Creating a thorough hiring process involves simulating work interactions with candidates through long dialogues over time to understand their thoughts and perspective-taking. By de-risking the simulation process and assessing core values like first principles thinking, admitting mistakes, self-awareness, and having a solution mindset, companies can ensure they are hiring the right candidates. Additionally, incorporating concepts like moat trajectories and evaluating if a business is improving can help in making better hiring decisions and avoiding value traps.
Sanjay Ayer is a portfolio manager at WCM Investment Management, the Laguna-based $80 billion equity manager profiled on three popular past episodes with CEO Paul Black, President Mike Trigg, and emerging market portfolio manager Mike Tian. Sanjay joined WCM in 2007, and alongside Mike Trigg, leads the firm’s research process that follows the mantra: think different and get better.
Our conversation is a fascinating exploration of the differentiated mindset at WCM. We discuss topics, including self-discovery, cognitive dissonance, thinking differently, getting better, compounding knowledge, reflection time, and feedback loops – all in the context of Sanjay’s path and the application of the concepts to WCM’s research process, investment examples, and business.
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