Currently, Valerie is a managing director and portfolio manager at a global investment management firm, where she manages a large-cap core equity fund and a sustainable core exchange-traded fund (ETF). With over two decades of experience as a professional investor, Valerie’s expertise spans long/short and long-only equities, private markets, and corporate transactions. Valerie's distinctive ability to integrate fundamental and quantitative research into stock selection and portfolio construction sets her apart from other investors.
Meet Valerie
Valerie grew up in Takoma Park, Maryland, a vibrant suburb of Washington, DC where she developed a passion for mathematics, literature, public speaking and civic engagement. With the encouragement of her teachers and parents, she pursued advanced studies in mathematics, science and engineering at Georgetown University and the University of Maryland while participating in state-wide speech competitions. These formative experiences continue to influence Valerie's investment philosophy and leadership style, which is characterized by strategic thinking, collaboration, rigorous problem-solving, and effective communication.
Early in her career, Valerie held positions of increasing responsibility at McKinsey & Company, Ben & Jerry’s, Merck, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, where she developed a deep appreciation for evidence-based decision-making and the intersection of corporate strategy, value creation for shareholders, public policy and corporate social responsibility, long before responsible investing gained mainstream attention.
"Valerie is dynamic and engaging. She brings to life the opportunities and challenges of investing with a focus on sustainability in a way that resonates with a wide range of audiences."
Professor Daniel C. Esty,
Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy, School of the Environment and Clinical Professor of Environmental Law & Policy,
Yale Law School
Valerie is recognized for her ability to communicate investment insights clearly to a wide array of audiences, including clients, boards, investment committees, and media outlets like CNBC and Bloomberg News. Additionally, Valerie is a sought-after presenter and guest lecturer at esteemed institutions including Yale School of Management, Harvard Law School, and the CFA Institute, among others. Beyond her professional achievements, Valerie actively contributes to industry discourse on corporate governance and the investment implications of climate change. She served on the Audit Committee Working Group convened by the KPMG Audit Committee Institute and the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). In 2020, her article, "Mosaic Theory in Responsible Investing," published in Values at Work - Sustainable Investing and ESG Reporting, underscored her thought leadership in the field.
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Valerie's contributions have garnered recognition from both peers and industry organizations. Notably, she received the North America Industry Leadership Award from 100 Women in Finance in 2020 and was honored with the Catalyst Award from the Council of Urban Professionals in 2016. She is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the Harvard Business School Alumni Board, in addition to her role as a trustee at Morehouse College, where she contributes to the compensation and audit committees.
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Valerie earned a BS in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where she was a George F. Baker Scholar. Valerie was also a Rotary Foundation Scholar in the Department of Economics at the University of Zimbabwe and is a CFA charter holder.
