---
title: "Rising Star: Nancy Davis, Quadratic Capital Management"
description: Nancy Davis was recognized as a Rising Star at the 2015 Women in Finance Markets Choice Awards.
---

[Articles Marketmedia](https://articles.marketsmedia.com)

# [Rising Star: Nancy Davis, Quadratic Capital Management](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/rising-star-nancy-davis-quadratic-capital-management)

 Written by [Terry Flanagan](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/author/terry) | Jan 5, 2016 8:49:33 PM

Nancy Davis was recognized as a Rising Star at the [2015 Women in Finance Markets Choice Awards](https://www.marketsmedia.com/2015-women-in-finance-markets-choice-awards/).

What follows is a lightly edited transcript of a December 22 telephone interview.

**Markets Media**: Describe our role at Quadratic Capital Management.

**Nancy Davis**: We have a very differentiated approach to portfolio construction. I'd argue it's quite innovative, as the whole portfolio is implemented with optionality. We primarily use options in our portfolio construction, which is a risk-based support approach to portfolio construction. We are a discretionary macro strategy that seeks to have a defined downside along with asymmetric risk-reward. The strategy is also typically long volatility. We aim to deliver uncorrelated returns in normal environments and also in risk-off environments.

**MM**: What do you (and by extension, your team and your organization) do to achieve Rising Star recognition?

**ND**: It was definitely an honor to be recognized by a panel of industry peers. I think this is my second or third Rising Star Award. We've had a lot of success at Quadratic, as I have in my career. It's nice to be recognized, especially by a group of peers.

 Nancy Davis, Quadratic Capital Management

**MM**: What is your perspective on being a successful woman on Wall Street, i.e. what has been your experience as a woman in a field that at least historically has been dominated by men? What is your advice for young women who aspire to a career similar to yours?

**ND**: I have been in the world of finance for almost 20 years now. I can tell you the industry has definitely changed a lot. When I was first a trader and then a portfolio manager, most of the time I was either the only woman or one of two on the whole floor. I think that's really changing right now.

A trading or portfolio management career on Wall Street is the ultimate meritocracy, because you have a number next to your name. It's a great place for young women to pursue a career because it is truly a level playing field that’s based on your performance and your returns.

​I've been guest lecturing and volunteering with universities for many years, most recently with Columbia Business School, specifically to encourage more women to go into revenue-generating roles on Wall Street. There's nothing wrong with compliance, legal, or operations, but I think you have a bit less control over your destiny in those career paths. The level playing field of trading and portfolio management side is very helpful, especially since women are still a minority on Wall Street.

[View full post](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/rising-star-nancy-davis-quadratic-capital-management)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Terry Flanagan"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2022-05-12T11:09:27.771Z",
  "datePublished" : "2016-01-05T20:49:33Z",
  "headline" : "Rising Star: Nancy Davis, Quadratic Capital Management",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 445,
    "url" : "https://20473405.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20473405/Imported_Blog_Media/rising-star-nancy-davis-quadratic-capital-management-1.jpg",
    "width" : 950
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://articles.marketsmedia.com/rising-star-nancy-davis-quadratic-capital-management",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60,
      "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
      "width" : 60
    },
    "name" : "Large Hedge Funds To Enter Crypto"
  }
}
```