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May 17, 2016 | Global Equity
Leadership: The Key to Consistent Alpha Generation

Global Head of William Blair Investment Management

Stephanie Braming, CFA, partner, is the global head of William Blair Investment Management. She is also chairman of the board of trustees and president of the William Blair Funds, chairman of the William Blair SICAV, and serves on the firm’s executive committee. She is responsible for leading and setting the strategic direction for Investment Management, including broadening, deepening, and evolving the firm’s investment capabilities. She also chairs the leadership team for Investment Management and serves on the firm’s global inclusion council. Before assuming leadership of William Blair Investment Management in 2017, Stephanie was a portfolio manager for the International Growth and International Small Cap Growth strategies. Joining the firm in 2004, she was instrumental in portfolio construction and portfolio design and had a leadership role in the enhancement of the firm’s systematic research tools. Stephanie also served as portfolio manager for the Japan strategy from inception in 2013 to close in 2015. Before joining the firm, she was a principal at Mercer Investment Consulting, where she was responsible for the strategic investment direction of her institutional clients. She also previously worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Stephanie is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society Chicago, where she served on the society’s board of directors, the Economic Club of Chicago, and The Chicago Network. She also serves on the Board of Governors of the Investment Company Institute (ICI), and is on the Board of Directors of the Museum of Science and Industry, and Working in the Schools (WITS), the largest volunteer literacy organization serving Chicago Public School students. Additionally, American Banker named Stephanie one of the 25 most powerful women in finance in 2021, and Barron’s named her one of the most 100 influential women in U.S. finance in 2022. She received a B.A. from DePauw University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

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I’ve written previously about the importance of alpha generation by today’s investment managers, and having a strong core combined with continuous innovation should lead to consistent alpha generation, client retention, and growth. But ultimately, long-term success in the investment industry is dependent upon effective leadership.

Leadership is needed in the culture of the organization, which must be one that fosters curiosity, innovation, engagement, and results-oriented collaboration. Only in this way can we promote an environment in which consistent alpha generation can flourish. That means letting people innovate and move out of boxes. It means letting new products develop organically. It means maintaining a cohesive strategy that reflects the strengths of the firm while recognizing both cyclical and secular trends. Investment leadership understands industry trends but is not afraid of them.

Leadership is needed in the culture of the organization, which must be one that fosters curiosity, innovation, engagement, and results-oriented collaboration. That means letting people innovate and move out of boxes.

While there may be headwinds to growth due to evolving demand for strategies, leaders are not afraid of how these headwinds may passively affect the firm. Leaders try to understand the cyclical versus structural nature of these headwinds and capitalize on them. Sometimes these headwinds—these disruptions—stimulate innovation. Investment leaders need to foster this innovation, develop a long-term strategy, and have the ability to execute to that end.

Leadership is also required in terms of technology. Technology includes the tools used in the investment process, but also in communicating with external constituencies via formal written and verbal communications, interactive discussions, and, of course, social media.

Lastly, alpha generation requires leadership in human capital. Investment firms must attract and retain curious, driven, high-quality, team-oriented investment professionals to generate consistent performance. To do that, we must expand the opportunity set. Numerous industry studies have shown that diversity in backgrounds, in life experiences, and in gender and race contribute to better investment decisions. According to a McKinsey & Company study, for instance, the likelihood of good financial performance (as represented by earnings before interest and taxes) improves as gender and ethnic diversity increases. Similarly, a Credit Suisse study found that since 2006, among companies with more than $10 billion in revenue globally, those that had at least one woman on their boards had 3.1% annualized outperformance versus those with no women on their boards. Women are also making more decisions relating to investment portfolios, both institutionally and in the high-net-worth arena.

The imperative for diverse teams must be initiated by an organization’s leadership, but must be implemented organically from the bottom up, with each team internalizing these initiatives and searching for candidates with varied backgrounds. Of course, each team member must fit within the culture, but not everyone within a strong culture looks the same, attended the same schools, or lives in the same place. We all need to do better, and I am confident we will do better. The integrity of our investment process, the continuous search for alpha, and our client outcomes demand it.

Global Head of William Blair Investment Management

Stephanie Braming, CFA, partner, is the global head of William Blair Investment Management. She is also chairman of the board of trustees and president of the William Blair Funds, chairman of the William Blair SICAV, and serves on the firm’s executive committee. She is responsible for leading and setting the strategic direction for Investment Management, including broadening, deepening, and evolving the firm’s investment capabilities. She also chairs the leadership team for Investment Management and serves on the firm’s global inclusion council. Before assuming leadership of William Blair Investment Management in 2017, Stephanie was a portfolio manager for the International Growth and International Small Cap Growth strategies. Joining the firm in 2004, she was instrumental in portfolio construction and portfolio design and had a leadership role in the enhancement of the firm’s systematic research tools. Stephanie also served as portfolio manager for the Japan strategy from inception in 2013 to close in 2015. Before joining the firm, she was a principal at Mercer Investment Consulting, where she was responsible for the strategic investment direction of her institutional clients. She also previously worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Stephanie is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society Chicago, where she served on the society’s board of directors, the Economic Club of Chicago, and The Chicago Network. She also serves on the Board of Governors of the Investment Company Institute (ICI), and is on the Board of Directors of the Museum of Science and Industry, and Working in the Schools (WITS), the largest volunteer literacy organization serving Chicago Public School students. Additionally, American Banker named Stephanie one of the 25 most powerful women in finance in 2021, and Barron’s named her one of the most 100 influential women in U.S. finance in 2022. She received a B.A. from DePauw University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

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