Here are the mentors that participate in the Brandes RISE Mentorship Program. We’ve provided synopses of their professional background and Q&A to amplify the experience and motivation they will bring to program participants.
Michael Hutchens is a Director, Investments Group and a Senior Analyst with team leader responsibilities on the Financial Institutions Research Team. He is a member of the Small-Mid Cap Investment Committee and the All-Cap Investment Committee. Mr. Hutchens is a limited partner of the firm’s parent company. Before joining Brandes, he was a Bank examiner with the Federal Reserve System. Mr. Hutchens earned his MBA with a concentration in finance from Columbia Business School and his BS in business with a concentration in finance from Indiana University. His experience began in 1994 and he joined Brandes Investment Partners in 2001.
Q: What led you to volunteer for this program?
A: At different stages in my career, I have benefited from mentorship by more senior professionals who graciously shared their experiences and insights. I have attempted to pay it forward by sharing some of my knowledge and insights with young professionals and university students interested in asset management. I am particularly excited about this program, given the underrepresentation of women in this industry.
Q: Why do you think mentorship is important?
A: There is a tremendous amount of institutional knowledge in this industry and at a firm like Brandes. It is imperative that this knowledge is not lost during generational transformation. This industry has an uncanny knack to have to relearn past lessons and repeat past mistakes. As Mark Twain is believed to have said, history doesn't repeat itself but it often rhymes.
Michael Hutchens is a Director, Investments Group and a Senior Analyst with team leader responsibilities on the Financial Institutions Research Team. He is a member of the Small-Mid Cap Investment Committee and the All-Cap Investment Committee. Mr. Hutchens is a limited partner of the firm’s parent company. Before joining Brandes, he was a Bank examiner with the Federal Reserve System. Mr. Hutchens earned his MBA with a concentration in finance from Columbia Business School and his BS in business with a concentration in finance from Indiana University. His experience began in 1994 and he joined Brandes Investment Partners in 2001.
Q: What led you to volunteer for this program?
A: At different stages in my career, I have benefited from mentorship by more senior professionals who graciously shared their experiences and insights. I have attempted to pay it forward by sharing some of my knowledge and insights with young professionals and university students interested in asset management. I am particularly excited about this program, given the underrepresentation of women in this industry.
Q: Why do you think mentorship is important?
A: There is a tremendous amount of institutional knowledge in this industry and at a firm like Brandes. It is imperative that this knowledge is not lost during generational transformation. This industry has an uncanny knack to have to relearn past lessons and repeat past mistakes. As Mark Twain is believed to have said, history doesn't repeat itself but it often rhymes.