
Episode 378: Anwiti Bahuguna of Northern Trust: The Golden Era of Customisation
The Fiftyfaces PodcastShow Notes
Anwiti Bahuguna, who is Co-Chief Investment Officer at Northerm Trust Asset Management, where she has spent over three years. She was previously Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Multi-Asset Strategy for Columbia Threadneedle Investments, and has a PhD in economics from Northeastern University.
Our conversation starts with her study of labor economics inspired by her mother, who was also an economist. We discuss how she considered an academic career, then evolved into an asset manager, when she discovered a passion for that instead. We dig deeply into the role of multi-asset strategies and how this strategy has matured over time, as well as the differing way that clients are thinking about them in a portfolio. We compare the role of client solutions - whether custom indices for very large institutional asset owners, or index plus returns. We discuss customisation as a "base layer" in client solutions today, as well as the differing levels of risk appetite.
A special thank you to our sponsors at Baillie Gifford and GCM Grosvenor.
Baillie Gifford is a long-term investment manager, dedicated to discovering the innovations and changemakers that deliver exceptional growth opportunities for you.
GCM Grosvenor is a global alternative asset management solutions provider, with more than $90 billion in assets under management across private equity, infrastructure, real estate, credit, and absolute return strategies. For over 50 years, the firm has helped investors navigate the complexities of alternative investing through a flexible, open-architecture platform.
GCM Grosvenor is also focused on what’s next. Through its Elevate strategy, the firm supports the next generation of private equity leaders, making seed investments in emerging managers and providing the resources, network, and strategic guidance needed to help them grow.
With nearly $800 million raised for its inaugural Elevate Fund, GCM Grosvenor is helping drive innovation and expand access across private markets.
Learn more at gcmgrosvenor.com.
More from The Fiftyfaces Podcast
Christian Abuide is a macro portfolio manager and asset allocation consultant. At the time of recording he was based in Geneva but he has recently moved to Abu Dhabi where he is continuing to advise on multi-asset allocation and wealth tech solutions.
Anastasia Amoroso is a Managing Director and Chief Investment Strategist at Partners Group. In this role, she provides macroeconomic, private markets, and portfolio management insights to investors. She joined Partners Group from iCapital, where she served as Chief Investment Strategist for the prior four years.
Joey Mason is a Venture Partner in Life Sciences at Claret Capital Partners where he has been since September 2024. He has over 30 years’ experience in the sector, and has significant experience in most segments of the Life Sciences industry – medtech, pharma/ biotech, diagnostics, health IT and techbio. He has served on the boards of 20 private and public companies in Ireland, Europe and the USA.
In this bonus podcast we bring you a short conversation with long-term guest and supporter of Fiftyfaces - Jenny Segal, who has just published her sixth book On Motivation - The Blueprint for Success, which is being launched today - October 6, 2026. I
Keith Williams is Managing Partner – Credit Strategies and Chief Investment Officer at Crestline Investors Inc. Crestline has a suite of strategies across direct lending, fund liquidity solutions, insurance and reinsurance. Keith was previously a director at Goldman Sachs and an Executive VP at McKinsey in their Recovery and Transformation unit.