Episode 31: Meet Karyn Williams: The Queen of Risk

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley sits down with Karyn Williams to explore a fresh perspective on risk management. Traditional mean-variance optimization has long been the industry standard, but does it truly help investors during market dislocations? Karyn challenges conventional wisdom, arguing that standard risk models often fail when they are needed most. Drawing from her experience as a CIO and board member, she introduces a new approach—one that simplifies complex risk decisions, improves governance, and aligns with real-world investment objectives.

This conversation delves into risk factors, portfolio efficiency, and the importance of a clear framework that both investment professionals and boards can understand. Discover how rethinking risk can lead to more informed decisions and better outcomes for insurance investors.