Expanding investor mindsets and industry networks
When Brian Wimmer, the head of Multi-Asset Solutions at Vanguard, was looking to learn more about other areas of the investment management industry, he reached out to several colleagues who highly recommended the Investment Management Workshop at Harvard Business School. The program expanded not only his view of the investment management landscape, but also his industry knowledge and relationships
Why did you choose to attend the program?
First, I was looking to broaden my exposure to other areas of the investment management industry, including those where my company doesn’t currently offer products. Second, I hadn't taken part in a formal classroom-based program like this since completing my MBA about 10 years ago, so I wanted to temporarily break away from my day-to-day and immerse myself in the content. And finally, I had spoken to several colleagues who attended the program in the past, and they all raved about the experience.
What were your objectives in attending the program? Were they met?
My primary objective was to learn about markets and investments that I’m less familiar with. I also wanted to examine how some firms operate and invest in ways that may differ from my company. The Investment Management Workshop definitely met these objectives. The quality of both the case study content and the professors exceeded my expectations, which ultimately led to a wonderful experience.
What key takeaway from the program are you applying in your professional life?
I now have a much wider view of the investment landscape. For example, as someone who comes from a firm focused primarily on public markets, the exposure to the continued growth and impact of private investing was particularly valuable. I was able to immediately apply that knowledge back at my company.
How would you describe the value of the program?
It's hard to quantify the tangible value of any program like this. I'd compare it to one of those software updates that requires your computer to restart to make the update. It felt like my brain was able to temporarily shut off from my day-to-day back at the office and then reboot while getting helpful updates to my operating system—new relationships, new knowledge, and new perspectives.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering the program?
Ask yourself: "Am I regularly meeting new people with experiences vastly different from my own, gaining exposure to new content that expands my perspective, and learning from world-class experts who stretch my thinking?" The honest answer for most of us is "no." And if you believe those things are important, attending this program is a wonderfully efficient and effective solution.
Is there anything else you'd like to share about the experience?
One expectation I had—that this would be a primarily NYC/Boston-based group of fellow classmates—was proven completely false. The group was truly global and represented an impressively diverse set of investor perspectives. I learned just as much from my fellow classmates as I did from the cases and professors, which multiplied the value of my experience.