Podcast
RPM - Reflections on Private Markets
Hosted by StepStone Group · EN
StepStone Group explores the world of Private Markets through conversations with our thought leaders on key developments across private equity, private debt, real estate, and infrastructure. In each episode a member of StepStone’s investment team will discuss the data, trends, and insights helping shape investors' portfolios.
14episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Finding an edge in UK private equity: Scarcity, specialism, and succession
May 600:16:31Tap to summarizeIn this episode of RPM, Michael Venne sits down with Akhilan Nesaratnam to explore why UK private equity has quietly outperformed, despite the noisy macro backdrop. They unpack three forces shaping the market’s edge—scarcity, specialism, and succession—and what could change as the Mansion House Accord signals a new wave of domestic capital and competition.
Transcribe →Implementation framework
May 600:21:37Tap to summarizeIn this episode of RPM, Miguel Sosa and David Robbins join co-host Anna Marcus to unpack the implementation gap holding advisors back from private markets—exploring why shifting public market dynamics demand a rethink of the traditional 60/40 portfolio, and how evergreen structures and a practical allocation framework can help advisors bridge the divide.
Transcribe →Power, planets & the abyss — how AI, space, and the deep sea are shaping private markets
Apr 2100:26:11Tap to summarizeSuzanne Tavill, Global Head of Responsible Investment, joins Michael Venne to unpack the game-changing themes explored in our two recent whitepapers: how AI-driven energy demand is sparking investment opportunities across the power ecosystem, and how falling exploration costs are reframing the deep sea and space as an extension of Earth’s industrial base.How energy sources are powering AI (1:57)The role of private capital (6:19)Practical bottlenecks around AI growth (8:52)Remapping of geostrategic value (13:09)Resources and opportunities in space and the deep sea (15:11)What’s next (21:55)
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The case for emerging managers with Ted Panarese and Aditya Fontana-Raina
Mar 1100:23:35Tap to summarizeIn this episode of RPM, Ted Panarese and Aditya Fontana-Raina, New York-based Managing Directors on our private equity team, join co-host Anna Marcus to explore whether emerging managers truly represent a disproportionate source of risk, or if the opportunity has been mischaracterized. They cover: Revisiting the case for emerging managers (3:02) What the data says about early-fund outperformance (4:12) The ideal Fund I profile (6:41) Risks with Fund I investing (11:15) Building a disciplined emerging manager playbook (13:52) Risk management at the program and portfolio level (16:36) Key takeaways (21:32) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Fall 2025 Real Estate House Views with Jeff Giller and Margaret McKnight
Mar 300:14:59Tap to summarizeIn this episode of RPM, Jeff Giller, Partner and Head of Real Estate, and Margaret McKnight, Partner and Head of Portfolio Solutions for StepStone Real Estate, rejoin co-host Maribel Yoo to discuss our Fall 2025 House Views on the state of the real estate market. They cover: Market backdrop and investor sentiment (00:58) Deployment concerns (2:33) Maturity wall and recap opportunities (05:40) Addressing the fundamentals (8:31) Sector and regional outlooks (9:44) Investor frustrations and takeaways (12:21) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Private equity discipline in uncertain conditions
Dec 1000:15:42Tap to summarizeIn this episode of RPM, Lisa Larsson, a New York-based Partner on StepStone’s Portfolio Management team, and Akash Chitrey, a La Jolla-based Senior Associate on the same team, join co-host Anna Marcus to discuss private equity liquidity and valuations, using data to show how private equity really creates and sustains value, even amid uncertain macro conditions. They cover: Why liquidity and valuations matter in 2025 (1:07) What the data reveals about performance (1:41) Evolving exit pathways (4:04) Private equity valuations (8:05) How private equity creates value (11:45) Discipline in a volatile market (13:48) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Diversifying your Asia exposure with Zhiyao Ma and Hansong Qu
Oct 700:21:32Tap to summarizeIn this episode of RPM, Zhiyao Ma and Hansong Qu, Vice Presidents on StepStone's Asia Private Equity team, join co-host Anna Marcus to discuss the investment case for Japan and India and why these markets may be top of mind for investors looking at China +1 alternatives. The focus on Japan and India (2:21) Growing deal volume in Japan (4:15) Misconceptions about Japan PE (7:17) India's investment pitch (8:44) The India opportunity set (11:47) Advice for investors (20:12) For more on this topic, read our "Diversifying your Asia exposure" whitepaper series which includes papers on Japan private equity and India private equity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Why private debt is well-suited for evergreen fund structures with Fabian Körzendörfer
Aug 1400:26:02Tap to summarizeIn this episode of RPM, Fabian Körzendörfer, a Zurich-based Partner on StepStone’s Private Debt team, joins co-host Michael Venne to discuss the benefits of private debt and why the asset class fits well with evergreen fund structures. Why evergreens (03:01) Historical performance (9:04) How to generate liquidity in PD (12:49) Benefits for institutions vs. individuals (19:05) Co-investments in evergreens (22:02) Key considerations (25:25) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Now is the time for infrastructure secondaries with Tim Rees
Jul 200:24:37Tap to summarizeIn this episode of RPM, Tim Rees, a London-based Partner on StepStone’s Infrastructure and Real Assets team, joins co-host Michael Venne to discuss the rapid growth of infrastructure secondaries and why the market is gaining momentum. They cover: Growth of infrastructure asset class (00:51) Scale of the secondary market (03:26) Drivers of growth in infra secondaries (05:19) Synergies from primaries and co-investments (09:36) Advice for new investors (19:39) Diversification and other considerations (22:23) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Spring 2025 Real Estate House Views with Jeff Giller and Margaret McKnight
Jun 2600:15:07Tap to summarizeIn this episode of RPM, Jeff Giller, Partner and Head of Real Estate, and Margaret McKnight, Partner and Head of Portfolio Solutions for StepStone Real Estate, rejoin co-host Maribel Yoo to discuss our Spring 2025 House Views on the state of the real estate market. They cover: Market shifts and the new cycle (:50); US real estate landscape (1:55); Best practices amid volatility (5:51); European outlook (8:29); US policy risks and opportunities (9:02); Real estate capital raising (12:50) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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