From the CIOs of major public funds to pioneers in AI and private credit, these conversations offer a snapshot of where the market is headed — and what matters most right now.

Here’s a look at who we spoke with:

·      “We’re witnessing a paradigm shift—everything is an alternative.” – Jenny Johnson, President & CEO of Franklin Templeton

·      Forget data centers—AI’s most powerful applications are already transforming the way we detect disease, move through cities, and allocate capital. Cathie Wood, Founder & CIO of ARK Investment Management.

·      “Private credit’s meteoric rise over the last 15 years has created excess—and 2025 may be the year we see how well firms have underwritten through it.” – Bob O’Leary, Co-CEO, Oaktree Capital Management

·      Find out what’s at the top of LACERS’ research list right now, with Jessica Chamuk, Head of Real Estate, LACERS.

·      “We can talk about sophisticated investments all day—but at the end of the day, it’s my team that’s helping families through the worst moments of their lives. That’s why we’re here.” – Debby Cherney, CEO, SBCERA

·      “It’s not about carving out an alternatives allocation—it’s about building portfolios across a continuum of public and private markets.” – Shannon Saccocia, Chief Investment Officer of Wealth, Neuberger Berman

·      “This is like the Super Bowl for CAIA Association.” – Aaron Filbeck and Mario Valverde of Blackrock.

·      “Try to avoid the hype in AI—look for VCs who actually have the experience to navigate this market, not just chase trends.” – Jeff Meyers, Director of Private Markets, St. Louis Trust & Family Office

·      “They don’t want a 60/40 portfolio—they want crypto, commodities, and whatever’s trending.” – Geoff Schneider, SVP, Financial Advisors, BNY Wealth.

·      “We’re looking for the next big thing—maybe it’s cold storage, maybe it’s fusion—but it has to deliver real returns and serve our pensioners well.” – Adele Lopez Tagaloa, Trustee at Orange County Employees Retirement System.

·      “Distress shows up in every market cycle—it’s about being ready.” – Jake Abbott, Senior Investment Officer at SBCERA.

·      Is tokenization the gateway to democratizing alternatives? Oliver Fines, Head of Advocacy and Capital Markets Policy Research, EMEA at CFA Institute, unpacks how tokenization may finally open access to once-unattainable asset class.

·      “We’re here to build community, share market insights—and have a little fun along the way.” – Ghufran Rizvi, President of CalALTs, and Angela Ty, President-Elect.

·      “ALTSLA isn’t just a conference—it’s a think tank for what’s next in the alternative investment space.” – Laura Merlini, Managing Director of EMEA, CAIA.

·      “The democratization of tokenization is changing everything.” – Michael Treidl, CIO of Blue Coin Capital.

·      What makes the emerging manager landscape worth watching right now? Stephanie Lynch, CO-Founder, Managing Partner at GEM.

·      Looking to meet someone specific at our ALTS events? Karly’s got you covered!
You can usually find her by the meeting zones or registration desk, and she’ll help you connect with the right people.

Special thanks to the entire ALTS Team, CAIA, CFA Society Los Angeles, CalALTs, and all the interviewees who took time to step off the stage and onto the mic.

Watch all interviews on our YouTube — and hear the voices shaping the future of alternative investing.