Mary Harman

I always remember the saying, “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of good.” High achievers often gravitate to perfectionism, but it can hinder progress and lead to excessive effort spent on trying to achieve an unrealistic standard.  I found this even more important in a field where collective intelligence is critical and dynamic markets can make or break.

I used to tell my teams: Embrace Good Enough Understand sometimes, it’s more practical and efficient to aim for really, really good rather you’re your version of perfect. This allows you to move forward and make progress without getting stuck in endless cycles of revisions. Adapt to Change In a dynamic world, being adaptable and open to feedback is essential. Learning to seek and accept feedback constructively is a valuable skill.  Your ability to incorporate feedback, adjust your work and focus on delivering the best outcome is what you should strive for. Strive for Continuous Improvement Well-constructed processes and workflows can streamline your work and help you achieve better results in less time.  Always look for ways to make yourself and the ways you work better.

As a reformed perfectionist, I shared this lesson with my teams to help them become more effective in their work. Encouraging a culture of continuous improvement, adaptability, and efficiency lead to make better decisions and adapt in the fast-paced and ever-changing investment world

Our family’s favourite hobby is travel, which we started when our children were young.  While it is more difficult now that they are in university or graduated, last year we managed trips together to Southern Europe and the Middle East & Egypt, with more trips planned in the years ahead.  While there are many personal benefits to our time together including strong bonds, education outside the classroom and memories we share, we also value that we raised global citizens.  We believe exposing children to diverse cultures across the globe and different experiences establishes a global perspective, environmental awareness, and civic responsibility.

The unique experience which prepares me to join the Apis Investment Committee is a track record of building, transforming and leading multiple Investment Committees across Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Global Principal Investment businesses. As a result, I bring intimate understanding of an Investment Committee’s objectives, opportunities, and challenges.  Equally important, I reviewed countless global transactions across dynamic economic cycles on each of the Committees.  This collective experience allows me a rich knowledge set to draw upon as an IC member.  From a style perspective, I have learned the importance of constructive communication, collective problem solving and continuous learning & talent development.  I hope to be an asset to continue to drive the firm’s tremendous success into the future.

Financial services play a crucial role in growth markets. They are the infrastructure that enables individuals, businesses, and governments to manage their money, make investments, and access credit, to stimulate growth.  Whether it is individuals looking to bank their savings or large enterprises with vast resource needs, financial services attract foreign and domestic capital to markets and allocate it efficiently.  The sector enables access to credit for consumers and business, which in turn, drives commerce and improves standards of living.  Whether the providers are multinational banks or emerging platforms, the credit allows business and consumers to make purchases, fuel growth and create jobs and, ultimately, wealth.

While this a simplified summary of the importance of financial services in growth, the nuance and detail of delivery create a rich set of investment opportunities.  They are essential for fostering economic growth in both emerging and developed markets.  Their tools and infrastructure for capital allocation, risk management and access to credit drive dynamic economies. I have spent my career exploring these markets and companies and look forward to continuing with Apis.