4th Edition of Masters at Work | Kolkata | Press Release

Investment professionals gathered to learn from leaders in the investment and wealth management space.

21 September 2024, Kolkata: Over 350 attendees gathered at the 4^th edition of Masters At Work in Kolkata to learn from leaders in the investment and wealth management space. Hosted by CFA Society India, the event offered a deep dive into investment wisdom and strategies shared by seasoned professionals.

The event commenced with an address by Vinay Bagri, CFA, Volunteer, CFA Society India, who emphasized the importance of preserving wealth alongside creating it. He shared his insights on becoming a better investor and identifying the next big opportunities. Quoting Benjamin Franklin, he said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

Sachin Naik, Director, Partnerships and Client Solutions, CFA Institute India, further underscored the role of continuous upskilling in India’s rapidly growing economy, supported by the country’s demographic dividend and the digital age. He highlighted CFA Institute’s commitment to partnering with professionals to strengthen India’s financial landscape.

In the first session of the Summit, Vishal Nevatia, Managing Partner at True North, shared his journey in Private Equity since 1999. He recounted how the sector evolved from having just a handful of players to more than 400 by 2008, followed by massive consolidation after the Lehman crisis. He remarked, “If you haven’t faced significant misses in your investing journey, your bar for investing may be set too low.”

Next came the much-anticipated session, ‘Wit, Wisdom, and Winning Ways’, featuring Vinod Sethi, Former MD, Morgan Stanley and Sethi Capital Inc. and ably moderated by Ramesh Damani, Former Chairman of Avenue Supermarts Ltd. Vinod Sethi shared several thought-provoking observations about the investment world. He said, “As an investor, the fact that anyone is replaceable and that there is a functioning democracy, and a functioning opposition is a huge positive rerating for a market.” He underscored the importance of maintaining objectivity when making investment decisions. He went on to add that in the future, India’s GDP would contribute 30% to the global GDP.

The next speaker, Vijay Kedia, Private Investor, delivered an insightful session on ‘Knowledge, Courage, and Patience’. His advice to attendees was to “chase the story behind the company, not just the money on the table,” adding that while money makes you rich, it’s the story that makes you wealthy. He encouraged investors to focus on the long-term vision and narrative of the businesses they invest in.

The last session on ‘Gorilla to King Kong Investing’, was presented by Pankaj Tibrewal, Founder and CIO, IKIGAI Asset Manager. He emphasized the importance of avoiding big mistakes by following a process of elimination in stock selection, prioritizing book value growth over EPS growth. He highlighted the resurgence of quality and low-volatility stocks, leaving the audience with a key takeaway, “Practicing meditation and embracing one’s spiritual self is the most important attribute for an investor.”

About CFA Society India

CFA Society India is registered as Indian Association of Investment Professionals under Section 8 of the 2013 Companies Act. With more than 2,300 members spread across India, it is one of the premier societies belonging to CFA Institute. The membership base consists of portfolio managers, investment consultants, and other financial experts. As one of the 160 CFA Institute member societies of the CFA Institute, CFA Society India links its regional members to a globally interconnected network of investment professionals. For more information, visit www.cfasocietyindia.org or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter at @CFASocietyIndia.

About CFA Institute

As the global association of investment professionals, CFA Institute sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. We champion ethical behavior in investment markets and serve as the leading source of learning and research for the investment industry. We believe in fostering an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. With more than 200,000 charterholders worldwide across 160 markets, CFA Institute has 10 offices and 160 local societies.

Find us at www.cfainstitute.org or follow us on LinkedIn and X at @CFAInstitute. For further information, please contact pr@cfainstitute.org