#81 - Blake Johnson: Entrepreneurship, Bootstrapping, Resilience

Eduardo is CIO of Avantis Investors, which manages over $75 billion in assets (as of 6/30/25). In this episode, Eduardo shares lessons learned from his journey as a scientist turned portfolio innovator—discussing financial science, systematic investing, and the future of asset management.

Jason, Head of Global Research and Investment Strategy at Carlyle ($465B AUM as of 6/30/25), discusses the challenges of persistent inflation and government debt, and the shifting nature of portfolio diversification in today’s macro environment. He explores the economic impacts of AI, the outlook for U.S. policy and markets, and offers insights on the evolving roles of private markets and private credit in building resilient portfolios.

Darell, managing partner at Evoke Advisors, co-founder of Bel Air Investment Advisors, and ex-Goldman Sachs Partner and manager of their Los Angeles office for private client services in the 1990s, shares insights on the evolution of wealth management, the centrality of trust and transparency, and how AI is reshaping the industry. He reflects on the advisor-client relationship, leadership, and the importance of diversification and patience in investing.

Dr. Carl Ross, partner and lead researcher for Emerging Country Debt at GMO, brings decades of expertise in sovereign credit across emerging markets. He shares his perspectives on the evolution, risks, opportunities, and outlook for EM debt, diving into credit cycles, valuations, and why he sees EM local debt as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for investors.

Yie-Hsin, President and CEO of State Street Investment Management, shares her journey from engineering to leading one of the world’s largest asset managers with $4.6T AUM (as of 3/31/25). She discusses her approach to leadership, State Street’s evolution from pioneering ETFs to private markets through strategic partnerships, and the importance of adaptability in a large company.

Tony is a senior alternatives investment strategist at Franklin Templeton, which manages $1.6T in assets (as of 6/30/25). Tony shares his journey across family offices and institutions, explores the evolving landscape of alternative assets, and discusses how education can help bridge the gap between everyday and sophisticated investors. Listeners will learn practical frameworks for portfolio design and actionable insights on the future of alternatives.

Blake is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist who has founded and sold businesses exceeding $1.1 billion. He shares his journey from small-town beginnings to building Byte into a billion-dollar company without outside funding, and discusses lessons in entrepreneurship, resilience, leadership, and giving back.

Andrew is the Janet Yellen Professor of Finance and Management at the Yale School of Management and Director of the Yale Program on Financial Stability, specializing in financial crises. He discusses the vulnerabilities of the banking system, lessons from recent crises like SVB and the GFC, the government’s role in crisis management, and the biggest risks facing today’s financial system.

Jon is President and COO of Blackstone—one of the world’s largest and most highly valued investment firms, managing over $1.1 trillion in assets (as of 3/31/25). He shares his career journey, insights on leading through rapid growth, and his outlook on the evolving landscape of investing and innovation. Listen for a candid take on leadership, culture, and the future of finance.

Dr. Leonard Kleinrock, a distinguished professor of computer science at UCLA, helped invent the Internet and supervised the sending of its first message in 1969. In this episode, he shares stories from those early days, reflects on the evolution of the Internet, and discusses what the rise of AI means for the future of technology and society.