Deb Clarke was Global Research Chair and Global Head of Investment Research at Mercer for close to 16 years, following an extensive career in asset management and consulting which included 20 years as a portfolio manager.  She retired from her position at Mercer in June 2021 and is building a portfolio career, including a NED role on the EMEA board of Blackrock and a member of the UK CFA Institute Advisory Board. She is an active speaker on the conference circuit and has been voted in the FN 100 Most Influential Women in Asset Management in 6 of the last 9 years.   Our conversation tracks Deb’s career progression, what drove her move to London, and later to Chicago for a few years.  We talk about what led her to a research role, her investment beliefs as well as the advice that she gives to younger career professionals.  My favorite part of this podcast was the time we spent discussing Deb’s prodigious craft collection – as an avid quilter as well as a cross stitch and crochet expert, and I deliberately recorded a video so that we could showcase some of Deb’s masterpieces – see the linked video on Linked In.  This may be a skill that is in shorter and shorter supply now, but hear how Deb’s heartfelt creations put the S in sustainability and recycle meaningful strands of lives lived into a gorgeous portfolio.