A Note from Michael Hankin, President and CEO of Brown Advisory
I love our NOW conferences. NOW, which is short for “Navigating Our World,” is a forum in which we join with clients and friends to learn from thought leaders about some of today’s most profound changes in technology, geopolitics and other fields. The conference is an important part of who we are as an investment firm. Our consideration of external viewpoints is a critical element of Brown Advisory’s culture, reflecting our belief that thoughtful attention to diverse perspectives helps us make better decisions for our clients.
We held our first NOW forum in 2008 to mark our 10th anniversary as an independent firm. Since then, we have hosted the conference every other year in Washington, D.C., and, beginning last year, in London as well. NOW is embedded in our firm’s DNA, and is one of our most cherished shared experiences with clients.
On April 25, we held our fifth NOW conference with the theme, “Moral Courage in a Time of Disruption.” At NOW, we do not promise answers. Instead, we tackle issues with the goal of helping us enlarge our contributions as citizens and investors. Some of these issues are familiar, such as the latest advances in the battle against cancer. Some challenges require courage, such as how we should address rising inequality in the U.S. All of the issues we discuss are provocative. At the end of the day, we come away with a firmer grasp on the range of possible outcomes generated by several powerful forces for change.
In this review, Brown Advisory analysts summarize the themes discussed in most of the NOW sessions. The presentations provided ample food for thought, including possible investment opportunities and implications for client portfolios.
We hope you enjoy these session summaries and videos. As always, we welcome your feedback.
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