Markets in Motion:
Leading Through Uncertainty
WIFM Conference
June 25, 2026 | WilmerHale, New York City
Agenda*
*Agenda subject to change
Time
Description
11:30 AM
Pre-Event Networking & Lunch
12:00 PM
Welcome
- Susan Schroeder, Partner, WilmerHale
- Jackie Mesa, Board Member – Leadership Committee Chair, WIFM
12:15 PM
Advancing to the Top: What It Actually Takes
Jennifer McCollum, President and CEO of Catalyst and author of In Her Own Voice: A Woman’s Rise to CEO, joins Tara Dziedzic for a fireside chat on what it takes to reach and lead at the highest levels. Drawing on her experience and advising companies on building more inclusive workplaces, Jennifer will share perspective on the decisions and moments that shape a career. The conversation will focus on navigating senior leadership, making the calls that define a trajectory, and what it takes to advance and lead at the top.
Fireside Chat:
- Jennifer McCollum, President and CEO of Catalyst and author of In Her Own Voice: A Woman’s Rise to CEO
- Tara Dziedzic, Board Member & Secretary, WIFM
12:45 PM
Tokenization Changing Markets
Tokenization is beginning to move beyond pilots and into real-world application across select asset classes. But while momentum is building, fundamental questions remain around scalability, regulation, and institutional adoption. This panel brings together senior leaders at the forefront of digital asset innovation to examine how tokenization is challenging existing market structures, the operational and regulatory barriers that remain, and whether the industry is approaching a true inflection point or still in an extended phase of experimentation.
Speakers:
- Sarah Wilson, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Circle
- Kelly Mathieson, Chief Business Development Officer, Digital Asset
1:30 PM
Break
2:00 PM
A View from Washington: Policy, Politics, and Market Impact
As markets respond to shifting policy direction and evolving geopolitical dynamics, understanding the regulatory and legislative landscape remains critical. Jennifer Flitton will provide an outlook on key legislative and regulatory priorities, the state of financial policymaking, and how political dynamics are influencing market structure and investment risk.
Speakers:
- Jennifer Flitton, Global Head of Public Policy, Invesco
Moderator:
- Samantha DeZur, Board Member, WIFM
2:30 PM
Commodity Markets in Turmoil
Commodity markets remain at the center of global volatility, shaped by geopolitical shocks, supply‑chain disruptions, and shifting trade flows. This panel will examine the drivers of current price volatility across energy, metals, and agriculture and how market participants are adjusting their approach to liquidity, pricing, and risk. The discussion will also address where risks may be underestimated in the current environment.
Speakers:
- Suki Cooper, Managing Director, Global Head, Commodities Research, Standard Chartered Bank
- Elise Backman, Managing Director and Commodities Portfolio Manager, Wellington Management
- Amy Gasca, Senior Director of Business Development, S&P Global
3:15PM
Networking Break
3:45 PM
Inside the Decision Room: Sponsorship, Advocacy, and Advancement
Joe Latini, Chief Commercial Officer at MUFG Investor Services and recipient of WIFM’s Male Ally of the Year award, joins Angie Karan in conversation for a discussion on how senior leaders evaluate talent and make decisions that shape careers.
Drawing on his experience leading teams and building organizations, Joe will share what he looks for in leaders, how sponsorship and advocacy show up in practice, and specific examples of the actions and contributions that lead to advancement.
Speakers:
- Joe Latini, Chief Commercial Officer, MUFG Investor Services
Moderator:
- Angie Karna, Managing Director and Head of Wholesale Legal, Americas, Nomura Securities
4:15 PM
Private Markets: Where Capital is Moving
Private markets have entered a period of sharp contrast—characterized by rapid expansion in some areas and notable contraction in others. Shifting interest rates, tighter financial conditions, evolving investor expectations, and regulatory scrutiny are reshaping how capital is raised, deployed, and returned across private equity, private credit, real assets, and venture capital.
This panel will explore where capital is actively being deployed, where its being pulled back, and how managers and allocators are adjusting to a more nuanced environment.
Speakers:
- Meg McClellan, Chief Financial Officer, Onex
5:00 PM
Closing
- Karen Wares, President & CEO, WIFM
5:10 PM
Happy Hour
6:30 PM
Event Ends
Our Speakers*
*Confirmed speakers only
Highlights from the 2025 WIFM Conference
