CIO Greatest Hits: Endowments – Scott Wilson (WashU) | Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry

Ted Seides introduces a summer series featuring past episodes with CIOs, specifically highlighting conversations with Andy Golden and Scott Wilson. The episode replays a conversation with Scott Wilson, CIO of Washington University, discussing his unconventional investment style centered around concentrated positions and bottom-up manager selection. Wilson recounts his journey from small-town Alaska to a career in finance, emphasizing the influence of Grinnell College and mentors like David Clay. He details his investment philosophy, which prioritizes individual company analysis and idiosyncratic opportunities, particularly in emerging markets, and explains how he structures his team and portfolio to achieve diversification and manage risk.

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CIO Greatest Hits: Endowments – Scott Wilson (WashU)

Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry

Introduction to WCM Investment Management

Introduction to AlphaSense

Introduction to the Summer Series: CIO Focus

Announcement: Capital Allocators University and Introduction to Scott Wilson

Scott Wilson's Early Life and Basketball Experience at Grinnell

Transition to Finance and Early Career Steps

Early Career in Equity Research

Progression to Senior Equity Research Analyst and Derivatives Trading

Transition to Grinnell College Endowment

Grinnell's Investment Style and History

Portfolio Composition at Grinnell and Diversification Mandate

Transition to Washington University and Initial Portfolio Changes

Filters for Manager Selection and Portfolio Evaluation

Selective Approach to Hedge Funds and Leveraging Relationships

Team Dynamics and Generalist Model

Impact on the Team and Concentration in the Portfolio

Bottoms-Up Approach to Diversification and Manager Selection

Due Diligence Process and Private Market Considerations

Current Portfolio Structure and Incremental Research

Opportunities in Frontier Markets and Risk Compensation

Position Sizing and Areas to Avoid

Idea Sourcing and Due Diligence Example

Time Allocation and Relationship with Managers

Skill Set of the Team and Endowment Advantages

Portfolio Positions and Governance

Team Organization and Weekly Activities

Competitive Advantage and Underwriting

Differential Insights and Mistakes

Portfolio Evolution and Venture Capital

Investing with Best of Breed and Portfolio Concentration

ESG Lens and Pet Peeves

Biggest Mistake and Parental Teachings

Life Lessons and Conclusion

CIO Greatest Hits: Endowments – Scott Wilson (WashU)

Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry

00:01Introduction to WCM Investment Management

Introduction to WCM Investment Management

01:21Introduction to AlphaSense

Introduction to AlphaSense

03:13Introduction to the Summer Series: CIO Focus

Introduction to the Summer Series: CIO Focus

05:54Announcement: Capital Allocators University and Introduction to Scott Wilson

Announcement: Capital Allocators University and Introduction to Scott Wilson

07:15Scott Wilson's Early Life and Basketball Experience at Grinnell

Scott Wilson's Early Life and Basketball Experience at Grinnell

09:17Transition to Finance and Early Career Steps

Transition to Finance and Early Career Steps

11:25Early Career in Equity Research

Early Career in Equity Research

13:25Progression to Senior Equity Research Analyst and Derivatives Trading

Progression to Senior Equity Research Analyst and Derivatives Trading

15:21Transition to Grinnell College Endowment

Transition to Grinnell College Endowment

17:13Grinnell's Investment Style and History

Grinnell's Investment Style and History

19:00Portfolio Composition at Grinnell and Diversification Mandate

Portfolio Composition at Grinnell and Diversification Mandate

20:20Transition to Washington University and Initial Portfolio Changes

Transition to Washington University and Initial Portfolio Changes

22:46Filters for Manager Selection and Portfolio Evaluation

Filters for Manager Selection and Portfolio Evaluation

24:42Selective Approach to Hedge Funds and Leveraging Relationships

Selective Approach to Hedge Funds and Leveraging Relationships

26:37Team Dynamics and Generalist Model

Team Dynamics and Generalist Model

28:23Impact on the Team and Concentration in the Portfolio

Impact on the Team and Concentration in the Portfolio

30:06Bottoms-Up Approach to Diversification and Manager Selection

Bottoms-Up Approach to Diversification and Manager Selection

32:40Due Diligence Process and Private Market Considerations

Due Diligence Process and Private Market Considerations

34:01Current Portfolio Structure and Incremental Research

Current Portfolio Structure and Incremental Research

35:13Opportunities in Frontier Markets and Risk Compensation

Opportunities in Frontier Markets and Risk Compensation

37:25Position Sizing and Areas to Avoid

Position Sizing and Areas to Avoid

39:10Idea Sourcing and Due Diligence Example

Idea Sourcing and Due Diligence Example

41:36Time Allocation and Relationship with Managers

Time Allocation and Relationship with Managers

43:31Skill Set of the Team and Endowment Advantages

Skill Set of the Team and Endowment Advantages

45:01Portfolio Positions and Governance

Portfolio Positions and Governance

46:58Team Organization and Weekly Activities

Team Organization and Weekly Activities

48:31Competitive Advantage and Underwriting

Competitive Advantage and Underwriting

50:14Differential Insights and Mistakes

Differential Insights and Mistakes

52:32Portfolio Evolution and Venture Capital

Portfolio Evolution and Venture Capital

54:08Investing with Best of Breed and Portfolio Concentration

Investing with Best of Breed and Portfolio Concentration

55:03ESG Lens and Pet Peeves

ESG Lens and Pet Peeves

57:28Biggest Mistake and Parental Teachings

Biggest Mistake and Parental Teachings

59:32Life Lessons and Conclusion

Life Lessons and Conclusion