Biography

JOSHUA KAZDIN, CFA, is the Head of Sustainable Alpha Research, Co-Head of Geospatial Research, and Co-Head of Private Markets Research for BlackRock Systematic Active Equities (SAE).

Mr. Kazdin is responsible for developing SAE’s ESG platform, BlackRock Systematic’s Geospatial Modeling Group, Private Markets Research, and conducting alpha-generating research on stock selection, top-down, and thematic insights across active global long only and long short equity funds. Mr. Kazdin’s research on sustainability and finance has been published in academic journals, conferences, and media.

Prior to joining BlackRock in 2011, Mr. Kazdin was a research analyst at Lazard Asset Management and a researcher at International Strategy & Investment Group. Mr. Kazdin earned a BS, with distinction, in Economics and Political Science from Duke University in 2008 and a Masters in Finance from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2011.

He is based in San Francisco and is currently a term member at The Council on Foreign Relations as well as an Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).

Research Areas

Finance, Asset Pricing, Investment Management, Sustainability, Geospatial Analysis, Private Markets, Political Economy

Education

• Master of Finance, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Bachelor of Science, Duke University

Honors & Awards

• Special Distinction Award, Journal of Investment Management