Seesma Hingorani

The View from Institutional Investors: Where Will Returns Come From?

Christopher Ellman, Jane Modelo, Kei-Ping Ling, Seesma Hingorani, Jerry Albright, Michael Sabian

Representing approximately $1.5 trillion in combined institutional assets, major funds including Harvard, the China Investment Corporation, and various public pension plans discussed portfolio strategies to balance long-term horizons against short-term performance pressures. Speakers detailed diverse approaches to direct investing, highlighting Harvard's internal natural resource initiatives, the China Investment Corporation's reliance on co-investments, and the specific constraints faced by New York City and Texas in acquiring talent and accessing alternative assets. The panel concluded by identifying fixed income challenges, European distressed opportunities, and emerging market valuations as critical forward-looking themes for these global investors.