Megan McDonald
Showing 1–2 of 2 transcripts.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Undercapitalization: Closing the Gender Growth Gap Across Industries
Katie O'Reilly, Jesse Draper, David Jeffrey, Megan McDonald, Mina Pacheco Nazemi, David Warren, Mindy Silverstein, Tracy Briscoe Monroe
Executives from Standard Bank Group, Halogen Ventures, and DW Partners discussed the critical need to accelerate gender diversity in finance, citing a persistent global pay gap and a projected 30–50 year timeline to parity without intervention. Panelists highlighted that diverse, female-led funds generate significant alpha while noting that retention challenges, particularly for women in their 30s, require shifting from mentorship to active sponsorship by male leaders. The dialogue concluded with a consensus that Limited Partners and institutional investors must mandate accountability through data-driven policies rather than relying on marketing claims to drive systemic change.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
Developing Capital Markets: Financing the Future in Frontier and Emerging Markets
John Schellhase, Hedi Ben Mlouka, Afsaneh Beschloss, Claver Gatete, Megan McDonald, Stephanie von Friedeburg, Eden Mabilana, Leah Kusensela, Zane
The Milken Institute, IFC, and developing nation governments convened a panel featuring leaders from Rwanda, Standard Bank, and major asset managers to address capital markets as a primary constraint on economic growth in frontier and emerging markets. The discussion highlighted Rwanda's successful sovereign bond issuance and regional integration strategy alongside the IFC's shift toward creating market infrastructure to mobilize $7 billion in local currency financing. Despite persistent challenges regarding liquidity and corporate supply, the panelists advocated for regulatory reforms and mobile technology adoption to unlock the high-growth potential of African and other frontier economies.