Finding Value Early: Investing, Manager Selection, and the Discipline of Recognition

What does it take to find value before others do?

Value investing is often described as buying what the market has mispriced. But in practice, it’s also about patience, conviction, and the willingness to look beyond the usual patterns of recognition. That same discipline can apply not only to companies, but also to investment managers and talent.

Host Willis Wilson is joined by John W. Rogers Jr., Chairman and Co-CEO of Ariel Investments, and Jasmine N. Richards, Head of Diverse Manager Investing at Cambridge Associates.

Together, they discuss what value investing looks like in practice, why patience and conviction still matter, and how investors and allocators can recognize quality even when it falls outside the usual patterns. They also explore the importance of broadening access, developing talent early, and building the kind of judgment that leads to better long-term outcomes.

This podcast episode covers:

• Why patience, conviction, and independent thinking matter in volatile or consensus-driven markets
• What investors and allocators can miss when they rely too heavily on familiarity, pedigree, or conventional frameworks
• How early exposure, financial literacy, and talent development can shape the future of the investment industry

Cambridge Conversations is developed in partnership with PRX, an award-winning podcast media company. Have an idea for an episode or interested in being a guest? Email us to get involved.