Homegrown CIO at Williams College - Abigail Wattley (EP.507)

We've been clear eyed about what our strategy is since day one, and that hasn't changed. By having an internal candidate become the CIO, we can stay laser focused on what it is that we're here to do. There was no time wasted or lost repointing the ship. That is a huge benefit. I also coming into the role knew the portfolio, especially some of our long standing relationships. The role that they played, the value that they added, the fact that those were not gonna change anytime soon, having some clear things that we weren't gonna be changing was very valuable. On the flip side, there were a cou

I'm Ted Seides, and this is Capital Allocators. My guest on today's show is Abigail Wadley, the chief investment officer of Williams College, where she oversees the school's 4 and a half billion dollar endowment. She became CIO three years ago upon the retirement of Colette Chilton, whose past conversation is replayed in the feed. Abigail has spent two decades in the Williams Investment Office, and her tenure manifests the benefits of duration and institutional knowledge in the seat. Our conversation traces Abigail's nearly twenty year journey inside the Williams investment office from joining

Before we get going,

it's graduation season. Commencement speeches are everywhere, and I like tracking some of the best. I highly recommend country singer Eric Church's address to University of North Carolina this year. The good ones tend to converge on the same ideas. Stay curious, find mentors, be true to yourself, remember who got you here, and keep learning long after the classroom empties. It's solid advice, but it's not always easy to act on. Because once your diploma's at hand, the structure disappears, and the responsibility to build your own curriculum falls falls entirely on you. So for all those new gra

they have an hour

and a commute or a work out. So if you know someone just starting out, graduation season is a great excuse to forward an episode or a Spotify playlist. Consider it a gift that doesn't require a credit card. Thanks so much for spreading the word. Capital Allocators is brought to you by AlphaSense. Expert calls have always been one of the most powerful ways to build conviction. But today, investors are asked to cover more companies and move faster with leaner teams. With AlphaSense's AI led expert calls, their Tigus call service team sources experts based on your research criteria and lets the A

Abigail, thanks so much for joining me.

So great to be with you today. Thanks, Ted.

I would love you to take me through the highlights of your career.