Have you wondered what it’s like to be a member of the Thinking Ahead Institute? Perhaps you’re curious to find out more about the kind of work we collaborate with our members on? Our new monthly member spotlight series celebrates our valuable member base and showcases our collaborative work, from working groups to global studies.
We chat to Elsa Madrolle, Global Head of Commercial Engagement at SimCorp, one of our newest partners, about SimCorp’s London Forum event on the total portfolio approach, the vital role of partnerships and what’s currently on her shelf.
As a relatively new member, can you tell us about your partnership with the Thinking Ahead Institute (TAI)?
Our partnership with TAI reflects both the opportunity and responsibility of working alongside leading institutional investors tackling business transformation. Member organisations are navigating operational complexities that no single firm can solve in isolation. This requires the collective problem-solving the Institute enables. That candid exchange ensures our work addresses actual implementation challenges. It’s a privilege to contribute to discussions actively reshaping our industry’s future.
The Head of the Thinking Ahead Institute, Marisa Hall, joined SimCorp’s London Forum event which brought together a range of voices and conversations about the Total Portfolio Approach (TPA) – what was your vision behind curating that panel?
The vision was to address the misconceptions that consistently slow TPA implementation. We work with clients on their TPA journeys and see where firms get stuck. We wanted to highlight two persistent misconceptions. First, strategic confusion. Many assume that TPA is about accessing new asset classes. But TPA is about optimization: managing existing allocations holistically rather than as separate teams running strategies in isolation. Most mature institutional investors have been in these markets for years. Second, the fear that implementation requires massive technology replacement. The reality is that there are multiple paths forward for successful transition.
From your perspective, what role do partnerships like ours play in shaping the future of the industry?
Our partnership creates accountability. It’s easy to accept suboptimal solutions when working in isolation because “that’s how it’s always been done.” Through open dialogue with peers wrestling with the same challenges, we are able to collectively raise the bar.
You see what’s actually possible. The cross-pollination of experience across maturity stages is particularly valuable. A firm three years into transformation can save another from costly mistakes. An asset owner that has integrated private markets data can share what actually worked versus what sounded good in the RFP. That practitioner knowledge lives in candid conversations where people admit what failed and why.
These partnerships also accelerate adoption by making the path forward less risky and more transparent. When institutions learn from each other’s journeys, it creates market pressure for vendors to deliver solutions that actually work at scale. The result is faster movement toward outcomes that genuinely improve performance.
Finally, what’s on your shelf? Tell us what you’re either reading, watching or listening to.
I’m watching the 5th season of Stranger Things! But I just finished reading something far more serious – The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Order by former US federal prosecutor Amanda Wick. There is no question that the global economy is rapidly transforming and she shares incredible first-hand insights at the intersection of technology, regulation and what she calls tribalism.
Dive into our member spotlight series:
– Andrew Fisher, Head of Strategy at Australian Retirement Trust
– Yolanda Blanch Ruiz, Chairperson at Pensions Caixa 30
– Aaron Filbeck, Managing Director of Content & Community Strategy at CAIA Association
