Alternative Investments Reception: "The Path to Inclusive Capitalism"

10100 Constellation Blvd,Los Angeles CA 90067

03 May, 2023

Description

Title: Alternative Investments Reception "The Path to Inclusive Capitalism"Time: Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 | In-Person | 5pm - 8pm PSTLocation: Craft LA, 10100 Constellation Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90067REMARKS Blair Smith, Senior Director, Center for Financial Markets, Milken Institute Blair C. Smith is Senior Director of the Center for Financial Markets at the Milken Institute, with more than 20 years of financial services and capital markets experience. He leads the Center’s Access to Capital and strategic innovative financing initiatives, to enhance economic and social impact. Mr. Smith also leads the Institute's work on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Asset Management, as well as Impact Investment including CDFIs, MDIs and Opportunity Zone Funds. Mr. Smith was the Founder and CEO of Promethean AB Strategies LLC, a strategic consultancy focused on helping diverse led Asset Management firms achieve their goals. He is the former Chief Investment Officer for the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation, a CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution). Mr. Smith was also responsible for co-managing a $5.2 billion Emerging Manager investment portfolio, within the State of New York Common Retirement Fund. Earlier in his career, Mr. Smith served for over 10 years as a Relationship Manager with both the Greenwich, Connecticut and New York City Wealth Management teams at various top tier banks. Mr. Smith was appointed an adjunct professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He is on the Board of the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, the Baltimore Afro-American Newspapers and the Afro Charities. Mr. Smith received his M.B.A. in Finance from Columbia University and a B.S. in Journalism from Morgan State University (an HBCU) where he was a 2 year ROTC scholar. Blair Smith will give remarks on how limited partners can invest in diverse led founders and firms from the recent white paper "The Path to Inclusive Capitalism" that the Milken Institute released in December of 2022. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Indhira Arrington, Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Ares Management (CUP Vice Chair) Mrs. Arrington is a Managing Director and Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEI”) Officer in the Ares Human Resources Department, and partners with the firm’s DEI Council to advance Ares’ strategy to attract, develop, engage and advance diverse talent within an inclusive, welcoming environment, along with advance equity in the broader alternative asset management industry. Mrs. Arrington also serves as an advisor to support DEI initiatives at portfolio companies across Ares’ investment strategies. Prior to joining Ares in 2021, Mrs. Arrington served as a Senior Vice President and Head of Targeted Sourcing at Wells Fargo & Company, where she provided leadership in the strategic planning and execution of diversity sourcing initiatives and programs for the firm. Previously, Mrs. Arrington held several senior roles at The Bank of America Corporation within the Global Diversity and Inclusion Organization. In addition, she was an Equity Derivatives Sales Trader at Morgan Stanley. Mrs. Arrington began her career as a Financial Analyst at CIT Group. She serves on the Board of Directors of Poly Prep, the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families and the Council of Urban Professionals (CUP). Mrs. Arrington holds a B.A., summa cum laude, from Rutgers University in Economics and an M.B.A. from the New York University Stern School of Business. Mrs. Arrington is a Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Fellow, a Toigo Fellow and an INROADS alum. She is a Cornell University Certified Diversity Professional/Advanced Practitioner (CCDP/AP) and a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, Phi Beta Kappa, Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), PRIMER Network and the Council of Urban Professionals. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Michael A. Persaud, Portfolio Manager, Global Sports and Entertainment Associate Director, Morgan Stanley (CUP Chair) Michael A. Persaud is a Portfolio Manager and Investment Advisor at Morgan Stanley in Beverly Hills, CA. After spending many years running his own business and working to build others in media and entertainment, Michael spent the past 10 years working as an investment advisor to ultra-high net worth individuals and families, as well as select institutions, including foundations and endowments. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Michael was President of Brand Development at MUSE Communications, a Hollywood based advertising agency. Additionally, Michael co-founded the agency, Persaud Brothers, where he served as President. At Persaud Brothers, Michael advised several Fortune 500 companies and brands including HBO, Coca-Cola, Tanqueray, Timberland, Procter & Gamble, Verizon, Target, Motorola, Budweiser, and the New York Knicks to name a few. Before he launched their Persaud Brothers, Michael worked in the music industry a number of at Qwest/Warner Brothers Records and RCA Records. Additionally, Michael worked the start-up team that launched VIBE Magazine. Michael earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and BS in Finance from University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business. Visionary PartnersAlly Partner