Explore every episode of the podcast RPM - Reflections on Private Markets
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Now is the time for infrastructure secondaries with Tim Rees | 02 Jul 2025 | 00:24:37 | |
In this episode of RPM, Tim Rees, a London-based Partner on StepStone’s Infrastructure and Real Assets team, joins co-host Michael Venne to discuss the rapid growth of infrastructure secondaries and why the market is gaining momentum. They cover:
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| Spring 2025 Real Estate House Views with Jeff Giller and Margaret McKnight | 26 Jun 2025 | 00:15:07 | |
In this episode of RPM, Jeff Giller, Partner and Head of Real Estate, and Margaret McKnight, Partner and Head of Portfolio Solutions for StepStone Real Estate, rejoin co-host Maribel Yoo to discuss our Spring 2025 House Views on the state of the real estate market. They cover:
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| Spring 2024 Real Estate House Views with Jeff Giller and Margaret McKnight | 07 Jun 2024 | 00:13:47 | |
In this episode of RPM, Jeff Giller, Partner and Head of Real Estate, and Margaret McKnight, Partner and Head of Portfolio Solutions for StepStone Real Estate, rejoin co-host Maribel Yoo to discuss our Spring 2024 House Views on the state of the real estate market. They cover:
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| Real estate secondaries with Jeff Giller and Margaret McKnight | 15 Feb 2024 | 00:17:03 | |
In this episode of RPM, co-host Maribel Yoo hands the mic to Margaret McKnight, Partner and Head of Portfolio Solutions for Real Estate, to interview Jeff Giller, Partner Head of StepStone Real Estate, about our recent whitepaper, Bull market for real estate secondaries. They discuss:
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| Uncovering hidden value in European private equity with Akhilan, Thomas and Carlos | 09 Feb 2024 | 00:19:46 | |
In this episode of RPM, Akhilan Nesaratnam, Thomas Dupont and Carlos Sahuquillo from our private equity team in London join co-host Michael Venne to discuss Europe’s private equity landscape. The conversation surrounds common misconceptions about Europe’s investment opportunities, unpacking four key European sectors and the topics of our recent papers: European small and middle market buyouts, the Nordic region, European growth equity and European healthcare. They discuss:
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| Unlocking infrastructure’s Middle Market with Todd Lapenna and Sean Ebsary | 22 Jan 2024 | 00:13:01 | |
In this episode of RPM, Todd Lapenna and Sean Ebsary from our infrastructure team, join co-host Michael Venne to discuss infrastructure’s middle market following the release of our recent whitepaper, Infrastructure’s Middle Market: An emerging opportunity. They touch on topics including:
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| Fall 2023 Real Estate House Views with Jeff Giller and Margaret McKnight | 23 Nov 2023 | 00:12:59 | |
In this episode of RPM, Jeff Giller, Partner and Head of Real Estate, and Margaret McKnight, Partner and Head of Portfolio Solutions for Real Estate, rejoin co-host Maribel Yoo to discuss our Fall 2023 House Views on the state of the real estate market. They cover:
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| Building a private debt portfolio with Christian Frei | 17 Nov 2023 | 00:17:32 | |
In this episode of RPM, Christian Frei, StepStone head of risk joins Michael Venne to discuss some of the main insights from StepStone's recent collaboration with GIC: a whitepaper that provides an overview of private debt investment opportunities and a framework for building an optimal private debt portfolio. They cover a range of topics including:
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| Carbon markets with Suzanne Tavill & Ryan Ramsey | 15 Nov 2023 | 00:26:28 | |
In this episode of RPM, Michael and Maribel hand the reins to StepStone’s natural capital team for a primer on carbon markets and offsetting. Though these markets are imperfect and subject to criticisms—some of which we agree with—ultimately, we believe carbon markets are part of the climate solution. Join StepStone’s global head of responsible investment, Suzanne Tavill, and Ryan Ramsey, a principal on StepStone’s infrastructure team as they cover a range of topics from:
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| Inflation Reduction Act: Where are we really? ft. Bhavika Vyas and Julio Friedmann | 11 Oct 2023 | 00:24:45 | |
In this episode of RPM, we’re continuing our conversation about the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). More than a year out from the Act’s passing, details of the tax laws and mechanisms for deployment are being finalized. Joining co-host Maribel Yoo to revisit this topic is Bhavika Vyas, managing director and member of the responsible investment team at StepStone and special guest Julio Friedmann, Chief Scientist at Carbon Direct. Our guests cover:
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| Private Debt Secondaries with John Bohill | 12 Jul 2023 | 00:15:48 | |
In this episode of RPM, John Bohill, a partner on our private debt team, joins co-host Michael Venne to discuss the rapid growth and evolution of private debt's secondary market. Among other things, they cover: - Nuances characterizing this market (01:14); - Private debt as a liquidity tool (03:09); - Discounts being half the picture (04:54); - Data’s role in mitigating risk (08:59) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Fabian Körzendörfer: Relative Attractiveness of Direct Lending | 15 Jun 2023 | 00:13:17 | |
As bond yields have risen, some investors have been questioning whether direct lending (DL) offers the same value proposition as it once did, but yields are only part of the equation. In this episode of RPM, Fabian Körzendörfer, a Managing Director on our private debt team, joins co-host Maribel Yoo to discuss how direct lending may offer attractive risk-adjusted returns. They discuss:
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| Responsible use in DUT and defense investing with Suzanne Tavill and Brooke Latham | 11 Jun 2025 | 00:25:05 | |
This episode of RPM features Suzanne Tavill, Partner and Head of Responsible Investment at StepStone, in conversation with Brooke Latham, Head of Sustainability at the NATO Innovation Fund. They explore what it means to invest responsibly in dual-use technologies, with a focus on the evolving concept of “responsible use.”
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| Jeff Giller and Margaret McKnight: Spring 2023 Real Estate House Views | 24 Apr 2023 | 00:12:32 | |
In this episode of RPM, Jeff Giller, Partner and Head of Real Estate, and Margaret McKnight, Partner and Head of Portfolio Solutions for Real Estate join co-host Maribel Yoo to discuss our recently released Spring 2023 House Views. They discuss:
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| Why Now’s the Time to Lean in to SBO | 15 Mar 2023 | 00:24:02 | |
When the economy shrinks, institutions tend to seek reassurance from larger, more established private equity fund managers. This comes at the expense of small, emerging and by extension, diverse managers, which some regard as riskier than their larger, “more proven” counterparts. In this episode of RPM, Daniel Krikorian, a principal on our private equity team, joins co-host Michael Venne to discuss why investors should fight the urge to cut back on SBO and if anything, lean in. They discuss:
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| Building to Zero, Inflation Reduction Act, a platform for growth | 12 Mar 2023 | 00:30:54 | |
In this episode of RPM, Bhavika Vyas, managing director and member of the Responsible Investing Team, as well as special guest Julio Friedmann, chief scientist at Carbon Direct, join co-host Maribel Yoo to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). They cover:
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| NAV Lending for Institutional Portfolios: Lisa Larsson | 28 Feb 2023 | 00:14:02 | |
In this episode of RPM, Lisa Larsson, managing director on our portfolio management team, joins co-host Michael Venne to discuss the recently trending net asset value (NAV) lending. They discuss:
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| Bob Long: Improving Access to Private Markets | 02 Feb 2023 | 00:22:00 | |
Over the next five years, private capital assets under management are projected to grow from $10 trillion to $17 trillion. One of the leading reasons: the individual investor. In this episode of RPM, Bob Long, CEO of StepStone Private Wealth joins Michael Venne to discuss this trend. Among other things they cover:
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| Aditya Raina and Laura White: The 2023 Private Equity Outlook | 30 Jan 2023 | 00:25:28 | |
In this episode of RPM, Aditya Raina and Laura White, two members of our Private Equity team, join co-host Maribel Yoo to discuss StepStone’s 2023 outlook for private equity. They discuss:
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| Nature-based investing: Suzanne Tavill | 24 Jan 2023 | 00:32:19 | |
Nature provides the building blocks for civilization, arable soil, air and water filtration, ore and minerals for extraction, and economic and recreational opportunities. In almost any other context, you would expect to pay for these services. But with nature, we are wont to expect these things for nothing. Hence the title for the white paper we released late last year, “We don't value nature.”
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| Ariel Goldblatt and Mark Tsang: The 2023 Private Debt Outlook | 24 Jan 2023 | 00:13:32 | |
In this episode of RPM, Ariel Goldblatt and Mark Tsang, senior members of our private debt team join co-host Maribel Yoo to discuss StepStone’s 2023 outlook for private debt. They discuss:
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| John Avirett : VC Market Landscape | 17 Oct 2022 | 00:19:38 | |
In this episode of RPM, John Avirett, a partner on our venture capital and growth equity team discusses the venture capital ecosystem as we navigate this challenging economic environment. With the right market conditions, and venture capital’s ability to navigate volatile markets, perhaps now is the time to take a closer look at this strategy. We discuss:
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| Qi Liu: Daily Valuation Engine | 22 Aug 2022 | 00:20:40 | |
In this episode of RPM, Qi Liu from our data, science and engineering team discusses one of our newest tools – the daily valuation engine (DVE). Typically, private market investors must wait anywhere from two to four months after quarter end to see how the value of their portfolios has changed; DVE, as the name implies, allows them to make this estimate well before general partners report. Among other things, we discuss:
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| The future of Responsible AI with Suzanne Tavill and Paul Fehlinger | 23 Apr 2025 | 00:25:16 | |
In this episode of RPM, Suzanne Tavill, Partner and Head of Responsible Investment at StepStone, is joined by special guest Paul Fehlinger, Director of Policy Innovation and Impact at Project Liberty Institute to discuss Responsible AI, the opportunities and challenges that come with it, and why what we see right now is just the tip of the technology iceberg. They cover:
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| John Coelho - Growth equity | 18 Jul 2022 | 00:17:00 | |
In this episode of RPM, we're talking about growth equity with partner John Coelho.
Because growth contains parts of both buyouts and VC, and it is in a strong position to benefit from technological tailwinds, it should be an important part of any well rounded private equity portfolio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Christian Frei - Geopolitical uncertainty | 13 Jun 2022 | 00:21:19 | |
The Ukraine crisis has taken a more negative turn than we would have hoped. While it becomes clearer what Russia's objectives may be, considerable uncertainty remains. In our twentieth episode, StepStone Partner and Head of Risk, Christian Frei, discusses this uncertainty and how private markets are faring. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Ryan Ramsey: Agriculture | 04 May 2022 | 00:26:22 | |
In this episode of RPM, we're talking about one of the oldest industries in the world—Agriculture. From inflation concerns (4:15) and the boom in venture-capital-backed technologies (12:46) to the rise of natural capital (15:40) and the democratization of private markets (21:30), “Ag” is having a moment. Joining us to discuss these topics and more is Ryan Ramsey, a principal on our infrastructure & real assets team based in Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Nitin Malik: Developing Your People | 08 Mar 2022 | 00:13:09 | |
In the 18th episode of RPM—Reflections on Private Markets, StepStone's Head of Talent Development Nitin Malik joins co-host Michael Venne to discuss the importance of culture in today's white-hot labor market. They discuss a number of topics including what L&D says about a company's culture (2:09); the nexus between L&D and diversity equity & inclusion (4:20); and what HR teams have learned from TikTok (6:03). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Marc-Andre Mittermayer & Marc Lickes: Insurance Companies | 25 Feb 2022 | 00:14:19 | |
In the 17th episode of RPM—Reflections on Private Markets, senior members of our private debt team, Marc-Andre Mittermayer and Marc Lickes join co-host Michael Venne to discuss insurance companies--namely, the reasons they are looking for alternatives to fixed-income investments (2:11); how private markets can help them meet their myriad investment-related goals (5:29); the affect regulatory policy has on an insurer's investment options (7:05); and some of the traits insurers should look for in an investment manager or advisor (9:30). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Ariel Goldblatt and Mark Tsang: The 2022 Private Debt Outlook | 02 Feb 2022 | 00:12:10 | |
In the 16th episode of RPM—Reflections on Private Markets, senior members of our private debt team, Ariel Goldblatt and Mark Tsang, join co-host Graziella Scassillo to discuss the outlook for private debt. They discuss the asset class's performance history (00:31); how managers have responded to fiscal and monetary intervention (2:08); how markets differ region to region (3:06); how liquidity needs of borrowers and lenders alike create investment opportunities (07:04); and tools for navigating the market going forward (10:14). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Aditya Raina: The 2022 Private Equity Outlook | 15 Jan 2022 | 00:17:17 | |
In the 15th episode of RPM—Reflections on Private Markets, Aditya Raina , a principal on our private equity team summarizes the firm's 2022 outlook for private equity. He and co-host Michael Venne discuss the fundraising environment (1:10); the continuous growth of IT and software and the importance of partnering with sector specialists (5:48); how GPs are responding to price inflation (10:00); why we believe valuations are likely to moderate over the short run (14:00); and the importance of manager selection, regardless of private equity's relative outperformance as a whole (15:50). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Margaret Kuhlow: Bridging the Worlds of Nature and Finance | 10 Nov 2021 | 00:24:59 | |
In part four of RPM's climate change special, Suzanne Tavill, StepStone head of responsible investment, hosts Margaret Kuhlow, Global Finance Practise Leader for WWF, to explain why today biodiversity and climate change have to be considered as interrelated systems and why this topic is relevant for our global economy (00:45). Margaret leads us through goals and plans defined by the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (06:53); WWF’s perspective on this framework (11:30); and how biodiversity can be incorporated into the evaluation and valuation of financial assets (15:28). To conclude, Margaret explores WWF findings about the abovementioned interrelationships (19:25). You can find reports and studies mentioned in the podcast on our show page. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Jean-Marc Champagne: Filling the Funding Gap In Nature-Based Investing | 25 Oct 2021 | 00:20:48 | |
In part three of RPM's climate change special, Jean-Marc Champagne the head of bankable nature solutions at the WWF, joins StepStone's head of responsible investment, Suzanne Tavill, to discuss new ways of bringing private sector capital into the natural capital sector. They discuss why the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures could be a gamechanger for biodiversity (4:00); why bankable nature solutions are critical to filling the fund gap in conservation (5:40); concrete examples that prove nature-based solutions entail more than just forestry or sustainable agriculture (11:40); and how the WWF and its partners are redefining the concept of seed financing (16:35). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Carl Prins: Carbon Footprinting & Going Net Zero | 08 Oct 2021 | 00:22:23 | |
In part two of RPM's climate change special, Carl Prins, the CEO of Pathzero and an expert on carbon footprinting, joins StepStone's head of responsible investment, Suzanne Tavill, to discuss some of the more technical aspects that companies pledging to go net zero will encounter. They cover the types (or "scopes") of emissions and how to measure them (4:00); how measuring portfolio-level emissions helps GPs think about long-term risks (12:12); and why setting a shadow price for carbon is critical for companies that wish to become carbon neutral (19:04). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Real Estate Liquidity Insights with Jeff Giller and Margaret McKnight | 17 Mar 2025 | 00:13:52 | |
In this episode of RPM, Jeff Giller, Partner and Head of Real Estate, and Margaret McKnight, Partner and Head of Portfolio Solutions for StepStone Real Estate, join co-host Anna Marcus to discuss our recent Real Estate Liquidity Insights report, which analyzes fund level cash flows and trends shaping liquidity in the real estate market. They cover:
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| Linda Romanovska: Europe's Sustainable Finance program and drive to Net Zero | 04 Oct 2021 | 00:27:07 | |
In part one of RPM's climate change special, Linda Romanovska, an expert in sustainable finance and one of the architects of the EU's climate change program, joins StepStone's head of responsible investment, Suzanne Tavill, to discuss the intricacies and finer points of the EU's climate program including its origins (1:50); how the Taxonomy, SFDR disclosure regimes, and various other policy tools work together to create the three "pillars" of the EU's sustainability framework; how the EU defines sustainability (15:18); and how new focus areas in the updated finance program including its data repository will help standardize climate reporting (17:30). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Evolution of Private Markets with Jason Ment | 19 Sep 2021 | 00:17:22 | |
In the 10th episode of RPM—Reflections on Private Markets, StepStone President and Co-COO Jason Ment discusses the history of and outlook for private markets. We discuss the secular trends behind the industry's growth and development (3:27), the ways in which the sponsor community has evolved (4:41) and how regarding LPs as long-term partners and GP-led secondaries have been part of this maturation process (8:15). Finally, he explains why he believes GPs are up to the challenge that greater oversight would entail (13:46). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Inflation, the recovery and input prices with Tom Keck | 26 Jul 2021 | 00:13:25 | |
In the 9th episode of RPM—Reflections on Private Markets, head of research and portfolio management Tom Keck summarizes current market conditions (00:30), explains how StepStone is positioned with respect to inflation and interest rate risk (02:08), discusses where the risks and opportunities post-Covid may lie (04:18), and explores what effect higher input prices and interest rates would have on private markets (07:35). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| China Healthcare with Vincent Hsu and Zhiyao Ma | 22 Jun 2021 | 00:16:06 | |
In the 8th episode of RPM—Reflections on Private Markets, Private Equity team members Vincent Hsu and Zhiyao Ma join Michael Venne to discuss China's Private Equity healthcare market. We cover how StepStone is organized in China (0:42); changes in the types of investors pursuing China healthcare (4:18); why investors should invest in China healthcare through a private market vehicle (8:50); and how GPs and LPs have responded to this dynamic investment opportunity (10:31). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Impact Investing with Bhavika Vyas | 04 Jun 2021 | 00:24:40 | |
In the 7th episode of RPM—Reflections on Private Markets, Bhavika Vyas a managing director on our responsible investment team joins Graziella Scassillo to discuss one of the hottest trends in financial services—impact investing. We cover our proprietary impact taxonomy, which helps us to build portfolios focusing on the themes that are important to our clients (2:00); how investors' understanding of their role in addressing social and environmental issues has changed (5:30); the benefits to coalescing around existing ESG and impact frameworks (9:24); and why investor interest in Climate Tech has been renewed (13:00). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Responsible Investment with Suzanne Tavill | 29 Mar 2021 | 00:20:17 | |
In the sixth episode of RPM—Reflections on Private Markets, partner and head of responsible investment Suzanne Tavill joins Michael Venne to discuss the rise and evolution of responsible investing. We cover the actions asset owners are undertaking to address social inequality and climate change (4:45); what the EU's new Taxonomy means for LPs long term (6:32); similar measures being taken by other countries (9:20); and how governmental actions may figure into LPs' ESG frameworks (11:00). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Covid-19 Private Debt Market Update with Marcel Schindler and Christian Frei | 12 Mar 2021 | 00:11:45 | |
In our fifth episode, StepStone Partners Christian Frei and Marcel Schindler discuss how Direct Lending as an institutional asset class has successfully passed a significant test in the current scenario and give an update on the Private Debt market. Are things “back to normal” or is it just a first impression? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Private Equity Co-investments with Darren Friedman and Lindsay Creedon | 22 Jan 2021 | 00:16:51 | |
In our fourth episode, StepStone Partners Darren Friedman and Lindsay Creedon discuss Private Equity co-investments – some of the whys and hows including the rationale for co-investments, key ingredients for success and their market insights on current trends. Timestamps: In the fourth episode of RPM, co-heads of StepStone’s co-investment practice Lindsay Creedon and Darren Friedman join co-host Graziella Scassillo to explain why co-investments are gaining favor with investors (0:40); GPs' rationale for offering co-investments (2:54); tips for creating a successful co-investment program (8:41); and the outlook for co-investments in 2021 (11:24). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Real Estate - Secondaries with Kieran Farrelly | 06 Dec 2020 | 00:13:01 | |
In the third episode of RPM—Reflections on Private Markets, partner Kieran Farrelly joins co-host Michael Venne to discuss some of the characteristics that real estate and private equity secondaries have in common (0:36); our approach to arbitraging inefficiencies (6:00); and real estate secondaries as an all-weather strategy (8:43). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Christian Frei - Strategic Asset Allocation | 11 Nov 2020 | 00:15:03 | |
In the second episode of RPM—Reflections on Private Markets, StepStone Head of Risk Christian Frei joins co-host Graziella Scassillo to discuss the opportunities and challenges inherent in developing an SAA for private markets (1:02); how SAA can contribute to portfolio performance (3:52); some of the finer statistical points that portfolio managers need to be aware of (9:15); and how LPs are thinking about their portfolios in the context of Covid-19 (11:17). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Inside the private equity co-investment market with Geoffrey Dolan | 05 Nov 2024 | 00:15:37 | |
In this episode of RPM, Geoffrey Dolan, a partner on our Private Equity team in New York, joins co-host Anna Marcus to break down the competitive dynamics of the private equity co-investment market. They cover:
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| Scott Hart - State of private markets | 24 Oct 2020 | 00:16:56 | |
In the first episode of RPM—Reflections on Private Markets, StepStone Co-CEO Scott Hart joins co-host Michael Venne to discuss how private markets have performed since the onset of Covid-19 (0:25); the various “shapes” of the recovery (5:55); the diversifying potential of secondaries and co-investments (8:43); and the importance of deal sourcing in a competitive valuation environment (11:11). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Trailer | 16 Oct 2020 | 00:01:20 | |
StepStone Group explores the world of Private Markets through conversations with our thought leaders on key developments across private equity, private debt, real estate, and infrastructure. In each episode a member of StepStone’s investment team will discuss the data, trends, and insights helping shape investors' portfolios. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Investing in climate solutions with Bhavika Vyas and Julio Friedmann | 17 Sep 2024 | 00:21:36 | |
In this episode of RPM, Bhavika Vyas, Managing Director and member of StepStone’s Private Equity team, and special guest Julio Friedmann, Chief Scientist, Carbon Direct, join co-host Maribel Yoo to revisit the conversation on energy transition investing. They evaluate the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) two years post-enactment, highlighting advancements in climate solutions and global investment opportunities. They cover:
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| New frontiers in infrastructure with Simon Beer | 04 Sep 2024 | 00:17:33 | |
In this episode of RPM, Simon Beer, Partner, Infrastructure & Real Assets, joins co-host Michael Venne to discuss trends that are redefining the infrastructure landscape. They cover:
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