connie Teska is principal and co-founder of Pluscios Management, a fund of hedge funds manager based in the Chicago area. Pluscios is a Greek term meaning wealth, abundance, and riches, and the firm, founded in 2006, has two female founders. She has a long history in investment management, particularly in the area of alternative investments.
Our conversation returns to Connie’s Greek roots, and what growing in a family of entrepreneurs and small business owners taught her about work ethic, resilience, and respect for knowing what goes on “in the weeds.” We move to her banking career, and what inspired her to start a firm.
324. Lauren Juliff of Storebrand: Sustaining science and joy in the world of investing
Lauren Juliff is Climate and Sustainability Product Lead and Head of UK Institutional at Storebrand Asset Management UK. Her educational background is in science and she has a MSc in Climate Change: Environment, Science and Policy. We start our conversation with Lauren’s background and a passion for dance that she has carried throughout her life. We mention this as a reminder to take time to nurture health, and joy, even in the small moments.
Series 4 of 2025 – Trailer: From from Santiago to Salt Lake City – Tales that Endure
It has been an exciting summer, but we have managed to squeeze in a set of global guests for Series 4 of our 2025 Fiftyfaces Podcast – which takes us from the evolving world of hedge funds and the support infrastructure needed, to emerging market equities to late-stage venture capital to public pension pooling.
321. Lisa Laird of Mercy Investments: On the importance of Kindness as a Path to Impact
Lisa Laird is CIO at Mercy Investment Services in St. Louis. She has previously held senior strategist roles as well as other healthcare leadership roles, and currently holds a number of additional board roles.
42. Taryn Talley: Why Validity Comes from Within
Taryn Talley is a marketer with over 20 years of experience, who is currently Head of Marketing at an agency Position 2. She has had numerous marketing roles across the digital and traditional spectrum.
276. Wendy Li of Ivy Invest: A Founder’s Journey, AI and the Human Touch
Wendy Li is the co-founder and CIO of Ivy Invest, a FinTech asset management firm. She previously worked in the investment office of the endowment of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. In our discussion we start with her immigrant background in Pennsylvania, and her ascent through studying finance to a role in an allocator.
275. Jennifer Ryan of Lazard Asset Management: The Art and Science of Distribution
Jennifer Ryan is Head of North American Distribution at Lazard Asset Management. She previously was Head of UK Institutional Sales at BlackRock and Head of the US Institutional Pensions at Blackrock, and started her career at Goldman Sachs.
In our conversation we tackle the craft of fund distribution, and Jennifer highlights the importance of understanding client ecosystems, building trust, and adapting to evolving client needs. She stresses the significance of team-based approaches and mentorship in her success.