Janet Cowell
Showing 1–4 of 4 transcripts.
- Milken Institute55 min
2025 Milken Institute Best Performing Cities Overview
Maggie Switek, Janet Cowell, Ben Nadolski
The Milken Institute ranked Raleigh, North Carolina, and Ogden-Clearfield, Utah, as the top two large U.S. metropolitan areas by balancing labor market data with community well-being metrics. Raleigh achieved this standing through a diverse economy anchored by life sciences and higher education, alongside strategic investments in green infrastructure and inclusive workforce training. Meanwhile, Ogden-Clearfield leveraged its defense and aerospace base, a culture of shared responsibility, and an equitable income distribution model to secure the number two spot while preparing for the 2034 Winter Olympics.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
I'm Not an Impact Investor, or Am I?
Caitlin MacLean, Janet Cowell, Sharon Hendricks, William Lee, Shawn Wischmeier, Bill Lee
Representatives from Cargill Philanthropies, North Carolina State Treasurer, CalSTRS, and Kaiser Foundation convened to discuss managing a combined $400 billion in assets through tailored frameworks ranging from mission investing to long-term risk mitigation. The panel highlighted strong financial performance, including a 20% internal rate of return for North Carolina's in-state program, while identifying critical operational hurdles such as standardized data gaps and a scarcity of sophisticated managers. Moving forward, the institutions plan to establish common metrics, integrate ESG checklists into daily research, and shift from divestment strategies toward active engagement to balance fiduciary duty with environmental and social goals over multi-decade horizons.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
Institutional Investors: Where in the World Will Returns Come From? (audio/video update)
Janet Cowell, Joseph Dear, Michael Sabia, Mauricio Wanderley, Tom Finke, Joe Deere
Representatives from CalPERS, the North Carolina State Treasurer, the Canadian Caisse de Dépôt, and Brazil's Funcef convened to detail strategies for recovering from financial crises and targeting 6.7% to 7.5% annual returns in a low-yield environment. The panelists emphasized a decisive shift away from benchmark-relative mandates toward direct ownership of real economy assets, with significant capital redeployment into private equity, infrastructure, and emerging markets like China and Brazil to hedge against inflation and fill fixed-income gaps. While noting political and monetary risks in Europe, these leaders projected a moderately offensive posture for 2013, prioritizing internal management to reduce fees and enhance long-term growth despite the scarcity of high-quality investment vehicles.
- Milken Institute1h 4m
Institutional Investors: Where in the World Will Returns Come From?
Janet Cowell, Joseph Dear, Michael Sabia, Mauricio Wanderley, Tom Finke, Joe Deere
Moderator Tom Fink led a panel featuring senior executives from CalPERS, the North Carolina Treasurer's office, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, and Datala to discuss institutional portfolio strategies aimed at achieving actuarial returns of 6.7% to 7.5% through a decisive shift toward alternative assets and direct investing. Participants emphasized a strategic pivot away from broad market indices and traditional fee structures, instead prioritizing high selectivity, internal management capabilities, and diversification into private equity, infrastructure, and emerging markets to mitigate tail risks and improve funded status. While regional outlooks varied from U.S. energy opportunities to Brazilian mid-market growth, all panelists warned that distorted central bank rates require rigorous asset selection rooted in the real economy to sustain long-term performance.