Blackstone senior managing director Alex Walsh speaks to Unquote editor Harriet Matthews about his career in private equity, LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion in the industry, and the outlook on investing in the current market.

Walsh began his career in the financial services industry in 2004 and joined Blackstone in 2022, with a focus on private equity consumer and leisure investments. Beyond his investment team responsibilities, he is also a member of the firm’s LGBTQ+ inclusion taskforce, OUT Blackstone.

In an interview with Unquote, Walsh discusses how and why he got into the private equity industry, as well as how the industry has changed during this time.

He also discusses LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion in the private equity industry, including what workplaces can do to create an inclusive environment and how this fits with Blackstone’s overall ESG goals.

In the final part of the conversation, Walsh shares his outlook on the current market, taking into account the rising cost of capital and Blackstone’s approach to deal sourcing.

2:12 – Alex’s career trajectory and motivation

5:11 – Skills and experiences

7:32 – PE industry development

10:33 – LGBTQ+ representation development and inclusion

15:00 – Cementing inclusivity in the workplace

17:30 – ESG at Blackstone and its portfolio

20:18 – The macro picture

23:02 – Deal sourcing and opportunities in the current market

If you would like to hear more podcasts produced by ION Analytics, you can access the ION Analytics channel on Apple Podcasts.

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