Jim Rowley is the Global Head of Investment Implementation Research at Vanguard Investment Strategy Group, where he leads a team that conducts research and provides thought leadership on a wide range of issues. With 30 years of professional experience—including as past president of the CFA Society of Philadelphia, he was looking for another avenue of professional development to explore. He chose to attend the Investment Management Workshop at Harvard Business School to expand his knowledge, experience, and global network.
What attracted you to the Investment Management Workshop?
My role is very research specific, and I do a fair share of public speaking in my particular areas of expertise. So I liked the idea of exploring other topics related to investments that I don't get involved with during the course of a day. That part was extremely interesting to me. The professors were great and the curriculum was cool, but the possibility of meeting people from all over the world with investment expertise in different areas was what really attracted me to the program.
What were your expectations about attending the program? Were they met?
Given the backdrop of Harvard Business School's programs, I knew I was going to have a great experience. I liked the idea of the program having a broader base in investments. The fact that the professors facilitated the case studies instead of leading them like a lecture made the program more conversational and engaging. Sometimes the case studies were pure backdrop; and at other times, the professors chose an avenue to anchor the conversation to the case studies. And yes, my expectations were met many times over.
What key takeaways from the program are you applying in your leadership role?
In investments, it's all about the tradeoff between risk and return. I learned that every individual brings a unique perspective based on where they work and what they know. Because they see things differently, they may have different final answers on a choice of outcomes. None of them are right, and none of them are wrong, because it all depends on how you rank the risks or the benefits. Making those assessments might be what’s right for one individual, but that doesn't mean it's the right answer for everybody.
How would you describe the value of the Investment Management Workshop?
There are a lot of different investment topics out there, and it's impossible to be an expert on every one of them. I think there’s value in hearing what others have to say, whether that’s how the professors teach the class or how your classmates bring diverse perspectives to the conversation, because they’re speaking from a place where that's their wheelhouse. That would be the cornerstone of what I share with everybody: You're going to meet a slew of other experts—and explore topics where you're not the expert.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering the program?
Read the cases in advance and be prepared, because you don’t know when the professors will call on you. They are there to ask questions and be involved, but it’s far from being a one-way street.
It's okay to not know everything. Embrace the fact that when the opportunity comes, you will have your chance to share your expertise and that will be of value to everybody else in the class. Then there will be times when others bring their particular expertise and background to the conversation, and that's the time to listen and learn.
You're going to meet very successful professionals who are very nice people—and have a lot of fun talking with them.