The ability to customize to support investor preferences is no longer optional — it is essential. Join us for an exclusive webinar featuring industry leaders discussing the evolution of aligning investor choices and preferences through customization.
A key focus of this session will be faith-based investing, with insights designed to help advisers support clients who want to integrate their principles and faith-based perspectives into the investment process.
Hear how investment firms are evolving their offerings to reflect a broader range of investor beliefs and priorities. Learn more about how firms are leveraging MSCI’s flexible data-driven solutions to meet client objectives and stay ahead in a rapidly shifting market.
Michael Disabato is the lead researcher for the airlines and aerospace and defense industries, serves on the MSCI ESG editorial board and is the host of the weekly podcast, ESG now. Previously, he was a freelance journalist covering the environment and worked as a member of the consultant relations team at Impax Asset Management. Michael also worked at a nonprofit impact investing fund focused on sustainable agriculture. He graduated with a B.A. from Indiana University with a concentration in economics and comparative literature.
Olga Emelianova
Executive Director ESG Research
MSCI
Olga Emelianova spent ten years supporting MSCI ESG Rating Research, MSCI’s flagship solution for ESG integration in investment strategies; and then, more recently, five years overseeing and enhancing MSCI’s Screening and Impact Research to support value-based investment strategies, impact investing frameworks, and sustainable finance polices alignment. Prior to joining MSCI in 2009, Ms. Emelianova was a Director of Project Services at the International Center for Corporate Accountability, a not-for-profit group which evaluated corporate and industry-wide social responsibility initiatives and conducted ESG performance assessments for multinational companies. Ms. Emelianova holds an MBA degree from Zicklin School of Business, City University of New York. She has published her research on corporate and industry-wide ESG initiatives in a number of professional journals, co-authored one and contributed to two books on the topic of Corporate Responsibility: “Setting Global Standards” (2003), “Group Purchasing Organizations – an Undisclosed Scandal in the U.S. Healthcare Industry” (2009), and “Globalization and Self-Regulation” (2011).
Michelle Friedman
Senior Values-Alignment Strategist
Blackrock
Michelle is a Senior Values-Alignment Strategist with Aperio, part of BlackRock SMA Solutions. Michelle works closely with clients to translate their values into highly customized public equity portfolios. She collaborates with them to identify the environmental, social, and governance issues that are most important to them, and develops strategies to align their investments accordingly. In addition to her client-facing work, Michelle plays a key role in expanding Aperio’s values-aligned investing capabilities. She has led the development of innovative solutions such as the Aperio Climate Transition Aware Strategy and the Political Spending Transparency Tilt, helping clients address a range of sustainability priorities.
Michelle has over 25 years of experience in sustainable investing. Before joining Aperio/BlackRock, Michelle was an Executive Director at MSCI Inc. where she led the strategic development and global expansion of key sustainability solutions including SDG Alignment, Screening, Portfolio Reporting and Custom Research for some of the world’s largest asset owners and asset managers. Her work included the development of bespoke research projects and indexes, faith-based screening research, and solutions aligned with EU Sustainable Finance regulations. Michelle started her career at SRI research pioneer KLD Research & Analytics, where she was the Managing Director of Consulting Services for institutional investors including pension funds, foundations and religious institutions. Michelle has a BA in International Relations, with a focus on environmental economics and a minor in Italian, from Tufts University.
Mark A. Regier
Vice President of Stewardship Investing
Praxis Investment Management
Mark A. Regier is Vice President of Stewardship Investing for Praxis Investment Management, a leading faith-based, socially responsible family of mutual funds from Everence Financial® designed to help people and groups integrate their finances with faith values. Mark has been involved in the field of ethical and socially responsible investing for over 25 years. He oversees Praxis Investment Management’ work in socially responsible and impact investing including investment screening, proxy voting, corporate engagement and community investing. He works with products and programs throughout the firm to strengthen their creative integration of faith and finances.Mark is also Director of Sales for Praxis Investment Management, where he provides leadership for and management of the Praxis sales team. In this role, his primary focus is identifying and pursuing strategic opportunities for growth within the socially responsible, faith-based and impact investing industry.
