Eric Nierenberg, Chief Strategy Officer, MassPRIM, "Building a Diverse Team and the Value of Diversity"

Our guest for today's podcast is Eric Nierenberg, Chief Strategy Officer for the $80 billion Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management Board (MassPRIM) where he has been responsible for hedge funds and low vol strategies and over time,  became the CSO.  He is a "jack of all trades", leading a team in asset allocation, risk mgmt., research, Real Assets and the Portfolio Completion Strategies effort.  PRIM is known for a more active investment approach oftentimes including more esoteric strategies but also direct investments and SMAs allowing them to invest with and  support highly talented but smaller, emerging managers. 

 

Eric is well known in the industry and has received numerous awards as a top allocator and rising star, CIO Magazine's "Forty Under 40", Institutional Investor "Allocator Voice", the list goes on.   While a top investment allocator, he is also a prized professor at Brandeis' International Business School. 

 

Eric takes us through his personal and professional path from equity portfolio manager to public service as an allocator at a public plan to academia.  Hear how he his experiences growing up in a diverse community in Miami and working at large international academic institution at Brandeis ingrained in him the importance of diversity and being a strong mentor and sponsor.   He is clearly passionate about the value of diversity.

 

I found my conversation with Eric to be enlightening and endearing as he talks about the importance of helping others to achieve greatness. He is extremely intelligent, thoughtful and caring and while viewed as a highly talented investor, he is also well deserving of the moniker " fantastic mentor and Best boss ever!" 

 

Without further ado, here is my conversation with Eric Nierenberg.