In today's rapidly changing investment landscape, the expectations placed on corporations include a call for greater responsibility and transparency. Companies that focus on long-term value creation for their shareholders must prioritize financial stability, transparency, decentralized collaboration, and a culture of open communication. In doing so, these firms are the best positioned to reap the benefits of their efforts and measure the value they create over time. Building a better working environment and focusing on the long-term value creation leads to a sustainable business—even in economic downturns—while charting the course for the next generation of leaders, thereby ensuring the company's principles continue to thrive. In this episode, Ben Watsa shares his journey, including his leadership style, investment philosophy, and invaluable tools to enhance your investment acumen and ability to navigate the evolving investment landscape through timeless lessons and principles.
Ben is the President and Founder of Marval Capital Ltd. ("Marval") which began operations in 2017 and manages over $220 million in assets. Mr. Watsa has over two decades of experience in the investment industry. Prior to Marval, Mr. Watsa was a Partner and Portfolio Manager at Lissom Investment Management Inc. for over a decade, and spent five years in New York as an investment banker in the Financial Institutions Group at Banc of America Securities and at Cochran Caronia Waller. Mr. Watsa serves as; a director of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited and Fairfax India Holdings Corporation, the advisory board of Impression Ventures, and holds the position of director emeritus for his work and contributions as a director and the Vice Chair of the Investment Committee for the Rideau Hall Foundation. Mr. Watsa was recognized as a top 50 Under Fifty Indo-Canadian leader, and is also a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization and a member of the Toronto Club’s Membership Committee.