Program Agenda

Thursday, February 2, 2023
NextGen Session #1: Laying the Foundation for Your New Firm

5:00pm – 5:05pm Welcome & Opening Remarks, Housekeeping 

Speaker: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee, Chief Operating Officer, NAIC 

5:05pm – 5:50pm Building a Firm is More Than Just Raising a Fund 

You have decided to launch your own firm, leveraging the experiences and networks you have built over a long and successful career. You know everything necessary to do this, right? This common misconception will be addressed in great detail in a session that also covers the journey from managing deals to managing people, establishing a culture, managing logistical and human resources issues, and more. Learn what to expect and how to transition to entrepreneurship as smoothly as possible. 

Speaker: Robert L. Greene, President & CEO, NAIC 

  • Thinking like an entrepreneur versus an employee 

  • Pre-survey Insights: Understanding what you know and don't know about the journey ahead 

  • Important considerations when building a firm (culture, governance and collaboration) 

  • Responsibilities of the Founder & Managing Partner: A Day in the Life of an Entrepreneur  

5:50pm – 5:55pm Virtual Break (3 min) & Next Panel Introduction (2 min) 

5:55pm – 6:15pm The Partnership Agreement: Establishing the Foundations of a Successful 
Partnership 

Partners require an intricate set of complex considerations. Having a shared vision and grounded understanding of the journey, a strong track record, and the right combination of skills and experiences are all crucial characteristics that LPs evaluate throughout the due diligence process. Additionally, ensuring that your partnership is undergirded by a thoughtful and thorough partnership agreement that positions your firm to weather its full life cycle is critical. Learn key principles that will position you and your partners for success on this journey. 

Session Description: When launching an institutional-grade private equity fund, selecting the right partners is a critical early step. Relationship dynamics, compatible skill sets, a strong collective track record, and a common vision must all be considered when shaping a team that can elicit high conviction in LPs. In this session, attendees will hear from industry experts about strategies for selecting partners and best practices for team compatibility as well as pitfalls to avoid. This session will provide a thorough overview of important legal terms and language that should be included in any partnership agreement to ensure the firm and partners’ ability to navigate the opportunities and challenges it will likely encounter. 

Topics that will be covered include: 

  • The Founding Partnership 

  • Advisory Board 

  • Operating Partners 

Speaker: O’Kelly E. McWilliams III, Partner, Holland & Knight  

6:15pm – 6:50pm Picking Your Partners: Fireside Chat 

Session description: This panel will bring all speakers together for a deeper discussion into the topics covered and will also provide symposium attendees an opportunity to ask questions. 

Speakers: 

  • Robert L. Greene 

  • O’Kelly E. McWilliams III 

  • Juan R. DeAngulo, Managing Partner, Elion Partners 

  • Jim Kim, General Partner, Builders VC

6:50pm – 7:00pm Audience Q&A 

7:00pm – 7:05pm Session #1 Closing Remarks 

Speaker: Robert L. Greene

7:05pm Session #1 Ends 

7:05pm – 7:35pm Cohort Post-Session Networking (Optional) 

 

Thursday, February 9, 2023
NextGen Session #2: Team, Track Record, and Strategy: Your Recipe for Success

5:00pm – 5:05pm           Opening Remarks & Speaker Introduction

Speaker: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee

5:05pm – 5:35pm           Critical Components of an Effective Team  

Session Description: In this session, you will learn the critical roles and skills required to round out a team for consideration of an institutional investment. You will hear directly from a leading allocator who will cover what positions within your team will be critical to your success, the team members you should have in place, and key advisory roles that you should fill as well as the range of third-party services available as you construct a solid offering. This session will cover:

o   Investment team composition

o   Advisors, operating partners, and co-investors

o   Constructing a back office team

Speaker: Allen Ruiz, Managing Director, Alternative Investments, Barings

5:35pm – 5:40pm           Audience Q&A

5:40pm – 5:45pm           Virtual Break (3 min) & Next Panel Introduction (2 min)

5:45pm – 6:00pm           Establishing Your Track Record: Overview

Session Description: One of the most important considerations for LPs evaluating GPs for allocation is the team’s track record. This session will provide detailed insight into the institutional investors’ perspective as well as ways to address when you are unable to port your track record, either individually or as a team.

Speakers:

  • Juan Martinez, CIO, Knight Foundation

6:00pm – 6:25pm           Establishing Your Track Record: Panel Discussion

Session Description: This session brings to bear the perspectives of some of the leading fund of fund investors in the industry for an in-depth dialogue and audience Q&A.

Moderator: Nia Gandy White, NAIC Advisor, NAIC

Panelists:

  • Irwin Loud III, Managing Director, Muller & Monroe Asset Management
  • Sara Zulkosky, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Recast Capital

6:25pm – 6:30pm           Audience Q&A

6:30pm – 7:00pm           Establishing Your Investment Strategy

Session description: While team and track record and strategy are the overall rubric through which LPs evaluate managers, it is often said that strategy is far and away the most important of these elements. During this session you will hear from experts who have many years of evaluating and determining if they will deploy capital to support an investment strategy designed to create significant value and is resilient enough to weather the inevitable storms caused by the market.

Moderator: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee

Speakers:

Kaci Boyer, Managing Director, Neuberger Berman

Matthew Wiener, Managing Director, Neuberger Berman

 

7:00pm – 7:05pm           Session #2 Closing Remarks

Speaker: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee

7:05pm                                Session #2 Ends

7:05pm – 7:35pm            Cohort Post-Session Networking (Optional)

 

Thursday, February 16, 2023
NextGen Session #3: Attracting Capital: Building a Winning Go-to-Market Strategy

5:00pm – 5:05pm       Opening Remarks & Speaker Introduction 

Speaker: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee 

5:05pm – 5:40pm       Positioning Your Firm to Win in a Competitive Environment 

Session Description: In the crowded and competitive field of fundraising, it is critical to hone your messaging, define your brand and clearly articulate your competitive advantage. In this session, you will hear from leading experts on how to effectively differentiate your strategy and learn how to attract potential LPs' attention. You will also discover how to pitch to different investor types and how to most effectively tell your story to investors who hear pitches all day, every day. 

Speakers: Hussein Khalifa, Partner, MVision Private Equity Advisers 

What is your “edge”? 

  • Key Differentiators 

  • Building Your Story: Team, Market Opportunity, Investment Strategy, and Track Record 

  • The Role of Friends & Family 

  • Engaging your Initial Limited Partners 

5:40pm – 6:15pm       Crafting Your Brand: How You Stand Out in a Crowded Marketplace 

Session Description: When launching a new firm, it is crucial that your marketing materials pass institutional muster. With one chance to make a first impression, your messaging must be concise, consistent and appropriate for your target LPs. Your design and materials should also look professional. Participants will hear from an industry expert on how to ensure consistency in messaging and design across your marketing materials. 

Speaker: Susan Kirshner, Founder, Words Plus Numbers, LLC   

  • Firm and Fund Marketing Materials: Pitch Book, Fact Sheet and Website 

6:15pm – 6:20pm       Virtual Break (3 min) & Next Panel Introduction (2 min) 

6:20pm – 7:00pm       Been There, Done That: Perspectives from Successful Founders 

Session Description: Lessons learned the hard way, including the real cost of launching and operating an institutional-grade firm, how long it will actually take to raise the capital, the realities of no longer being a part of a much larger entity (with all of the resources and infrastructure it afforded you) are all covered in this session. NAIC member firms will share some of the harsh realities of being an entrepreneur and raising a fund in the ever-increasingly competitive universe of alternative investments. 

Moderator: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee 

Speakers: 

  • Avinash Amin, MD, Managing Partner, Madryn Asset Management 

  • Daniel Santamarina, Managing Partner, Dux Capital 

  • Ryan Williams, Founder and CEO, Cadre 

  • Sherrese Clarke-Soares, Founder & CEO, HarbourView Equity 

7:00pm – 7:05pm          Session #3 Closing Remarks 

Speaker: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee 

7:05pm                              Session #3 Ends 

7:05pm – 7:35pm          Cohort Post-Session Networking (Optional) 

Thursday, February 23, 2023
NextGen Session #4: Behind the Scenes: Capital Allocator Insights

5:00pm – 5:05pm       Opening Remarks & Speaker Introduction 

Speaker: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee 

5:05pm – 5:50pm       Capital Allocator Insights: Everything You Need to Know 

Session Description: In this session, you will hear directly from one of the top capital allocators in alternative investments. Topics covered in this informative session include the intricacies of the due diligence process, how decisions are made, the do’s and don’ts of interacting with potential LPs and what the competitive landscape looks like for diverse and emerging managers. 

Speakers: 

  • Atara Charnoff, Principal, Private Equity Investments, GCM Grosvenor  

  • Charles Pippen, Principal, GCM Grosvenor 

5:50pm – 5:55pm       Virtual Break (3 min) & Next Panel Introduction (2 min) 

5:55pm – 6:50pm       Capital Allocator Insights: Panel Discussion 

Moderator: Renae Griffin, Managing Director, GCM Grosvenor 

Speakers: 

  • Robert Holley, Senior Investment Officer, Baltimore City Fire and Police  

  • Andrew Junkin, CIO, Virginia Retirement System

  • Christine Kelleher, CIO, National Gallery of Art

6:50pm – 7:05pm       Audience Q&A 

7:05pm – 7:10pm       Session #4 Closing Remarks 

Speaker: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee   

7:10pm                            Session #4 Ends 

7:10pm – 7:40pm        Cohort Post-Session Networking (Optional) 

Thursday, March 2, 2023
NextGen Session #5: Risk Mitigation: Protecting Your Firm & Enhancing Your Deals

5:00pm – 5:05pm           Opening Remarks & Speaker Introduction

Speaker: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee

5:05pm – 5:30pm           It all starts with the Cloud: Leveraging cloud technology as the ultimate strategic advantage

Speaker: Greeshma Nallapareddy, Manager, Startup Solutions, AWS

5:30pm – 5:40pm           Audience Q&A

5:40pm – 5:45pm           Virtual Break (3 min) & Next Panel Introduction (2 min)

5:45pm – 6:30pm           Risk Mitigation

Session Description: The asset management world is rife with risks and uncertainties. In this discussion, global leaders in risk management will instruct how best to protect your firm, partners, and deals from common risks. You will also learn about a few innovative new products in the market that can increase the value of a deal or strongly position your firm in competitive deal situations.
Key fund level insurances
Key employee level insurances/risk management
Cyber liability insurance and risk management for fund and portfolio companies

Risk Mitigation: Enhancing the Deal and Your Portfolio
IP valuation and price modeling
Due diligence (Human Capital, Property Insurance and Cyber Security) for acquisitions

Transactional insurance (Reps & Warranties insurance, tax liability insurance, litigation insurance)

Speakers: 

  • Paul Damon, Senior Vice President Client Advocate, Lockton Companies
  • Machua Millett, Senior Vice President, Chief Innovation Officer and Alternative Investment Practice Leader, Lockton Financial Services
  • Matthew Heinz, Partner & Co-Practice Leader, Transaction Liability, Lockton Companies

6:30pm – 7:05pm          Top 5 Legal Mistakes to Avoid as a First-Time Fund Manager

This module will address common pitfalls that first-time fund managers often encounter and tips for avoiding them.  From fund terms to management company structuring and operations, to LP negotiations and side letters, you will gain invaluable insight on how to avoid costly mistakes from an experienced large law firm partner who has the unique perspective of advising both emerging fund sponsors and a variety of institutional investors.  

Speaker: Terence Rozier-Byrd, Partner, Akin Gump

7:05pm – 7:10pm          Closing Remarks

Speaker: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee

7:10pm                             Session #5 Ends

7:10pm – 7:40pm           Cohort Post-Session Networking (Optional)

Thursday, March 9, 2023
NextGen Session #6: Back Office Essentials: Compliance, Reporting, and Tax Considerations

5:00pm – 5:05pm           Opening Remarks & Speaker Introduction

Speaker: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee

5:05pm – 6:00pm           Back Office Essentials

Compliance and regulatory requirements, institutional investor reporting standards, cash and treasury management are all areas that are often underestimated by new managers – both in their importance and complexity – with potentially dire consequences if not properly managed. This session will take you through these key areas, what you need to do to make sure you are well-covered as you build and grow your firm. This discussion will cover:

  • Regulatory & compliance essentials
  • Private equity administration
  • Hybrid funds/ Investor services
  • Management company accounting

Speakers: 

  • Christopher Smyth, Partner, Americas PE Leader, Ernst & Young
  • Gerald Whelan, Partner, Private Equity Tax Technical Leader
  • Shake Culzac, Senior Manager, Co-leader of Americas Alternative Asset Management Solutions, Ernst & Young
  • Jamila Mayfield, Partner, Business Consulting, Ernst & Young
  • Damien Hughes, Principal, Strategies and Transactions - FSO Ernst & Young
  • Jonathan Tomback, Partner, Financial Services Organization, Ernst & Young

6:00pm – 6:05pm           Virtual Break (5 min)

6:05pm – 7:00pm           Back Office Essentials (Continued)

7:00pm – 7:05pm           Session #6 Closing Remarks

Speaker: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee

7:05pm                             Session #6 Ends

7:05pm – 7:35pm           Cohort Post-Session Networking (Optional)

Thursday, March 16, 2023
NextGen Session #7: Structuring Your Firm: Important Legal Considerations

5:00pm – 5:05pm           Opening Remarks & Speaker Introduction

Speaker: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee

5:05pm – 6:00pm           Fund Formation Legal Considerations (Part I )

From the impact of securities laws on marketing, to fund and sponsor structuring, to the intricacies of fund documentation and closings, you will learn the critical components of how best to structurally set up your firm for success from one of the world’s top law firms. Topics that will be covered include:

  • Fund structuring
  • Fund documentation
  • Marketing considerations
  • The closing process

Speakers:

  • Nicole Washington, Partner, Kirkland & Ellis
  • Daniel McQuade, Partner, Investment Funds, Kirkland & Ellis

6:00pm – 6:05pm           Virtual Break (5 min)

6:05pm – 6:50pm           Fund Formation Legal Considerations (continued)                                        

6:50pm – 7:00pm           Session #7 Closing Remarks                                        

Speaker: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee

7:00pm                           Session #7 Ends

7:00pm – 7:30pm           Cohort Post-Session Networking (Optional)

Thursday, March 23, 2023
NextGen Session #8: Alternative Asset Classes: Independent Sponsors, Private Equity, Real Estate, SBIC and Venture.

5:00pm – 5:05pm           Opening Remarks & Speaker Introductions

Speaker: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee

Session Description: While many of the strategies and structural considerations are similar across alternative asset classes, there are nuances within each. These concurrent sessions will take a deep dive into the specific considerations required across Real Estate, Venture,  Private Equity, SBIC and Independent Sponsors.

Speaker: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee

5:05pm – 5:15pm           Transition

Concurrent Session: Real Estate

5:15pm – 5:30pm           Real Estate Overview

While many of the strategies and structural considerations are similar across alternative asset classes, there are nuances within each. This concurrent session will take a deep dive into the specific considerations required in Real Estate.

Speaker: Peter Braffman, Managing Director, Real Estate Investments, GCM Grosvenor

5:30pm – 6:00pm           Real Estate Panel

Moderator: Peter Braffman, Managing Director, Real Estate Investments, GCM Grosvenor

Panelists:

  • Malcolm Johnson, CEO, Langdon Park Capital
  • Jerome Nichols, President & Co-Founder, Standard Real Estate Investments
  • Eric Samek, Managing Director, Brasa Capital

6:00pm – 6:05pm           Virtual Break (5 min)

6:05pm – 6:35pm           Panel Discussion                                  

6:35pm – 6:50pm           Audience Q&A and Wrap-up                                 

Concurrent Session: Venture

5:15pm – 5:30pm           Venture Capital Funds Overview

While many of the strategies and structural considerations are similar across alternative asset classes, there are nuances within each. This concurrent session will take a deep dive into the specific considerations required in Venture.

Speaker: Renata Aráuz-DeStefano, Pivotal Ventures 

5:30pm – 6:00pm           Venture Panel

Moderator: Renata Aráuz-DeStefano

Panelists:

  • Sheila Gulati, Managing Director, Tola Capital
  • Mildred Idada, General Partner, Open Web Collective
  • Kate Mitselmakher, CEO, Founder & General Partner, Bloccelerate
  • Terence Rozier-Byrd, Partner, Akin Gump

6:00pm – 6:05pm           Virtual Break (5 min)

6:05pm – 6:35pm           Panel Discussion                                  

6:35pm – 6:50pm           Audience Q&A and Wrap-up   

Concurrent Session: SBIC

5:15pm – 6:35pm           SBIC Panel

While many of the strategies and structural considerations are similar across alternative asset classes, there are nuances within each. This concurrent session will take a deep dive into the specific considerations required in SBIC.

Moderator: Ivelisse Simon, Managing Partner, Avante Capital Partners

Panelists:

  • Bailey DeVries, Associate Administrator (Head), Office of Investment & Innovation U.S. Small Business Administration
  • Carl Jenkins, Managing Director & Group Head | Corporate Finance – Community Investments, BMO Harris Bank
  • Sengal Selassie, CEO & Founder, Brightwood Capital Advisors, LLC

6:00pm – 6:05pm           Virtual Break (5 min)

6:05pm – 6:35pm           Panel Discussion                                  

6:35pm – 6:50pm           Audience Q&A and Wrap-up   

Concurrent Session: Private Equity

5:15pm – 5:30pm          Private Equity Overview

While many of the strategies and structural considerations are similar across alternative asset classes, there are nuances within each. This concurrent session will take a deep dive into the specific considerations required in Buyout.

Speaker: Paul Yett, Managing Director, Hamilton Lane

5:15pm – 6:00pm           Private Equity Panel

Moderator: Paul Yett, Managing Director, Hamilton Lane

Panelists:

  • Ernesto Carrizosa, Partner & Executive Managing Partner, WM Partners
  • Shamik Patel, Partner & Co-Founder, Knox Lane
  • Luis Zaldivar, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Avance Investment Management

6:00pm – 6:05pm           Virtual Break (5 min)

6:05pm – 6:35pm           Panel Discussion 

6:35pm – 6:50pm           Audience Q&A and Wrap-up   

Concurrent Session: Independent Sponsor

5:15pm – 5:30pm           Independent Sponsor Overview

While many of the strategies and structural considerations are similar across alternative asset classes, there are nuances within each. This concurrent session will take a deep dive into the specific considerations required in Independent Sponsorship.

Speaker: Tarrus Richardson, Founder and CEO, IMB Partners

5:30pm – 6:00pm           Independent Sponsor Panel

Moderator: Lenora Robinson Mills, Chief Operating Officer, IMB Partners

Panelists:

  • Tarrus Richardson, Founder and CEO, IMB Partners
  • Sarah Abdel-Razek, Co-Founder & Partner, Riveter Capital
  • Marcus Mayo, Executive Chairman and CEO, Continuum Companies

6:00pm – 6:05pm           Virtual Break (5 min)

6:05pm – 6:35pm           Panel Discussion 

6:35pm – 6:50pm           Audience Q&A and Wrap-up   

6:50pm                            Session #8 Ends

6:50pm – 7:20pm           Cohort Post-Session Networking (Optional)

NextGen Module | Real Estate 
NextGen Module | Independent Sponsor 
NextGen Module | Private Equity 
NextGen Module | Venture Capital Funds 
NextGen Module | SBIC  
Thursday, March 30, 2023
NextGen Session #9: Money, Money, Money: Preparing for the Financial Journey -Special Session in NYC

3:00pm – 3:05pm           Opening Remarks: Resources & Financing Your Private Equity Firm: Introduction

Speaker: Carmen Ortiz-McGhee

3:05pm – 3:20pm           NAIC Market Resources

Session Description: 

Are you financially prepared to navigate the firm-building and fundraising journey ahead? In this session, you will learn about resources available and hear from industry experts about how to manage your finances while you raise your first institutional fund. In this session, experts will cover:

  • Seeding: a productive seeding partnership and seeding structures
  • Managing your firm’s P&L in its first year and preparing for unexpected circumstances
  • How you get paid: the realities of management fees & waterfalls

This special session will be held in person in New York City (online access will be available for those who can’t travel). The session will conclude with 90 minutes of networking with other participants and will provide the opportunity for you to meet the NAIC team and other resources that will be valuable as you build your firm.

3:20pm – 3:40pm           Getting Your Ducks in a Row: Preparing your Personal Finances

Session Description: In this fireside chat, you will hear from experts about how to ensure that you are ready to comfortably manage through the 24 to 48 months it can take (and typically does) to raise your first institutional fund.

Speaker: Vijay Mehta, Co-Founder, Arkview Capital

Moderator: Izu Akamiro, Vice President, Goldman Sachs & Co.

3:40pm – 3:50pm           Audience Q&A

3:50pm – 4:10pm           Financing Your Firm: Seeding

Session Description: An important consideration as you build your firm is whether a seeding partner that provides operating capital in addition to an LP allocation is a viable option. In this session, you will learn the ins and outs of a productive seeding partnership as well as various options for seeding structures.

Speaker: Pamela Pavkov, Head of TPG Next, TPG

4:10pm – 4:20pm           Audience Q&A

4:20pm – 4:25pm           Break (3 min) & Next Panel Introduction (2 min)

4:25pm – 4:50pm           What’s It Going to Cost: An In-depth Look at a First Year P&L Statement 

Session Description: In this session you will learn the realities of managing your firm’s P&L in its first year. You will hear about the realities of the costs and challenges as well as ways to better prepare for unexpected circumstances that may arise.

Speaker: Stephen Cammock, Managing Director, GCM Grosvenor

4:50pm – 5:10pm           How You Get Paid: The Realities of Management Fees & Waterfalls

Session Description: You will hear from one of the industry’s leading legal experts on the dynamics and considerations of the waterfall options and the
pros and cons of each as well as insights into how to negotiate with LPs with respect this crucial topic that will impact your bottom line.

Speaker: Alexandria Glispie, Partner, Kirkland & Ellis                            

5:10pm – 5:20pm           Audience Q&A

5:20pm                            Session #9 Ends

5:20pm – 5:30pm           Break

5:30pm – 6:00pm           Fireside Chat with Goldman Sachs Manager Selection Team

Moderator: Regina Green, Head of Launch with GS Americas, Goldman Sachs

Speakers:

  • Andrea McGee, Vice President, Alternative Investments & Manager Selection (AIMS) Group, Goldman Sachs
  • Yemi Ojutiku, Vice President, Alternative Investments & Manager Selection (AIMS) Group, Goldman Sachs

Closing Remarks: Robert L. Greene

6:00pm – 7:30pm           Open Networking and Reception