Your Family Office Podcast Ep 7: Investing in Alternative Assets | Susan, Tracy & Desiree

Family offices are no longer evaluating real estate, energy, technology, and infrastructure separately — they are becoming part of the same investment conversation. In this episode of Your Family Office Podcast, hosted by Colten Ratz and Karen Melonie Gould, we sit down with Susan Lindeque, Tracy A. McWilliams, and Desiree Patno to explore how family offices are thinking about alternative assets in a rapidly changing investment environment. From AI-driven data centers and rising energy demand to real estate strategy, governance, due diligence, and long-term legacy, this conversation examines what families should be considering before capital moves. This conversation is built for Heads of Investment, family offices, and allocators navigating private markets, alternative investments, and long-term capital allocation. 🔹 What We Cover Why more family offices are exploring direct investments and co-investments How AI, energy demand, and infrastructure are reshaping alternative assets Why data centers sit at the intersection of real estate, technology, and energy How family offices are thinking differently about real estate today The importance of power access, regulatory approvals, and operator experience How families can evaluate opportunity without getting caught up in hype Why governance, due diligence, trust, and relationships matter before capital moves How legacy and generational objectives shape long-term investment decisions The growing role of women in family office leadership and capital allocation 🔹 About the Guests Susan Lindeque — Founder & CEO of Avestix, focused on family office governance, long-term wealth architecture, artificial intelligence, energy, and data center opportunities. Tracy A. McWilliams — Founder & CEO of Inspire Global Ventures, bringing experience across family office investing, venture capital, technology, real estate, innovation, and infrastructure. Desiree Patno — Partner at MidNite Family Limited Partnership and CEO & President of NAWRB, bringing perspective across real estate, housing, energy, ecosystems, and impact. 🔹 Connect with the Guests Susan Lindeque:   / susanlindeque   Tracy A. McWilliams:   / tracymcwilliams   Desiree Patno:   / desireepatno   🔹 Key Takeaways Real estate, energy, technology, and infrastructure are increasingly connected Data centers may represent opportunity, but execution, power, and regulatory risk matter Family offices are placing greater emphasis on governance, operators, and trusted relationships Fast-moving investment themes still require discipline, diligence, and long-term conviction Legacy and generational priorities continue to shape how families allocate capital 🔹 Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:39 Where family offices are seeing opportunity in alternative assets 05:20 How technology, energy demand, and infrastructure are reshaping investing 15:34 Are data centers real estate, technology, energy, or infrastructure? 16:52 How family offices are thinking differently about real estate 24:31 What builds confidence before capital moves 29:51 How families evaluate AI, energy, and infrastructure without chasing hype 39:37 Legacy, resilience, and long-term value 47:50 Women, leadership, and changing family office investment decisions 53:08 Alternative asset themes families should be watching 57:17 Rapid fire insights 🔹 Connect & Stay Close Subscribe for more conversations with leading family offices and investors. Follow for insights across private markets and alternative investments. #familyoffice #privatemarkets #alternativeinvestments #realestate #infrastructure #artificialintelligence #familyoffices #datacenters