Guy Spier | The Education of a Value Investor & More

Guy Spier | The Education of a Value Investor & More

My guest today is Guy Spier. Guy Spier is a Zurich-based author and investor. He completed his MBA at the Harvard Business School, and holds a First Class degree in PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics) from Oxford University where he studied at Brasenose College with the British Prime minister David Cameron. After completing his MBA, Spier started the Aquamarine Fund which is an investment vehicle inspired by the original 1950's Buffett partnerships. In 2008 Spier made news by bidding $650,000 with his friend, Mohnish Pabrai, to have a charity lunch with Warren Buffett. His book, “The Education of a Value Investor” has sold more than 50,000 copies. Mr. Spier served as the chair and founder of the Weizmann Science and Business Club, and as a member of the Harvard Business School Alumni Board. He currently serves on the advisory boards of Value Conferences, and of Zurich Minds. He is the founder of VALUEx Zurich, and has co-founded TEDxZürich and TEDxZüriberg. From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Spier served on the Advisory Board of the Dakshana Foundation. In 2017 Spier joined the newly formed board of the Swiss Friends of Oxford University and is on the board of the UN Watch. He is a member of Entrepreneurs' Organization and of the Young Presidents Organization. Guy lives in Zurich with his wife, and their three children.

Today, you’ll hear about: 1) Guy’s family history, and how it shaped him, and his investment philosophy. 2) The risk of losing it all. 3) Skiing and investing, it’s not the fastest skier that wins, and the one who doesn’t get injured. 4) The challenges & opportunities of managing your own family money, and other people’s money. 5) Investing is like planting vineyards: “not all vintages will be fantastic, but we will have wine to drink” 6) Creating the right physical, geographic and social environment to flourish as an investor. 7) The right and the wrong, and ethics in the investment business. 8) Success is not a number. 9) As a bonus, we talk about flying small planes, and what it taught both of us about investing.

My favorite quote shared by Guy -- “It doesn’t matter how slowly you go, as long you do not stop” – Confucius.

Other notes: Yale Professor mentioned in the episode: Nicholas Christakis, The book is called Connected, TED Talk

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