CIFM Professional Speaker Series – Spring 2023

McIntire’s Center for Investors and Financial Markets (CIFM) hosts the Professional Speaker Series to expose current UVA students to finance professionals and policymakers—including McIntire alumni and employers—who provide a insights and advice on careers in practice.

The spring 2023 semester featured four CIFM Professional Speaker Series events beginning with Barney Wilson (B.A. Math, UVA ’84; J.D., UVA, ’90; M.B.A. Haas Berkeley, ’95) on January 23, 2023, to discuss his perspective on public equity investing. Mr. Wilson was an institutional investor for 26 years prior to his retirement in 2023.  Most recently, he was the founder and portfolio manager of Robious Capital, a Denver based investment firm. Prior to Robious Capital, he worked as an equity analyst and portfolio manager at Janus Capital for 12 years. During his tenure at Janus, his roles included equity research analyst covering the software industry, portfolio manager of the Janus Global Technology Fund, portfolio manager of the Janus Fund (an $8 billion AUM diversified large cap growth fund at the time) and assistant director of research. Earlier in his career, Wilson worked as an equity analyst at three other investment firms, as an investment banker in the technology sector for Robertson Stephens and as an attorney for Cooley Godward.

On Monday, March 20, 2023, the Center hosted Puja Seam (B.A. Government and Foreign Affairs ’00 UVA, J.D. ’05 Harvard Law), Chief Operating Officer and Partner, Investure. Ms. Seam joined Investure in February 2012 to build Investure’s internal legal function and serve as its first General Counsel. A partner of the firm, she is Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for the Client, Legal & Compliance, and HR & Administration Teams. Ms. Seam discussed Investure’s role as a full-service investment office for a select group of endowments and private foundations.

Later the same month, on March 30, 2023, the Speaker Series brought Meredith Jenkins (B.A. English & Literature ’93 UVA, M.B.A. ’99 Harvard), Chief Investment Officer, Trinity Wall Street to Grounds. Ms. Jenkins is chief investment officer for Trinity Wall Street, where she is responsible for the investment management and oversight of the church’s endowment and real estate holdings. Prior to joining Trinity, she was the co-chief investment officer of Carnegie Corporation of New York, Andrew Carnegie’s foundation, from 2011 to 2016. Ms. Jenkins discussed some of the issues and opportunities faced when managing the investment portfolio of a major philanthropic organization championing social justice initiatives in the New York City area and around the world.

To round out the spring 2023 semester, T. Perry Williams, President & Director of Research, Sands Capital Management, led the Speaker Series program on April 18, 2023. Mr. Williams is president and a co-portfolio manager of the Sands Capital Global Growth strategy. Before Sands Capital, Mr. Williams was a consultant and principal at Mercer.  During his visit to McIntire in April 2023, Mr. Williams discussed Sands Capital’s approach to investing in high-growth businesses worldwide.