NYAIR Episode 59
Wall Street Women 2021
Alternative investments are on a trajectory to reshape global portfolios—no longer reserved for the elite. In this breakthrough NY-AIR episode, hear directly from the minds driving digital access, innovation, and scale in alternatives. Discover how RealBlocks and its partners are opening new frontiers in private investments for high-net-worth and retail investors.
Featured Guests
Nancy Davis
Founder and Managing Partner, Quadratic Capital Management
Nancy Davis is recognized as one of America’s 100 most influential women in finance. She founded Quadratic Capital in 2013, where she manages award-winning ETFs focused on interest rate volatility and inflation. Her journey began at Goldman Sachs, where she rose rapidly to Head of Credit, Derivatives, and OTC Trading, and built on that success at Highbridge and AllianceBernstein. Nancy is celebrated for her creative macro strategies, her relentless advocacy for women in asset management, and her thought leadership in ESG authenticity and fixed income innovation.
Casey D. Whalen
CFA – Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, Lazard Family Office (Formerly CEO/CIO at TruTheory/Truvvo Partners)
Casey Whalen is one of the most influential allocators in the institutional and family office space. With a foundational career at Yale Investments Office, The Rockefeller University, and the New York Public Library, she went on to lead investment strategy as CEO/CIO at TruTheory, before her current leadership at Lazard. Casey’s impact cuts across private equity, endowment funds, and multi-generational wealth, consistently advocating for diversity and true, actionable investment integrity. She is a board member, champion for women in finance, Gen Next leader, and a recognized force for change in asset allocation and governance.
Sonali Basak
Chief Investment Strategist, iCapital (formerly Wall Street Correspondent, Bloomberg TV)
As a renowned journalist and now investment strategist, Sonali Basak’s reporting has shaped how the world sees Wall Street’s powerbrokers. She spent over a decade as a lead Wall Street correspondent for Bloomberg, where her coverage on markets and DEI set the agenda for corporate boards and financiers. Now at iCapital, her analysis and voice remain essential to professionals navigating risk, innovation, and the future of investing.
Key Insights From This Episode
Representation Is Power
Women rise faster—and firms achieve more—when organizations deliberately cultivate gender balance at every level.
Optimism and Grit Drive Success
Adversity in finance is inevitable, but optimism, integrity, and letting setbacks “roll off you like a duck” fuel career advancement and entrepreneurial moves.
ESG Must Move Beyond Lip Service
True ESG impact—and real return—demands going beyond labels and pushing for authentic change across every asset class, not just public equities.
Retail Investors Deserve a Seat at the Table
The rise of retail investing and access to markets is democratizing finance, but calls for greater transparency, literacy, and conflict-of-interest reform.
Flexibility Is a Game-Changer for Inclusion
The pandemic forced structural change: work-from-home has opened doors for women and is accelerating the entrepreneurial shift across Wall Street.
Risk Management: Value vs. Growth
Balanced investment strategies, robust debate on asset bubbles, and embracing volatility—these themes deliver essential context for today’s allocation decisions.
Access the Full Conversation
Unlock the complete audio and download the custom insights deck from this pivotal conversation. These firsthand stories and hard-won strategies are essential for anyone navigating today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape—especially asset managers, allocators, and rising leaders eager to create value and ensure inclusion. Access the discussion and bolster your competitive edge in finance now.
Soundbites Worth Saving
“If people don’t see themselves in the senior layer—if they don’t look, talk, or act like them—it’s hard to see yourself there. Leaders need to be visible, balanced, and intentional.”
— Casey Whalen
““Adversity will happen. Be optimistic and let the small stuff roll off like a duck—focus on what you control and carry yourself with integrity.”
— Nancy Davis
Shape the Future of Alternatives With Us
The New York Alternative Investment Roundtable brings together the brightest minds in finance—Nobel laureates, industry disruptors, Fortune 1000 executives, and leading fund managers. By joining as a member, you gain access to premium events, exclusive insights from our podcasts, and direct connections with the decision-makers shaping global markets.
Your seat at the table is waiting.
