2025 Conference Agenda

We are pleased to announce the Sixteenth Annual SEO Alternative Investments Conference (AICON) speakers and agenda.

(All times listed in ET)

* Indicates SEO alum
** Indicates SEO Board Member

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Pre-Conference Reception (Open to select AICON Attendees)
Please note no walk-ins, luggage or large bags will be allowed. You must show ID and be registered to attend this event.
  • Eric Doppstadt, Vice President & Chief Investment Officer, Ford Foundation
  • Vanessa Gil, Principal, Grain Management
  • William Goodloe**, President & CEO, SEO
  • Henry R. Kravis**, Co-Founder & Co-Executive Chairman, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co
  • Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation

Thursday, March 13th, 2025

8:15 AM - 9:30 AM
LP Breakfast

 

Welcome

  • William Goodloe**, President & CEO, SEO

Introduction

  • Kim Y. Lew, President & Chief Executive Officer, Columbia Investment Management Company

Fireside Chat

  • Marcelia Freeman, Investor Relations & Product Management, Clearlake Capital Group
8:45 AM
General Registration Begins
9:55 AM - 10:10 AM

 

General Welcome

  • William Goodloe**, President & CEO, SEO

Emcee

  • Charlie Tafoya*, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Chronograph
10:10 AM - 11:00 AM
Plenary Session

Fireside Chat 

  • Henry R. Kravis**, Co-Founder & Co-Executive Chairman, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co
  • Larry Fink, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, BlackRock
11:20 AM - 12:10 PM
Breakout Panels (I)

Running Concurrently

Navigating Uncertainty: Private Credit Strategies in a Shifting Economy (Breakout Room 1)

In an environment marked by rising interest rates, inflationary pressures, and economic uncertainty, private credit investors must adapt to shifting market dynamics. This panel will explore how leading fund managers and institutional investors are adjusting their strategies to mitigate risk, capitalize on dislocations, and find opportunities in a volatile credit landscape. Panelists will discuss portfolio positioning, sector resilience, and the role of private credit in today’s evolving financial ecosystem.

  • Matt Howard, Partner, Investment Funds, Kirkland & Ellis (Moderator)
  • Sandor Hau, Managing Director & President of Credit, Charlesbank
  • Nikhil Krishnan, Managing Director, Neuberger Berman
  • Arlene Shaw, Managing Director, Brightwood Capital Advisors
Navigating the Evolving Investment Landscape: Trends, Strategies, and Opportunities (Breakout Room 2)

The panel will explore opportunities in the current market that are best captured through hedge fund strategies. Topics include diverse investment approaches, market inefficiencies, risk management techniques, macroeconomic trends, and strategies for delivering alpha across various asset classes.

  • Rolando Castellanos*, Managing Director & Alternative Investment Strategist, Bank of America (Moderator)
  • Priya Kaftan, Head of Investor Relations & Product Strategy, Heard Capital
  • Jeffrey Kivitz, Partner & CIO of Canyon Capital Advisors, Canyon Partners, LLC
  • Kevin Reevey, Senior Research Analyst, Elizabeth Park Capital Management
  • Fernando Vigil*, Chief Investment Officer & Founder, Teca Partners
The New Frontier: Charting AI’s Next Chapter (Breakout Room 3)

Advances in artificial intelligence are having a massive impact across all industries and creating an unprecedented investment opportunity as well as significant risks. This panel will examine the impact artificial intelligence is having across the investment landscape.

  • Jasmine Richards, Head of Diverse Manager Investing & Managing Director, Cambridge Associates (Moderator)
  • Kenneth Chenault Jr., Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Benchstrength
  • Ian Chiu*, Managing Director, Owl Ventures
  • Chandini Jain, CEO & Co-Founder, Auquan
Elements Impacting the Evolution and Prospects in the Private Equity Industry (Breakout Room 4)

The panel will explore key factors shaping the private equity industry’s evolution and future outlook. Topics include market trends, regulatory developments, technological advancements, shifting investor priorities, and strategies for navigating challenges and opportunities in the sector.

  • Greg Jania, Global Co-Head of Private Equity, APG Asset Management (Moderator)
  • Milton Berlinski**, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Reverence Capital Partners
  • Rafael Mason*, Partner, Bain Capital
  • Joyce Schnoedl, Partner, Argand Partners
  • Chad Strader, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Red Arts Capital
12:20 PM - 1:10 PM
Breakout Panels (II)

Running Concurrently

Future-Proofing Investors’ Portfolios: Sustainability as a Competitive Advantage (Breakout Room 1)

This panel will explore how sustainability is reshaping investment strategies. Attendees will gain insights into the evolving landscape, investor expectations, and innovative approaches to sustainable investing.

  • Joanne Yoo*, Partner, Development Partners International (Moderator)
  • Charles Feutray, Vice President, Private Credit, Blue Earth Capital
  • Gilbert Garcia, CFA** *, Managing Partner & Chief Investment Officer, Garcia Hamilton & Associates
  • Abraham Tiamiyu*, Senior Portfolio Manager, APG Asset Management
  • Jimmy Yan, Head of ESG Integration, New York City Comptroller’s Office
Navigating Fundraising and Engagement with LPs (Breakout Room 2)

As the fundraising landscape becomes increasingly competitive, understanding what LPs prioritize is crucial. Hear from investor relations and fundraising professionals about effective LP engagement, breaking into a career in fundraising, and navigating fundraising cycles effectively.

  • Robert Holley*, Executive Director, Baltimore City Fire & Police Employees’ Retirement System (Moderator)
  • Rahel Ayalew, Director, Investor Relations, Thoma Bravo
  • Pamela Brylski*, MD, Head of North America Capital Formation, Helios Investment Partners
  • Shavonne Correia, Head of Investor Relations & Marketing, KPS Capital Partners
  • Dimia Fogam*, Director, Client and Product Solutions, CVC Capital Partners
The Finance of Entertainment (Breakout Room 3)

The panel will focus on the “Finance of Entertainment”. We will focus on why there has been a shift in the entertainment sector, the opportunities in the space, and how to select proper managers for the opportunity set.

  • Andrew Palmer, Chief Investment Officer, Maryland State Retirement and Pension System (Moderator)
  • Donatus Anusionwu, Managing Director, Investments, HarbourView
  • Jessica Holsey, Managing Director, GCM Grosvenor
  • Katie Moore, Managing Director, Hamilton Lane
Unlocking Value in Secondaries: Insights on Market Trends, Deal Flow, and Future Opportunities (Breakout Room 4)

The panel will explore the key factors influencing the growth and future trajectory of Secondary investments. Topics include market dynamics, risk management strategies, evolving investor perspectives, and the potential opportunities and challenges in these sectors of alternative investments.

  • Chirag H. Shah*, Managing Director, Campbell Lutyens (Moderator)
  • Trey Muldrow, Partner, Weil, Gotshal & Manges
  • Simon Oak, Managing Director, Lexington Partners
  • Kaitlyn Shao, Vice President, HarbourVest
  • Nicole Washington, Partner, Investment Funds, Kirkland & Ellis
1:20 PM - 1:40 PM
Lunch & SEO Reginald F. Lewis Award

Introduction

  • William Goodloe**, President & CEO, SEO

Presented By

  • Christina Lewis, Founder, Beatrice Advisors, Founder, BFO21, and Vice Chair, Reginald F. Lewis Foundation

Presented To 

  • Verdun S. Perry** *, Global Head, Blackstone Strategic Partners, Blackstone
1:40 PM - 2:20 PM
Lunch & SEO Reginald F. Lewis Award

Fireside Chat 

  • Verdun S. Perry** *, Global Head, Blackstone Strategic Partners, Blackstone
  • Derek Jones, Vice Chairman, Private Equity Investments, GCM Grosvenor
2:20 PM - 3:10 PM
Plenary Session

Navigating a New Credit Landscape: Risks and Opportunities in 2025

  • Elizabeth Reed, Partner & Global Head of the Equity Syndicate Desk, Goldman Sachs
  • Kim Trick, Partner & Co-Chief Credit Officer, TPG Twin Brook Capital Partners
3:30 PM - 4:20 PM
Breakout Panels (III)

Running Concurrently

Breaking Into the Buyside (Breakout Room 1)

An insightful discussion around uncovering and landing job opportunities within the Alternative Investments sector. With the space becoming increasingly competitive, learning the industry landscape and developing a blueprint for navigating the recruiting process are key to securing these opportunities.

  • Taj Clayton**, Partner, Litigation, Kirkland & Ellis (Moderator)
  • Omaira Brightman, Partner, Amity Search Partners
  • Eliza Lupone, Vice President, Warburg Pincus
  • Martha Masiarz, Director, Odyssey Search Partners
  • Nellie McCullough, PrincipalHenkel Search Partners
The Evolving Real Estate Landscape: Opportunities in a Post-Pandemic World (Breakout Room 2)

The real estate market has undergone profound changes in the wake of the pandemic, reshaping demand across residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use sectors. This panel will explore the evolving trends and emerging opportunities in real estate.

  • Dev Subhash, Partner, Stepstone (Moderator)
  • Avi Banyasz, Partner & Co-Head of TPG Real Estate, TPG
  • Anar Chudgar, Co-President, Artemis Real Estate Partners
  • David Lehman, Managing Director, HPS Investment Partners
  • Steven E. Orbuch, Founder & President of Sculptor Real Estate, Sculptor Capital
Emerging Managers: Navigating Challenges and Building Success Beyond Established Funds (Breakout Room 3)

The panel will explore the key challenges faced by Emerging Managers as they break out on their own, including sourcing, closing, and managing transactions successfully. Topics include maintaining stellar track records without the infrastructure of an established fund, navigating investor expectations, and strategies for building a strong foundation for long-term success.

  • Patricia Miller Zollar, Managing Director, Neuberger Berman (Moderator)
  • Kathryn Gernert, Head of the Emerging Manager Program, Texas Permanent School Fund
  • Joseph Haslip, Managing Director, Valor Equity Partners
  • Eric Requenez, Partner, Ropes & Gray
  • André Rice, President, Muller & Monroe Asset Management
Navigating the Capital Imbalance: How Private Credit Can Meet Today’s Market Needs (Breakout Room 4)

The panel will explore the key factors shaping the role of private credit in today’s market. Topics include the growing demand for flexible financing solutions, the impact of rising interest rates on deal structures, credit risk management techniques, the role of private credit in portfolio diversification, and the challenges and opportunities arising from regulatory changes and market liquidity.

  • Ramsey Smith** *, Founder, ALEX.fyi (Moderator)
  • Clara Fagan*, Principal, Ariel Alternatives
  • Amanda Lynam, Managing Director, Head of Macro Credit Research, BlackRock
  • Jessica Marlin, Partner, Ropes & Gray
  • Josh Swidler, Managing Director & Co-CIO – Credit, Reverence Capital Partners
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Closing Remarks & Networking Cocktail Reception
All Day

Networking

1:1 LP/GP Meetings

* Indicates SEO alum
** Indicates SEO Board Member