Diversifying Your Perspective
Molly Concannon, CFA, is a principal in Vanguard's Portfolio Review Department, were she leads the Equity Product Team. Looking to deepen her knowledge across asset classes, Concannon chose to attend the Investment Management Workshop at Harvard Business School.
What were your objectives in attending the program? Were they met?
I had heard very positive feedback from colleagues who had participated in Harvard Business School's Investment Management Workshop. For me, it was an opportunity to spend four days entirely focused on learning from others in the investment management industry, through both the cases and my fellow participants.
The program was intense in the best way: the days were full of classroom debate, small group discussions, and productive networking. Unlike networking at conferences or industry events, our cohort was united in being there to learn, which yielded great engagement and met my high expectations.
How would you describe the value of the program?
The program was incredibly valuable—I can't recommend it enough! The case study method is a fantastic way to learn from other investment managers, and the professors did an excellent job drawing out diverse perspectives from everyone. Not only was the level of discussion and debate fantastic, but some of the case protagonists also were on hand to talk about their experiences with us.
To give more of a flavor, this year's case discussions ranged from manager edge in public equities, product development in private markets, and the efficacy of the endowment model to ESG, specific trade strategies, and inefficient markets. The global participant base was highly engaged, which I attribute to both the quality of the case studies and the expert facilitation by HBS professors.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering the program?
I highly recommend this program to investment management professionals looking to diversify their perspective and learn from others. Like many things, you’ll get out of the course what you put into it, from preparation for classes to engagement in the discussions. Being fully immersed for several days contributed to the overall experience.