Yann Robard is the founder of Dawson Partners, a leading global alternative asset manager overseeing $20 billion that provides innovative structured solutions to the private markets. Formed initially as Whitehorse Liquidity Partners and rebranded as Dawson, both names are inspired by Yann’s 1,000 km bicycle journey in the Canadian Arctic that led to his becoming a trailblazer in the market.

Our conversation covers Yann’s entrepreneurial career path, including fourteen years in the formative stages of Canadian Pension CPPIB. We discuss the success of the private equity industry, valuations, liquidity, the necessity of scale, and creating solutions that balance the needs of GPs and LPs. We turn to the process and culture at Dawson and the exciting future of the secondaries market.