Australian Finance Podcast Qiao Ma: finding killer companies, surviving the GFC & why founders win
Oct 30, 2025
Qiao Ma, Portfolio Manager at Munro Partners, specializes in global small and mid-cap growth investing. She shares insights on identifying killer stocks and the importance of founder-led companies in achieving long-term success. Qiao recounts her survival during the GFC and emphasizes the significance of control in investments. She discusses how AI presents opportunities that overshadow smartphones and highlights the necessity of robust risk management through disciplined strategies. Finally, she advises being true to oneself and the value of early financial guidance.
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Launching Into A Massive Opportunity
- Qiao Ma and Nick Griffin launched the Munro small/mid-cap fund after spotting cheap, fast-growing companies overlooked by the market.
- They triple-checked research before launch and started with 25 high-conviction ideas to limit risk.
Lehman's Collapse Shaped Her Lens
- Qiao joined Lehman Brothers straight from college and worked in the financial institutions group analyzing peers, not her own employer.
- Lehman's collapse shocked employees and taught her to avoid missing the big picture while focused on details.
Use Team-Reviewed 20% Stop-Losses
- Use a stop-loss alert (20% fall) that triggers a full team re-pitch and unanimous review within a week.
- Sell if even one team member dissents; you can always re-buy later to control downside risk.