The Alpha Wo-Men

Oxford Algorithms Ltd

Welcome to The Alpha Wo-Men! This is beyond your usual market talk — it’s where hedge funds meet friendly conversations. We cover leadership, strategy, and those “aha” moments that shape the journeys and careers in the alternative investment world. Your hosts are two alpha women: Shirin Dehghan, CEO of Oxford Algorithms, and Sabrina Chiang, Business Development. Each 20-minute episode features insightful chats with another alpha person in the hedge fund space — from allocators, founders, BD leaders, to investment consultants.

Episodes

  1. 14 JAN

    Inside the Ecosystem: Lucy Surman on Managers, Family Offices & Credibility

    In this special episode, Sabrina sits down with Lucy Surman, Associate Director at AYU, to discuss trends among emerging hedge fund managers, the evolving role of family offices, and key challenges in today’s fundraising environment, including the industry’s pain point of fake family offices and how managers can navigate it. Timestamps: 01:14 – Introduction to Lucy Surman and the story behind AYU 05:06 – Common traits among early-stage hedge fund founders today 08:55 – The growing issue of fake family offices and why it matters 15:12 – Lucy’s long-term goals and perspective on career growth 16:45 – What’s the best thing you like and the worst thing you dislike about the Hedge Fund industry?

    19 min

  2. 02/12/2025

    Manoj Soni on the role of an OCIO, portfolio construction and the Darwinian nature of Hedge Funds

    This time, Sabrina speaks with Manoj Soni, CIO and Co-Founder of Capricorn Private Investments, about his 20+ year investment career spanning multiple market cycles and structural shifts across the finance industry. From starting his career at Merrill Lynch, senior roles at Partners Capital and now his own OCIO business, Manoj explains how OCIO models vary by client size and objectives, how portfolio construction adds value to achieve long-term success, and what role hedge funds play as part of the investments. The conversation also explores why investing is ultimately a people business, how alpha evolves over time, and why staying curious is essential in what Manoj describes as a truly Darwinian investment environment. Timestamps: 01:14 – Manoj’s 25-year investment journey across market cycles 02:12 – What is OCIO? How does the model work and who does it serve best? 05:36 – Portfolio construction as the foundation of long-term success 10:22 – The role hedge funds play within a portfolio 13:01 – Why investing in hedge funds is ultimately about people, not just performance 14:15 – Lessons learned from the market, experience, observations, and mistakes 17:28 – What’s the best thing you like and the worst thing you dislike about the Hedge Fund industry?

    20 min

  3. 05/11/2025

    Past, Present & Future: Tushar Patel's 30-Year Look Inside the Hedge Fund Industry

    This time, Sabrina is joined by Tushar Patel, Managing Director at HFIM, to reflect on 30+ years in the hedge fund industry. From the 90s, when hedge funds were a high-net-worth private club, to today’s trillion-dollar, institutionalised industry, Tushar shares how the landscape, strategies, and allocator expectations have evolved. He also discusses the future of the industry, lessons from over the decades, and his advice for the next generation in this ever-changing space.   Timestamps: 00:37 – Who is Tushar & what did the hedge fund world look like in the 90s 03:49 – Hedge fund evolution: a secret club to a trillion-dollar industry 06:13 – The next is not simply return: key trends, specialisation and multi-strat dominance 07:35 – How Tushar’s investment philosophy evolved over the decades 10:03 – Lessons from both successful and challenging allocations 13:31 – Advice for young professionals in hedge funds 17:00 – What’s the best thing you like and the worst thing you dislike about the Hedge Fund industry? This material, view and discussion provided in the podcast are for information purposes only. The views, opinions, estimates, and strategies expressed are those of Tushar Patel in a personal capacity, based on current market conditions, and are subject to change without notice. They do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Hedge Funds Investment Management (“HFIM”), its affiliates, or its employees, and should not be regarded as representing HFIM’s official position. This information does not constitute HFIM research and should not be treated as such. Any companies referenced are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent a recommendation, solicitation, or endorsement by HFIM. Nothing herein should be construed as investment, legal, tax, or other advice.

    19 min

  4. 02/10/2025

    From Engineer to Hedge Fund CEO: Shirin Dehghan on Leadership and Resilience

    In this episode, Sabrina sits down with Shirin Dehghan, CEO of Oxford Algorithms, who shares her journey from tech and venture capital to hedge funds. They discuss what it takes to lead a hedge fund business, navigating challenges, role models, and personal habits that help her stay motivated under pressure and high expectations.  Timestamps: 01:38 – Shirin’s journey from tech, VC, and to hedge funds 02:36 – Differences in running a hedge fund business 05:17 – Leading through challenging times 09:19 – Insights from her recent trip to Chicago 12:29 – Staying motivated as a CEO: habits, routines, and balance 14:50 – Mentors and role models who shaped her path 17:01 – What’s the best thing you like and the worst thing you dislike about the Hedge Fund industry?

    19 min

  5. 01/09/2025

    Detecting Risk Before It Strikes: Frederic Guibaud on Hedge Funds, Diversification, and Career Lessons

    Frederic Guibaud, CFA, CAIA, cofounder of AlphaBee Asset Management, joins Sabrina to share lessons from the 2008 crisis, the toughest challenges in hedge fund allocation, and why liquidity and diversification matter more than ever. He also reflects on career lessons, advice for his younger self, and what he loves and dislikes about the industry. Timestamps: 01:15 – Frederic’s 20-year journey in finance 02:01 – What’s behind the name Alphabee 03:10 – 500+ hedge fund launches a year? How allocators cut through the noise 06:12 – Multi-manager funds and diversification: finding the right balance 08:54 – Hedge funds vs. other asset classes: What is Frederic’s favorite? 10:12 – If he could go back in time: advice Frederic would give his younger self 14:01 – What’s the best thing you like and the worst thing you dislike about the Hedge Fund industry? Website: ⁠⁠oxfordalgorithms.com⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/oxford-algorithms-ltd

    15 min

  6. 04/08/2025

    Inside the Mind of a Next-Gen Allocator: Brendan McLean on Manager Research, Risk & Standing Out

    In this episode, Sabrina sits down with a next-gen Alpha Man, Brendan McLean, an allocator who has dedicated his whole career to hedge fund manager research, to discuss his evolution of allocator roles, how he assesses managers, and what it's really like working inside a family office built by a former hedge fund manager. Timestamps: 01:15 – Brendan’s manager selection career began right after leaving campus 04:14 – Pension Funds vs. Family Offices: Key Similarities& Differences 07:22 – Working at a family office led by a former hedge fund manager: How it shapes thinking 09:38 – Learning from mistakes in investing 12:00 – Standing out as a next-gen allocator among senior peers 13:24 – Advice for young allocators (and professionals!) 14:26 – What’s the best thing you like and the worst thing you dislike about the Hedge Fund industry? Website: ⁠oxfordalgorithms.com⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/company/oxford-algorithms-ltd

    18 min

  7. 30/06/2025

    FoF Is Not Dead: James Orbell on Allocators, Managers, and Market

    In this episode, Sabrina sits down with an Alpha man, James Orbell, a seasoned Fund of Funds veteran and advisor at Oxford Algorithms, to unpack the allocator’s mindset and the evolving hedge fund landscape. Timestamps: 00:56 – James’ 30-year journey from sales to leading multi-billion FoFs 02:14 – What makes a good allocator? 05:09 – What allocators look for in hedge fund managers 08:39 – Performance consistency vs. strategic consistency 11:05 – The future of Fund of Funds: dead or evolving? 14:01 – How do you keep yourself going/motivated under this dynamic, fast-paced, and stressful market? 16:49 – What’s the best thing you like and the worst thing you dislike about the Hedge Fund industry? Website: oxfordalgorithms.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/oxford-algorithms-ltd

    18 min
  • 7 Episodes

About

Welcome to The Alpha Wo-Men! This is beyond your usual market talk — it’s where hedge funds meet friendly conversations. We cover leadership, strategy, and those “aha” moments that shape the journeys and careers in the alternative investment world. Your hosts are two alpha women: Shirin Dehghan, CEO of Oxford Algorithms, and Sabrina Chiang, Business Development. Each 20-minute episode features insightful chats with another alpha person in the hedge fund space — from allocators, founders, BD leaders, to investment consultants.

Information

  • Creator
    Oxford Algorithms Ltd
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Oxford Algorithms Ltd
  • Show Website
    The Alpha Wo-Men