From Generalist to Specialist at Columbia's Endowment – Erlina Yeo Terwelp (EP.520)

Erlina Yeo Terwelp, a managing director at Columbia Investment Management Company who oversees the endowment's private markets portfolio, talks with Ted Seides about how she evolved as an allocator. The conversation covers her views on manager selection and portfolio construction, the leadership and team-development side of her role, and her perspective on generalist versus specialist team models after working in both. Her background spans investment banking, private equity, growth equity and family office investing before she joined Columbia nearly a decade ago.

1. Terwelp oversees the private markets portfolio at Columbia Investment Management Company and has been there nearly a decade.
2. Her prior path includes investment banking, private equity, growth equity and family office investing.
3. The episode covers her approach to manager selection and portfolio construction.
4. She discusses generalist versus specialist team models from having worked within both, alongside the leadership and team-development parts of her seat.