Hedge Fund Huddle

From hands-on training to mentorship and real-world exposure, the Point72 Academy works with students and interns to demystify the industry and prepare them for careers in investing. Whether you're a student curious about hedge funds or a professional interested in how top firms develop talent, this conversation offers valuable insights into what it takes to break in—and stand out. Listen in as our Jamie McDonald sits down with Jaimi Goodfriend, Head of Investment Professional Development and Point72 Academy Director. Chapters (00:00:00) - Hedge Fund Huddle wins an award(00:01:00) - Point72 Academy's programs(00:03:27) - Jaimi Goodfriend's career(00:05:10) - The academy's origins(00:07:48) - The qualities that make great investors(00:09:37) - Attracting top talent(00:11:49) - Day in the life of an intern(00:13:35) - Transitioning from Analyst to Portfolio Manager(00:17:55) - An apprenticeship culture(00:22:02) - The numbers(00:23:40) - Strategies(00:26:30) - Advice to future investors

We are seeing a boom in hedge funds in the Middle East but what does it really mean to do business there and what is driving that growth? To help us discuss this topic, Jamie is joined by Chude Chidi-Ofong from Montague Square, Rob Thomas from Centralist Group, and LSEG's Jim Backhouse. What is it like living there? Investing there? And just how do the trends of domiciling in the Cayman Islands translate to the Middle East? Have a listen to our latest episode to find out.

On May 7, 2025, a group gathered in NYC and had the chance to experience the Huddle in person by taking part in an evening filled with fascinating stories and insights from past hedge fund managers. It was a behind-the-scenes look into their world as they shared their personal journeys, key moments, and the lessons they learned throughout their careers. These stories from the frontlines were recorded and are now available in our latest episode of the Hedge Fund Huddle. Listen as we are joined by our moderator, Michael Smith, Global Director, Customer Strategy & Execution at LSEG, Jamie McDonald, Hedge Fund Huddle podcast host, Derek Wallis, Author of ‘Occupy a Job on Wall Street,’ and Tracy Castle-Newman, Retired Managing Director, Morgan Stanley. We want to hear from you! If you've got questions, comments or would like to be a guest on the Huddle, get in touch with us at [email protected].

We have reached the third and final episode in our recent series on the psychology of trading. Learning to understand what you are good at and where you can use improvement is beneficial in life as well as on the trading desk. In this episode, we are joined by two well-established veterans in the financial performance coaching industry to help break this idea down plus more. Let’s hear from Peter Burditt and Steven Goldstein.

In this episode, we explore the growing role of fixed income in the hedge fund space as firms increasingly diversify beyond traditional equity strategies. As market dynamics evolve, and electronic trading grows, hedge funds are turning to fixed income for new opportunities. David Rickard, Global Head of Fixed Income Trading Workflows at LSEG and Roderick Joniaux, Head of European Government Bonds and Supranational Products at Tradeweb, join us to talk about what this could mean for the future of the industry.