The HPScast

We’ve reached the end of Season 13 of The HPScast. To close out a fantastic run, host Colbert Cannon revisits some of the season’s most memorable moments. This year, we heard from leaders at the top of their fields, including a legendary global financial executive, an American fashion icon, and a powerhouse in the hospitality industry, as well as colleagues from across HPS and BlackRock who shared valuable insights. The entire HPS team extends a sincere thank you to our guests and listeners for joining us. We’ll be taking a short break, but we look forward to returning soon with all-new conversations in Season 14.

This week on the HPScast, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Jim Koman, Founder and CEO of ElmTree Funds, a triple-net-lease real estate investment platform that recently combined with BlackRock. Jim reflects on growing up in St. Louis, studying economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and building a career in commercial real estate that led to founding ElmTree. Jim shares his perspective on how the current interest rate environment is affecting the net-lease market. Learn more about Jim and his work with ElmTree Funds here. Read Project Hail Mary, a science fiction novel by Andy Weir, Jim’s Best Idea, here. Read Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, The Carolina Way, by legendary University of North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith, co-authored with Gerald D. Bell and John Kilgo, here.

This week on the HPScast, host Colbert Cannon speaks with Elyce Arons, the co-founder of Kate Spade and co-founder and CEO of Frances Valentine. Elyce traces her journey from a Kansas farm kid to building two iconic American fashion brands with her best friend, the late Kate Spade. She reflects on losing Kate in 2018 and finding the resolve to keep their second fashion and lifestyle label, Frances Valentine, flourishing in her honor. She also shares what’s coming up for the brand, including a truly full-circle collaboration with the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative. Learn more about Elyce and her work at Frances Valentine here. Read Elyce’s memoir, We Might Just Make It After All, here—or, her Best Idea, Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage, here. Watch Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, Dept. Q, a British crime thriller television series created by Scott Frank and Chandni Lakhani, here.

Every season, we spend one episode breaking down current credit market trends. In this season’s episode, we discuss the macro backdrop for credit, private and public credit’s exposure to software amidst concerns of AI disruption, and the types of businesses we believe are the most resilient in challenging environments. Our discussion, hosted by Colbert Cannon, features Vikas Keswani, Head of Direct Lending at HPS, and Scott Crocombe, a Managing Director from the HPS Liquid Credit team, as well as Dominique Bly, Macro Credit Research Strategist with BlackRock’s Private Financing Solutions platform.

This week, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Eva Pilgrim, the newest host of Inside Edition, television's longest-running syndicated television newsmagazine. Eva discusses her path from local reporter to international correspondent, and her eventual leap to anchoring GMA3 before assuming the role at Inside Edition, previously helmed by Deborah Norville for 30 years. Eva shares the behind-the-scenes of broadcast television and offers lessons in juggling a demanding work life while building a family. She also reflects on how media continues to evolve, and the discipline required to stay authentic in a rapidly changing landscape, offering insights into what keeps Inside Edition relevant in today’s fragmented news environment. Learn more about Eva and her reporting at Inside Edition here. Read Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko, Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, here—or watch the Apple TV adaptation here.

This week on the HPScast, host Colbert Cannon speaks with HPS Senior Advisor and Operating Partner Paul Achleitner, former CFO of Allianz and Chair of Deutsche Bank. Paul reflects on his distinguished career in global finance—from his formative years at Goldman Sachs to his leadership through the 2008 financial crisis. He shares lessons on risk management, disciplined decision-making, and effective governance in a rapidly changing world. You can find Paul’s book, Accelerate Your Experience, here. Plan a visit to Nikko Yumoto-Onsen Ski Park, Paul's Best Idea, here. Read Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, the novel Measuring the World, by German-Austrian Daniel Kehlmann, here.

This week on the HPScast, host Colbert Cannon talks with Jonathan Tisch, former Executive Chairman of Loews Hotels & Co., Director Emeritus of Loews Corporation, and New York Giants co-owner, about his path from early work in broadcast media to leading multi-billion-dollar hotel and diversified holding companies. Jon outlines how the ethos of hospitality informs his view on leadership and community engagement. He also shares how he navigated industry shocks such as 9/11, the global financial crisis, and COVID-19, and lessons learned about the power of partnership and collaboration in tough times.Learn more about Jon and the Loews Corporation here. Read The Power of We: Succeeding Through Partnerships here. Book a SoulCycle class, Jon’s Best Idea, here. Watch Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, Board to Death, a comedy-drama created by Tufts graduate Jonathan Ames and starring Ted Danson, here.

This week on the HPScast, host Colbert Cannon interviews George Walker, Chairman and CEO of Neuberger Berman, an employee-owned, private, independent investment manager founded in 1939 with approximately 3,000 employees across 27 countries. Neuberger manages $563 billion of equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate, and hedge fund portfolios for global institutions, advisors, and individuals. George discusses the 2009 management buyout of Neuberger Berman from Lehman Brothers, highlighting key leadership lessons that have strengthened the firm's culture and driven growth. He also outlines Neuberger Berman's strategic priorities in the current market environment.Learn more about George and his work at Neuberger Berman here. Read George’s Best Idea, 1929, written by Andrew Ross Sorkin, here. Watch Season 1 of Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, Task, a 2025 legal drama created by Brad Ingelsby and starring Mark Ruffalo, here.

We’re back with Season 13 of The HPScast. Host Colbert Cannon sits down with Matthieu Boulanger, Managing Director, Head of Europe at HPS Investment Partners. Boulanger traces his career from project finance at Citi, to growing private credit strategies from the ground up at HPS and KKR, as well as his recent return to HPS to lead its European business. He provides a detailed view of the expansion of HPS’s European platform following its transaction with BlackRock and offers a measured outlook on the future of private credit in Europe, with particular focus on direct lending, asset-based finance, and GPLP solutions.Watch Colbert’s Best Idea for this week—Anatomy of a Fall, a 2023 French psychological legal drama directed by Justine Triet—here.

The HPScast returns for a special between-season episode with host Colbert Cannon leading a discussion on current credit market trends as we head towards 2026. Learn what we are seeing from a macro perspective and how credit markets could be affected. Our discussion features Vikas Keswani, a Managing Director from our private credit team, and Scott Crocombe, a Managing Director from our liquid credit team, as well as Amanda Lynam, Head of Macro Credit Research with BlackRock’s Private Financing Solutions platform.

To close out Season 12 of The HPScast, host Colbert Cannon revisits some of this season's most memorable moments. We brought on some heavy hitters from across industries, and the country, including: a former President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, a Chief Investment Officer of a South Carolina retirement system, a CNBC reporter extraordinaire, and colleagues from across HPS.The HPScast team thanks our guests and listeners for another great run. We’re taking a short break, but we’ll return soon with all-new conversations in Season 13.

Each season, we devote one episode to a discussion of current credit market trends. This week, host Colbert Cannon is joined by Purnima Puri, an HPS Governing Partner and Head of Public Credit, and Mike Patterson, an HPS Governing Partner and Co-Head of Private Credit. With the magnitude of market volatility currently, the discussion focuses on what they are seeing from a macro perspective and how credit markets could be affected.

This week, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Geoffrey Berg, Chief Investment Officer of the South Carolina Retirement System Investment Commission, to discuss his strategic leadership of the system's approximately $50 billion investment portfolio and share insights into private credit as an early adopter of the asset class among peers. Then, we find out what's next for the Southern state’s retirement system. Read Geoffrey’s Best Idea, Unreasonable Hospitality, by Will Guidara, here—and listen to Colbert’s earlier conversation with Danny Meyer here. Learn more about Charleston, South Carolina, Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, here.

Host Colbert Cannon sits down with Madelaine O'Connell, a leader in HPS's private high-grade business to discuss the evolution of the private placement market and the nuances of private versus public high grade debt. She also talks about her transition from leading the private placements business at Goldman Sachs to joining HPS, and shares her vision for scaling the private high-grade market within HPS.Learn more about Madelaine and her work at HPS here. Find a local SoulCycle class near you—Colbert’s Best Idea for this week—here.

This week, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Robert Kaplan, former President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs, to discuss his career spanning finance and public service. Kaplan reflects on the evolution of Goldman Sachs, his transition from deal-making to management, and the valuable lessons he learned from both Wall Street and academia. He also shares his insights on the interplay between public and private markets, headwinds to fiscal policy, and his outlook on the Fed’s interest rates.Learn more about Robert Kaplan and his work at Goldman Sachs, here. Read All The Pretty Horses, a novel by Cormac McCarthy—Colbert’s Best Idea for this week—here.

This week, we are looking at trends in the US real estate market, where the delta between debt and equity returns is as small as it’s been in 15 years. Mike Van Konynenburg, President of Eastdil Secured, oversees large, real estate transactions including financings, capital raises, sales, and investment banking transactions for institutional real estate owners and lenders. He joins David Lehman, Head of Real Estate Strategies at HPS, as they discuss the property market, the impacts of current policy, and how data centers could fit into investors’ allocations.

On this week’s episode, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Shawn Ury, Executive Director and Head of Alternatives at USAA, a financial services company providing insurance and banking products to members of the military, veterans, and their families. Shawn’s team oversees 13 different asset portfolios and two charitable foundations. We discuss Shawn’s time serving as a medic in the Army, and later, as the Police Captain of San Antonio. He shares how this background of service led him to USAA, his current perspective on private credit as an asset class, and what’s on the horizon for USAA. Learn more about the Love and Logic program, Shawn’s Best Idea for this week, here. Visit Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, Armando's Boot Co., in Raymondville, TX, here.

Welcome to Season 12 of The HPScast. Join host Colbert Cannon for a conversation with Sara Eisen, co-anchor of CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” & “Money Movers”. She shares how preparation met opportunity on her path to national television—and how taking a chance on forex market coverage gave her a competitive edge in her early days as a financial reporter. She also shares insights into the future of CNBC, including its growing focus on coverage for retail investors.Tune into Sara’s latest reporting on CNBC here—and learn more about Room to Read, the financial literacy non-profit she serves on the board of, here. Find out where to catch the artist Lorde on tour—Colbert’s Best Idea for this week—here.

To wrap up Season 11 of the HPScast, host Colbert Cannon revisits some of his favorite moments. We heard from mavericks across a range of industries: from Hollywood, to brick-and-mortar retail, to bankruptcy and restructurings. We also featured deep dives into the private and public credit markets with esteemed colleagues in finance. The HPScast team thanks our guests and listeners for making this an unforgettable season. We’re taking a brief hiatus, but we’ll return in the new year for Season 12.

On this week’s episode, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Bradley Beman, Head of Fixed Income Asset Management at Nationwide, one of the nation's largest insurance and financial services companies. We discuss Bradley’s transition from the investing side to managing portfolios—and how private credit fits into Nationwide’s portfolio.Learn more about Bradley Beman and his work at Nationwide here. You can watch the classic sports movie Field of Dreams, Colbert’s Best Idea this week, here.

On this week’s episode, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Johnny Chow, Chief Investment Officer for Legal & General Institutional Retirement Division, one of the UK's largest insurance and asset management businesses. We discuss his decision to join L&G after an eight-year tenure at J.P. Morgan, working across a range of credit trading businesses. Johnny discusses how his passion for mathematics and assessing risk has shaped his career—and how he views private credit as part of that equation in the coming years. Learn more about Johnny and his work at L&G, here. Watch Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, the television series, Drops of God, here.

This week’s podcast focuses on current trends in the private and public credit markets. We discuss interest rates, credit spreads, M&A activity, and sectors that have our attention. Host Colbert Cannon sits down with two of HPS’s senior investment leaders: Vikas Keswani, a Managing Director and Head of North American Specialty Direct Lending, and Scott Crocombe, a Managing Director and Head of Research on the HPS Liquid Credit team.

On this week’s episode, host Colbert Cannon sits down with James “Jamie” Sprayregen, Vice Chairman at Hilco Global, a financial services firm focused on asset valuations, monetization, and disposition services. We discuss Jamie’s 31-year tenure growing Kirkland & Ellis’ restructuring and bankruptcy law practices globally. He shares insights on some of the most complicated bankruptcies in history. Then, we pivot to learn about his transition to Hilco Global.Learn more about James and his work at Hilco Global, here. Find out where to watch Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, the play, The Lehman Trilogy, here.

On this week’s episode, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Steven Silverstein, Chief Executive Officer at Spencer Spirit Holdings, Inc, which operates two distinct experiential lifestyle brands, Spencer’s and Spirit Halloween. We discuss what pushed Steven to pursue a career in brick-and-mortar retail, his foundational lessons in crafting memorable in-person shopping experiences in the digital age, and how these early learnings helped him scale Spirit Halloween’s one-of-a-kind pop-up retail business model. Learn more about The Heart Of Spirit Halloween: Spirit Of Children charity and how to donate, Steven’s Best Idea for this week, here.

This week, we welcome Lotfi Karoui, Chief Credit Strategist and Head of Credit and Mortgage Strategy Research at Goldman Sachs. Lotfi shares his macro and credit market outlook on the HPScast with host Colbert Cannon.

Welcome to Season 11 of the HPScast. To kick us off, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Franklin Leonard, the founder & CEO of The Black List, an online marketplace that connects writers and their scripts to television & filmmakers looking to develop their next project. We discuss how Franklin navigated the “whisper network” to break into Hollywood — and how he’s now using his platform to reshape the entire television & film industry by broadening access to diverse talent to create a more robust and profitable creative space for all to play in. Learn more about Franklin Leonard and The Black List, here. You can watch the movie They Cloned Tyrone, Colbert’s Best Idea this week, here.

Today marks the end of Season 10 of The HPScast. Join host Colbert Cannon for a listen back to some of our best moments this season. We had the great pleasure of hearing from insightful voices across health care, law, media and finance — including some of our own colleagues here at HPS. The HPScast team is grateful to all of our guests for taking the time to share their knowledge and stories with us. And thanks to you, dear listener, for tuning in. We’re taking a quick break, but Season 11 is coming soon.

This week, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Robert Carlock, Emmy Award-winning writer and producer best known for his work as showrunner on Tina Fey's acclaimed sitcom, 30 Rock. We hear how Robert cut his teeth producing Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” and first met Tina. Robert discusses the professional partnership and friendship that he and Tina have built over nearly three decades. We also talk about his transition from being a writer to running a show. And Robert shares his insights on the future of the making and business of television. Learn more about Robert’s work here. Watch Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, the television series SAS Rogue Heroes here.

This week, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Chris Stainton, a Managing Director in HPS’ London office focused on direct lending and special situations investing. We talk about Chris’s early career at Bain Capital and how sitting across the negotiation table with HPS led to his eventual decision to join the firm. We also do a deep dive into the evolution of the global distressed credit market to today. Watch Chris’s Best Idea for this week, the television series Night Manager here. Read Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, the fantasy novel trilogy His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman here.

On this week’s episode, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Gareth Mee, Chief Investment Officer of Private Markets at Legal & General Capital, the investing arm of one of the UK's largest insurance and asset management businesses. We talk about Gareth’s early career working as a consultant and eventual partner at Ernst & Young and his transition to join Legal & General Capital’s executive team. We also discuss his perspective on private credit and how it fits into Legal & General Capital’s portfolio.Learn more about Gareth and his firm here. Find out more about Bootcamp Marbella, Gareth’s Best Idea for this week, here. Watch Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, the television series,The Gold, here.

On this week’s episode, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Jonathan Stromseth, Professor of the Practice at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. Jonathan teaches and researches globalization, foreign aid and governance reform work in Asia. We talk about Jonathan’s time spent across Asia working for the U.S. international development organization, the Asia Foundation, his transition to lead China and Southeast Asia policy planning for the U.S. State Department and his most recent role at the Brookings Institution. We also discuss his latest focus: climate change and innovations.Learn more about Jonathan and his work at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy here. Read his book, China’s Governance Puzzle, here. Find out how to visit Hai Duong restaurant, Jonathan’s Best Idea for this week, here. Watch Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, the film Snowpiercer, directed by Bong Joon-ho, here.

On this week’s episode, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Jared Solomon, Co-Founder and CEO of Five Iron Golf, an indoor golf simulator and events & entertainment business catering to urban centers. We talk about Jared’s first foray into entrepreneurship with Flux Stables, a poker staking business he started in law school. And he shares how he’s continued to merge his passion for business and recreation through Five Iron Golf — and what’s on the horizon for the business. Learn more about Jared’s role at Five Iron Golf here. Read Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, the biography The Catcher Was a Spy, by Nicholas Dawidoff, here.

This week’s episode features a discussion of current credit market trends with HPS Governing Partners Purnima Puri and Mike Patterson joining host Colbert Cannon.

On this week’s episode, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Jay Goffman, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Smith Goffman Partners, a restructuring advisory firm with a merchant bank component. We talk about Jay’s early start in bankruptcy law, his journey to becoming partner at Skadden and the origin of Smith Goffman Partners. Learn more about Jay’s Best Idea for this week, Third Option Foundation here. Read Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, the book Table for Two, by Amor Towles, here.

The HPScast is on a midseason break, but we’ll be back with all new episodes starting Wednesday, May 1st. We encourage you to take a listen back to any conversations you might have missed. Or, check out our Best Ideas shared so far. You'll find links to books, podcasts, movies and TV shows in our show notes.

This week, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Dr. Brendan Carr, Chief Executive Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System. Dr. Carr became the head of the Emergency Department of Mount Sinai in 2020 — just one month before the hospital reported New York City’s first case of COVID-19. He shares his takeaways from the frontlines of a global pandemic as a new leader. We also discuss Dr. Carr’s diverse career background, which spans clinical care to healthcare policy and research — and how this vast experience has helped him in his transition to lead the entire Mount Sinai Health System earlier this year. Learn more about Dr. Brendan Carr and his work at Mount Sinai Health System here. You can watch Colbert’s Best Idea of the week, the show Mare of Easttown, here.

On this week’s episode, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Salim Ismail, Co-Founder and Chairman of OpenExO, a global community that connects professionals with organizations, institutions and people who want to build a better future through cutting-edge ideas and actionable methodologies. We talk about how Salim works with global organizations to navigate disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). He shares his thoughts on how AI will impact society and his best advice on how to prepare for the rapidly changing future. Learn more about Salim and his role at OpenExO here. Watch Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, the film Ex Machina, directed by Alex Garland, here.

This week, host Colbert Cannon sits down with David Lehman, Managing Director for HPS Investment Partners. David manages HPS's real estate finance practice. We discuss David’s early career learnings while trading structured products at Morgan Stanley and later Deutsche Bank before joining Goldman Sachs, where he eventually led the firm’s global real estate finance group. We also hear about David’s transition to public service as the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development before joining HPS. Learn more about David Lehman and his work with HPS here. You can read his Best Idea of the week — the book Too Big to Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin, here. And find out more about Colbert’s Best Idea of the week, the biography Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow, here.

Welcome back to Season 10 of The HPScast. Host Colbert Cannon sits down with Kristin Kallergis Rowland, Global Head of Alternative Investments for J.P. Morgan Wealth Management. Kristin’s team oversees $140 billion in assets under management with private equity, private credit, real estate and hedge fund firms globally. We talk about Kristin’s early career learnings, from starting at J.P. Morgan in its mortgage center business during the 2008 housing crisis to the culture shift of managing alternatives in the EMEA region from the firm’s London offices. Then, we discuss her transition to lead the firm's global alternatives business and what’s next for the group. Learn more about Kristin and her role at J.P. Morgan here. Read The Golf Courses of Seth Rayner from Back Nine Press, Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, here.

We’ve reached the end of Season 9 of The HPScast. Join host Colbert Cannon for a listen back to some of our best moments this season. We heard from thought leaders across industries, from entrepreneurs turned VC backers to organizational psychologists, as well as chief investment officers of leading pensions and global insurers. Their stories reinforced the ethos of The HPScast — that success does not happen in a vacuum. Thank you to all of our listeners for your continued support. We’ll be back at the top of 2024 with all new conversations. Until then, listen back to any episodes you might have missed, and check out our show notes to find links to all of the Best Ideas shared so far.

This week, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Francesco Martorana, Group Chief Investment Officer at Generali, a global insurance and asset management provider. We discuss Francesco’s time at J.P. Morgan, Deutsche Bank and Allianz before joining Generali, where he oversees an approximately €400 billion global portfolio. Francesco shares Generali’s stance on private credit and the qualities he looks for in a portfolio manager. Learn more about Francesco and his role at Generali here. Check out Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, the book The Great Texas Banking Crash by Joseph Grant here.

This week, we have a special episode recorded recently from HPS’s Investor Symposium. Colbert hands over his hosting duties to Hugh Lawson, a Managing Director at HPS, who sits down with Maud Texier, the Global Director of Clean Energy and Decarbonization Solutions at Google. Maud shares Google’s experience in its plan to become carbon free by 2030 while giving perspective on energy transition efforts, globally.

This week, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Emilia Wiener, Chief Investment Officer at TIAA, an asset management firm that specializes in retirement investing for educators. We talk about Emilia’s time at The MONY Group, AllianceBernstein, Genworth, and AXA, before moving on to TIAA. Emilia also shares her perspective on the value of private credit, properly documented transactions and the ability to proactively reposition a portfolio.

The HPScast is taking a quick midseason break, but we’ll be back with all new episodes starting Wednesday, November 15th. Until then, listen back to our growing catalog of conversations. Or, take a moment to check out one of our many Best Ideas shared so far. You can find links to fantastic books, podcasts, movies and TV shows, all in our show notes.

Host Colbert Cannon sits down with John Amaechi OBE, founder of APS Intelligence, an organizational consulting firm that helps businesses create ethical workplace cultures, and drive productivity, growth, retention, and success. John explains how he coaches businesses to find practical solutions that work for their specific type of organization and distinct needs. We also talk about how John leveraged his time in the NBA to carve out a unique lane in psychology with broad and scalable impact. Learn more about John Amaechi and APS Intelligence here. Learn more about Colbert’s Best Idea for the week, the Apple Plus TV show Hijack, here.

This week, we’re sharing host Colbert Cannon’s conversation with Grishma Parekh, Managing Director at HPS Investment Partners and Co-Head of North American Core Senior Lending. Grishma offers key insights into the direct lending market and discusses how it has grown and evolved over her years in the industry. She also shares how she made the decision to join HPS at a turning point in her own career — and how the firm’s culture continues to align with her ways of working.Learn more about Grishma Parekh’s role at HPS Investment Partners here. Read The House of Morgan: An American Banking Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Finance by Ron Chernow, Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, here.

This week host Colbert Cannon sits down with Matt Brown, founder and CEO of CAIS, a fintech platform that connects independent financial advisors with experienced alternative asset managers. We talk about Matt’s career evolution, from his early days at Shearson Lehman Brothers to founding private equity firm Brown Simpson, to spending over 20 years mentoring high impact entrepreneurs at Endeavor. Then, Matt shares how he built CAIS from the ground up to now serve 30,000 financial advisors representing roughly $4 trillion in investable capital. And we hear how CAIS is leveraging its data to build more robust insights for users to manage their assets long term.Learn more about Matt Brown and CAIS here. Read his Best Idea of the week – the book Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness, by Tim S. Grover with Shari Lesser Wenk here. Watch Jury Duty, Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, here.

On this week’s episode, host Colbert Cannon sits down with Mark Rubenstein, Head of Strategic Investment Partners North America at HPS. We talk about Mark’s early days at Citigroup’s leveraged finance division and his transition to the bank’s Special Situations Group. He then recounts the pivotal moments that led him to join HPS and the evolution of the firm during his tenure.Learn more about Mark Rubenstein and his role at HPS here. Check out his Best Idea, the book Am I Being Too Subtle? by Sam Zell here. Learn more about Magog, Quebec, Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, here.

Welcome back to Season 9 of The HPScast. Host Colbert Cannon sits down with Alexa von Tobel, a dynamic entrepreneur, NYT-bestselling author, and venture capitalist. Alexa is the founder of Inspired Capital, an early stage venture capital firm committed to nurturing the next generation of exceptional entrepreneurs. We delve into Alexa’s remarkable journey, from her early career at Morgan Stanley to founding LearnVest, a pioneering financial literacy company that was later acquired by Northwestern Mutual. Then, we discuss her latest venture, Inspired Capital — and why she’s embracing more volatile economic conditions, including rising interest rates, to build better businesses and teams. Throughout, Alexa shares her keys to success at every juncture and vital lessons learned along the way. Learn more about Alexa von Tobel and her VC firm, Inspired Capital here. Watch “The Social Network,” Colbert’s Best Idea for this week, here.

We’ve reached the end of Season 8 of The HPScast. Host Colbert Cannon shares some of the best moments from our varied slate of conversations this season. We heard from bona fide voices in the art world, a luminary in the Black media landscape, and more than a few colleagues from across HPS – some of whom you might have recognized from our previous seasons. We’ll be back in Fall 2023 with all new episodes. Until then, catch up on any conversations you might have missed. Or try out one of the many Best Ideas shared in each episode. You can find links to those in the show notes of each episode.