Clara's Expertise

Clara is responsible for sourcing and executing deal opportunities, performing due diligence and carrying out portfolio management and value creation strategies. She is also a board director for platform company, My Code—a leading multicultural media and marketing services firm. Before joining Ariel, she was a senior director with the impact investments group at NYL Investors, which manages over $280 billion across fixed income, real estate and private placements for the New York Life General account and third-party investors globally. In that capacity, Clara was tasked with new deal origination and portfolio management and contributed to the formulation and execution of New York Life’s impact investment strategy focused on addressing the racial wealth gap. Prior to that role, she spent 11 years with New York Life’s private placement group where she was responsible for investment origination, portfolio management, and maintaining relationships with investment banks. She contributed to over $8 billion of new investments and managed a $3 billion debt portfolio of over 50 companies across 15 sectors. Clara is a board member of Good Shepherd Volunteers, which connects recent college graduates to one-year, full time volunteer opportunities serving women, children, and adolescents affected by poverty, violence and neglect. She earned a BS in finance from Manhattan College and an MBA from Columbia University. Clara is a CFA Charterholder.