• How do we manage the volatile state of the market?
• Cutting rates – what does the future look like? What do we do?
• How do we support smaller players to maintain healthy competition in the market?
• In a time of fee pressure and consolidation, how do you survive?
• How do you make your career in a shrinking market work?

Moderator: Liz Skinner, Special Projects Editor, Investment News

Barbara Ann Bernard, Founder and CIO, Wincrest Capital 

Shundrawn Thomas, President, Northern Trust Asset Management

• What is the current state of asset classes following the Corona Pandemic –
• Which sectors/asset classes will investors stick with for steady returns and which will they shy away from?
• How do you manage the increased volatility and risks that 2020 still has in store (2020 election, recession, Brexit, US trade relations)?
• What is not already priced into the market that is worth focusing on, given the increased volatility?
• Has investor behavior changed following the pandemic and is there a ‘new norm’?

Moderator: Gordian Kemen, Head of EM Sovereign Strategy (West), Standard Chartered Bank

Shamaila Khan, Head-EM Debt Strategies, AllianceBernstein

Anne Mathias, Senior Strategist – Global Macro, Rates, Foreign Currency, Vanguard

Blerina Uruci, US Economist, Director, Barclays Investment Bank

• Is the asset management industry late to the tech game? 
• Addressing the importance of being proactive and not reactive with technology in light of global challenges 
• Which asset management firms are ‘swimming’ and what have they done differently? 
• Learns learned from agile FinTech innovators and how they adapted in this pandemic 
• Where do quant tools play a part and how to use them effectively 

Vrinda Menon, Asset and Wealth Management Technology, JPMorgan Chase & Co. 

• Is the asset management industry late to the tech game?
• Addressing the importance of being proactive and not reactive with technology in light of global challenges
• Which asset management firms are ‘swimming’ and what have they done differently?
• Learns learned from agile FinTech innovators and how they adapted in this pandemic
• Where do quant tools play a part and how to use them effectively
• How can it support a changing working environment?
  • What tech and company policies have now been put in place?
  • How have peer perceptions changed and how are we managing this change?

• Diversity through the regulatory lens—background on different country approaches to address lack of diversity and the challenges and opportunities they present
• Does a top-down drive to promote diversity accomplish anything more than a ‘tick the box’ exercise?  We debate the pros and cons as it is not clear-cut
• Using examples from other fields like the Rooney Rule (football), desegregation of schools (as an example of forced inclusion), proportional representation guaranteed by the Indian constitution

Moderator: Cheryl Cole, Editor, DiversityQ

Heidi Ridley, Co-Founder and CEO, Radiant ESG

Kathryn McDonald, Co-Founder – Head of Investments and Sustainability, Radiant ESG

Tali Shlomo, Former Global People Engagement Director, Chartered Insurance Institute/ Personal Finance Society 

Justin Onuekwusi, Fund Manager – Head of Retail Multi-Asset Funds, Legal & General Investment Management 

• During Covid-19, how did your team members responded and adapt? Were there surprises? Did individuals find a ‘new’ voice?
• Who thrived and why?
• Have new management styles been adopted? Is there a new team dynamic?
• Post Covid-19, have these individuals regressed to old habits?
• How as leaders can you continue to develop your voice and that of those around you in physical or digital settings?

Moderator: Justine Phoenix, Head of Diversity Project North America, Nicsa

Niamh Fitzgerald, Managing Director – Head of Client Management, BMO Global Asset Management U.S.

Paul Olschwanger, Associate Partner, Strategic Initiatives & Human Capital Development, Aon

• Views on what it takes to succeed in investing
• Why Passive may prove to be a “penny wise pound foolish trade” in the next decade
• How to turn your passion into your profession and break through the glass ceiling on Wall Street 

Rupal Bhansali, CIO of Global Equities, Ariel Investments

• Is the asset management industry late to the tech game?
• Addressing the importance of being proactive and not reactive with technology in light of global challenges
• Which asset management firms are ‘swimming’ and what have they done differently?
• Learns learned from agile FinTech innovators and how they adapted in this pandemic
• Where do quant tools play a part and how to use them effectively
• How can it support a changing working environment?
  • What tech and company policies have now been put in place?
  • How have peer perceptions changed and how are we managing this change?

• What is greenwashing? Why is it a concern?
• Explain the differences between ethical, sustainable, ESG, and responsible investing.
• How important are screens/filters? How should these be used by fund selectors (If at all)?
• Greenwash red flags – Challenging companies on greenwashing – who is responsible for calling them out?
• Reminding you of the importance of research

Moderator: Matt Orsagh, Director of Capital Markets Policy and Head of ESG Thought Leadership Development, CFA Institute

Anita Baldwin, VP & Managing Director, Head of Research & Sustainable Investing, Hartford Funds

Lori Keith, Portfolio Manager, Parnassus Investments

• AUM in active ESG products and passive ESG products. Which is growing faster? How many products have been/are being launched?
• What are the hurdles a passive provider faces in providing an ESG product?
• How can they overcome these?
• Where is it appropriate to use a passive ESG product over an active product (and vice versa). For example, some ETFs have broad exposure to a theme where a fund selector requires exposure to the sector overall, and not be interested in trying to pick the winners (as an active manager would).
• How will the passive space evolve from an ESG perspective? 

There continues to be a shortage of diverse talent in the industry and that the root of this problem starts in schools where students decide not to pursue STEM subjects, however, the industry needs a solution to their pipeline problem right now!

• Establishing what leaders/companies should be looking for in a candidate
  – What new skills are now in need? Are we looking for technologists instead?
  – Have the required skills changed in light of the pandemic? What are we looking for now?
• Identifying ‘untapped’ pools of talent and why they are great candidates for your teams
• Where can we find potential candidates with work experience
  – What about returners, existing employees, industry converters, veterans, etc.?

• Quantifying the impact of the pandemic on the workforce
• Evaluating the impacts and perceptions regarding layoffs, reduced pay, and forced sabbaticals and annual leave
• How have these measures impacted employees and employers alike?
• Post-pandemic – what did companies do first? What happened to the people?
• How do you regain trust, loyalty, and move forward?

Moderator: Kristen McGachey, Senior Reporter – Portfolio Advisor, Last Word Media

Gladys Xiques, Senior Vice President, Deputy CCO, The TCW Group

“There is a shortage of talent in the industry.” Is this true? Or is it rather that we have the talent but that they are not afforded the opportunity? Our panelists will debate this statement and demonstrate exactly where we can find the talented individuals we have been looking for.

• Establishing what leaders/companies should be looking for in a candidate
  • What new skills are now in need? Are we looking for technologists instead?
  • Have the required skills changed in light of the pandemic? What are we looking for now?
• Identifying ‘untapped’ pools of talent and why they are great candidates for your teams
• Where can we find potential candidates with work experience?
  • What about returners, existing employees, industry converters, veterans, etc.?

Moderator: Cheryl Cole, Editor, DiversityQ

Katherine Relle, Portfolio Manager, J.P.Morgan Asset Management

Mila Skulkina, Portfolio Manager Emerging Markets Fixed Income, Lord Abbett & Co.

Educating, inspiring and nurturing the future talent pool to pursue finance subjects is key to overcoming the deficit we are currently facing. During this session, speakers and our special panelists will address:

• The perception, concerns and doubts regarding the finance world
• Why our speakers and attendees enjoy the roles and the industry they are working in
• The benefits and important roles female professionals play in our futures
• How our asset management leaders can do more to support change initiatives
• Discussing the next steps and continuity – Internships; training programs; mentorship
• Action points for all industry professionals to support early-stage initiatives

Alana Neptune, Partner Engagement Coordinator, Rock the Street Wall Street

• Discussing the key takeaways from this inaugural summit 
• What topics would you like to hear about at the WIAM NY 2021 Summit? 
• Tweet your pledge: Making your pledge for change
  • Given the content and insights shared, attendees are asked to pledge an act of change 
  • What actionable takeaway will you do first? 

• Discussing the key takeaways from this inaugural summit 
• What topics would you like to hear about at the WIAM NY 2021 Summit? 
• Tweet your pledge: Making your pledge for change
  • Given the content and insights shared, attendees are asked to pledge an act of change 
  • What actionable takeaway will you do first?