Henry R. Kravis and Kenneth C. Griffin Headline SEO’s 11th Annual Alternative Investments Conference

On March 4, 2020, more than 630 individuals gathered at the New York City Hilton Midtown to attend one of SEO’s largest events of the year. SEO’s AICON is designed to increase access and career development at every point of the investing chain for professionals from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in alternative investments. Conference attendees seized the opportunity to network with and hear from more than 100 speakers and panelists at the day-long conference.

“We’ve developed something that cuts across all areas of alternative investments and continues to grow each year,” says William Goodloe, President and CEO of SEO. Since the inaugural AICON, attendees have more than doubled in quantity.

The conference offers attendees the chance to hear the insights of prominent leaders from private equity, hedge funds, real estate, infrastructure, venture capital, limited partners, fund of funds, emerging managers, family offices, and recruiting firms. SEO’s AICON works to demystify the alternative investments sector and allow younger professionals to break into the industry. Moreover, the conference allows for participants to foster new business relationships or deepen existing ones, which SEO facilitates through the organization of more than 100 1:1 LP:GP meetings throughout the day.

Every year, SEO presents the Reginal F. Lewis award to one recipient at AICON. This year, Loida N. Lewis, Chair of the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, and William Goodloe presented the award to Kelly Williams, Chair and Co-CEO of the Private Equity Women Investor Network. The Reginald F. Lewis Achievement Award was created in 2014 by SEO with the support of the Lewis family to honor an individual or institution whose achievements and leadership has expanded opportunities for professionals of color in the alternative investments sector. The award was presented to Kelly for her accomplishments and leadership in helping to expand opportunities in the alternative investments sector.

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William Goodloe welcomes attendees to the 2020 Alternative Investments Conference

SEO Alumnus Vern Perry interviews Kelly Williams, RFL Award Winner, in a Fireside Chat

More than 630 attendees at the 2020 SEO AICON

Jase Auby, Chief Investment Officer, Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), and Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Global Wealth Management and Senior Client Advisor, Morgan Stanley in a Fireside Chat

Loida N. Lewis, Chair, Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, award presenter with Kelly Williams, Chair and Co-CEO, Private Equity Women Investor Network, award recipient, and William Goodloe, President and CEO, SEO, award presenter