This episode of the FEG Insight Bridge features Dominique Mielle, well-known distressed debt investor, former partner and senior portfolio manager at Canyon Capital, and author of the book Damsel in Distressed: My Life in the Golden Age of Hedge Funds. After 20+ years in distressed debt investments, she published the first-ever hedge fund memoir by a woman. Dominique and Greg discuss what it was like to be the only woman in the room (and an immigrant, no less), what inspired her to write a book about her experiences, and why she decided to retire before 50. Dominique also explains why diversity is a key asset for hedge funds, how the recent changes in Fed activity are affecting the distressed landscape, and which American habit she simply cannot stand.
Chapters
0:00 - Intro
0:35 - Episode Overview
01:58 – Dominique’s story
04:04 – Defining distressed debt investing
06:46 – Breaking down the tools of the trade
10:15 – What types of debt can be distressed?
11:35 – Dominique’s shift from investor to author
15:29 – Being the only woman in the room
19:07 – The hidden asset of diverse perspectives
23:20 – Building resilience in the ups and downs of the market
28:23 – The impact of QE and QT on distressed investing
30:31 – Dominique’s take on diminishing returns in the hedge fund industry
34:56 – On retiring before 50 and life in retirement
38:20 – The one American habit Dominique can’t stand