On July 26, 2023, Walker & Dunlop Chairman and CEO Willy Walker celebrated a milestone of 150 episodes for the Walker Webcast. Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide news and information to clients, these events typically attract an audience of 70,000-100,000 viewers with more than 8 million views generated. The guest was Marc Lipschultz – co-founder and co-CEO of Blue Owl Capital Inc., who discussed how he founded Blue Owl with Co-Chief Executive Officer Doug Ostrover as well as topics such as alternative assets they are involved in; rate hikes impacting their senior secured floating rate debt; ownership of sports teams (Lipshultz is a limited partner in the Washington Commanders ownership group); growth between private equity owned companies versus publicly traded ones; artificial intelligence implications for some software holdings; Federal Reserve raising Effective Federal Funds Rate (EFFR) by 0.25 percentage points bringing benchmark overnight interest rate to 5.25%-5.50%; inflation levels not being easy to bring down or recession looking imminent at present time etc..
Willy Walker asked Marc Lipschultz about his views on private equity owned companies versus publicly traded ones which led him explain that this trend speaks to evolution of U.S capital system where people select private markets due its ability for long term planning while public markets offer wider accesses towards capital along with other advantages like currency creation & durability building capacity etc.. He further noted that even though Blue Owl has global nature but it focuses on alternative assets predominantly in United States because their DNA is about risk management protection from volatility principal preservation & durability which makes US market very strong place be at present times .
Walker also inquired about AI implications upon some software holdings leading Lipshutz comment that those technology firms are best placed adopt beneficial aspects AI deliver same customer base however disruptive effects can’t be ignored either so one must choose wisely depending upon purpose . Inflation does not go away easily according him full credit goes Fed making progress but it’s difficult take foot off brake yet no signs imminent recession either currently .
