Billionaire Lukas Walton has appointed Noelle Laing as chief investment officer of Builders Vision, his family office, expanding her role from philanthropy into oversight of the group’s full investment platform, including family trusts and asset management.
Laing to Oversee Multibillion-Dollar Impact Strategy
Laing joined Builders Vision in 2019 and has served as CIO of its philanthropic arm, Builders Initiative, since 2022. In that role, she restructured 90% of its $1.7 billion endowment toward mission-aligned investments focused on clean energy, sustainable food systems, and ocean conservation. The team under her leadership deployed over $300 million in early-stage startups and emerging fund managers.
Her promotion signals a broader integration of the family office’s investment activities, as Laing now oversees both the philanthropic and taxable asset portfolios.
Builders Vision Expands Investment Team
As CIO, Laing is merging the two internal investment teams, bringing together a group of 20 professionals with plans to hire around six more. Builders Vision, based in Chicago, continues to evolve into an institutional-grade family office with a scale rivaling major endowments.
A spokesperson confirmed that the office manages a multibillion-dollar taxable portfolio, though specific figures remain undisclosed.
Investing Across the Spectrum of Impact
Laing emphasized that Builders Vision operates across a wide spectrum of financial tools—from nonprofit grants to direct investments and co-investments. Recent initiatives include a stake in Norway’s Bluefront Equity, a sustainable seafood fund, and a $70 million co-guaranteed debt arrangement with the Bahamas to support marine conservation.
She describes the strategy as choosing “which tool in which portfolio” best advances their mission in oceans, agriculture, and energy.
Cambridge Associates Network Shapes Next-Gen CIOs
Laing is part of a growing cohort of female investment leaders emerging from Cambridge Associates, a premier advisory firm for ultra-wealthy clients. Other notable alumnae include Erin Harkless Moore (Pivotal Ventures), Margo Doyle (S-Cubed Capital), and Rebecca Carland (Knight Foundation).
Reflecting on her time at Cambridge, Laing said the collaborative environment and diverse perspectives helped shape her approach to mission-aligned investing.
