The gender and racial diversity of an investment firm is often viewed from the lens of its ownership composition which, while useful, does not reflect the full value that diversity may add to the investment process. Investment management, at its heart, is about decision making, and diversity among investment team members brings a wider set of experiences and viewpoints that could enhance the way decisions are made.
In this paper, CIO Ian Toner, CFA, and Public Markets Managing Director Marianne Feeley, CFA, outline broader elements of diversity – beyond ownership – that may be used to characterize the demographic qualities of an investment firm. It frames the broader approach to understanding diversity that we are adapting at Verus, which is an integral part of our process of collecting and using information about investment managers.
