Inside the Rope with David Clark

In this episode of Inside the Rope, David speaks with Michael Rosen, co-founder and CEO of Context Capital. They discuss his journey in finance and the founding of the firm. Michael covers his career managing a mutual fund group and the decision to start Context Capital after recognising the limits of traditional mutual funds, particularly the lack of hedging options available.

Michael covers Context Capital’s investment strategy, which focuses on convertible bonds, a hybrid asset that sits between debt and equity. Michael explains how the firm manages $2.7 billion while producing an average return of over 12% per year since inception, reducing risk through strategies like shorting equities.

Michael also shares lessons from his restaurant ventures, drawing comparisons between running a restaurant and an investment firm. He highlights the importance of preparation and teamwork in both fields.

Finally Michael highlights his views on future opportunities in convertible markets and how some investors view the strategy as being able to offer equity-like returns with historically less risk.

In this episode of Inside the Rope, host David Clark interviews Jim Eddy, founder and CEO of Jamberoo Action Park, a successful entrepreneur from Wollongong. Jim shares his journey, discussing how his background in real estate investment and overcoming personal challenges shaped his approach to business.

The conversation covers important lessons for wealth management, such as managing risk, debt, and investment in seasonal businesses. Jim explains how he transitioned from a land surveyor at BHP to developing Jamberoo Action Park after exploring different ventures, including dairy farming and real estate.

Jim’s entrepreneurial spirit and resilience were pivotal in weathering financial challenges and industry fluctuations. He speaks about the risks of debt during tough times, like droughts and economic downturns, and the importance of thorough research before committing to new investments.

The episode also touches on the value of continuous learning and adapting in business, as Jim recalls lessons from major theme parks in the U.S., which helped him improve safety and operational standards at Jamberoo.

In this episode of Inside the Rope, host David Clark shifts focus from traditional wealth management to personal wellness, in a conversation with Damian Chaparro, the founder of Aro Ha, a wellness retreat in New Zealand. The episode explores the intersection of health and wealth, highlighting how wealth encompasses a sound body and mind.

Damian shares his journey from IT consultant to wellness architect, driven by a desire for purpose and holistic living. Damian discusses the creation of Aro Ha, a retreat that embodies a complete approach to well-being, integrating physical health, mental wellness, and sustainable living practices. David and Damian explore the challenges of modern life, such as the impact of technology on wellness, and the importance of balancing financial success with personal health. Damian emphasises the value of experiences that foster inner well-being, encouraging listeners to consider wellness as an integral part of wealth & health management.

This podcast episode of Inside the Rope features a conversation between David Clark, and Paul Francis, a sports science expert and early-stage sports science investor. Paul has an impressive career background, having held senior positions at Adidas and Nike, and worked as a performance advisor to NFL teams such as the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons. He has also collaborated closely with elite athletes like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Lionel Messi.

The discussion delves into the influence of sports science on the commercial aspects of sport, fitness, and wellness. Paul shares insights into his career journey, which began in sports science and evolved into consulting and leadership roles in major sports brands. They explore how performance under pressure differentiates great athletes and how this concept applies across various fields, including investment management.

The conversation also covers Paul’s latest venture, FC 32, a platform focused on placing athletes at the centre of football club ownership and investment. The platform aims to align the development of athletes with the investment goals of stakeholders, providing a novel approach to football ownership by prioritising the player asset class over the traditional club-centric model.

Additionally, they discuss the growing role of data in sports, the importance of understanding the right metrics, and the potential impact of recent changes in college sports regulations on the global sports landscape. The podcast ends with Paul highlighting the importance of strategic investment in health and eSports as emerging opportunities and advocating for the charity Saint Vincent de Paul for its work with the homeless in Australia.

In this special live event episode recorded in Melbourne, Inside The Rope celebrates a milestone with its 176th episode, marking the second live event in honor of 175 episodes. The event features an impressive lineup of guests from the world of finance and investment, each bringing their unique insights and experiences to the table.

Guest Speakers:

Michael Lukin, CFA: Group Managing Partner of Roc Partners, Michael Lukin shares his journey from the management buy-out of Macquarie Group’s private markets business to leading client relationships and investment activities across various markets. He provides a deep dive into his experience managing major investments, including companies like StoneAxe and Australia’s Oyster Coast.

Peter Cooper: The Chief Investment Officer and founder of Cooper Investors, Peter Cooper, brings over 30 years of investment management experience to the stage. He discusses the VoF investment philosophy he developed, which has been instrumental in the success of Cooper Investors across both domestic and international strategies.

Samar Mcheileh: Managing Partner at Scale, Samar Mcheileh shares her passion for venture capital and her vision of transforming Scale into a fully-matured fund. Her experience in financial services, including her transformative work at JBWere and her active role in the Australian early-stage ecosystem, adds a dynamic perspective to the conversation.

Ep 175: Live Event - Jess Farr-Jones, Mike Lukin & Tim Carleton - Public and private market insights by David Clark

In this episode of Inside the Rope, David interviews Adrian McKenzie, founder and partner of Five V Capital, an Australian private equity firm focused on the mid-sized market in Australia and New Zealand that boasts a remarkable internal rate of return. David highlights Adrian's notable career, including his tenure at CVC Capital Partners, where he was the youngest ever partner and board member. Adrian shares insights from his vast experience, including both successful investments as well as challenges, such as CVC’s investment in Nine Media Group.

Adrian discusses his journey from Glasgow to London and New York, detailing his early career in investment banking and his eventual transition to private equity. He reflects on the evolution of the private equity industry and the strategies that have driven success at Five V. Adrian emphasises the importance of aligning with business owners and investing in companies with strong growth potential.

The conversation delves into Five V's mid-market focus, targeting companies with earnings between $7-30 million and enterprise values ranging from $50-300 million. Adrian explains the firm's hands-on approach, collaborating closely with management teams to drive value and achieve growth. He also introduces the Horizons product, which offers investors access to mid-market private equity with quarterly liquidity, aiming to provide strong returns with greater flexibility.

Adrian shares examples of portfolio companies, such as Sea to Summit and Biopak, and discusses the significant opportunities in the mid-market space driven by intergenerational wealth transfer.

In this episode of Inside The Rope, David welcomes Dan Ariely, a globally renowned expert in behavioural economics. Dan is a professor of psychology and behavioural economics at Duke University, and in this episode he shares his insights into the irrational ways in which people make decisions and how understanding these behaviours can improve financial decisions, motivation, health, and end-of-life care.

Dan begins by discussing his unique personal story, including the origins of his distinctive half-beard, which he grew after a severe burn injury. With the main focus of the conversation delving into the field of behavioural economics, contrasting it with traditional economics. Dan explains how behavioural economics examines the systematic mistakes people make due to inherent biases, and its practical applications in addressing financial, motivational, and health-related issues.

David and Dan also discuss common irrational behaviours in financial decision-making, such as evaluating money relative to other expenditures. With Dan offering suggestions on how to create good financial habits whilst automating decisions to prevent emotional reactions to market fluctuations.

Looking to the future, Dan also discusses his ongoing work, including projects aimed at improving end-of-life care and integrating human capital considerations into investment strategies. He mentions his latest book on misinformation, "Misbelief," and his involvement in the TV show "The Irrational."

In the concluding part of Inside The Rope's series on artificial intelligence, the focus shifts to the financial implications of AI. The episode explores how AI is poised to revolutionise investment markets, identifying potential winners and losers, and debating whether this surge is a bubble reminiscent of the dot-com era. The experts discuss the transformative potential of AI across various industries and the significant opportunities it presents for businesses globally.

The discussion also touches on the practical aspects of investing in AI, from direct investment in startups to understanding the broader impact on large corporations like Microsoft and Google. The conversation highlights the dual aspects of AI as a tool for operational efficiency and a disruptor capable of creating entirely new business models.

Part 3 also addresses the challenges and risks associated with AI, such as ethical considerations, the potential for job displacement, and the societal impacts of automation and machine learning. The speakers provide insights on how to strategically navigate the evolving landscape of AI investments, emphasising the importance of understanding AI's capabilities and limitations.

This final episode rounds out the discussion on AI's role in modern business and investment and encourages listeners to consider how AI might influence their strategic decisions in the future.

In episode 2 of Inside The Rope’s series on Artificial Intelligence, the discussion pivots to the revolutionary scope of generative AI and its deep societal impacts. This episode explores how AI is unlocking unprecedented potential in software development, enabling anyone to code and vastly expanding the pool of potential developers globally. It also tackles the productivity enhancements brought about by AI tools like GitHub Copilot, which significantly speed up the coding process.

However, the conversation doesn't shy away from the tougher questions: What about job displacement and the ethical dilemmas AI introduces? With AI's ability to automate complex tasks, the panel of guests discuss the inevitable job transitions and the broader implications for the workforce.

The guests also delve into concerns over AI-generated misinformation, such as deepfakes, and the urgent need for robust regulatory frameworks. Balancing the excitement of AI's capabilities with caution, this episode provides a comprehensive look at the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in our modern world.

Join us as we navigate the complex landscape of artificial intelligence and its impact on society.