Connor Teskey is CEO of Brookfield Asset Management, one of the world’s largest investors, managing about a trillion dollars across infrastructure, power, real estate, private equity, and credit.
In this exclusive interview, his first as CEO, we explore his approach to capital allocation, isolating variables, and building a business designed for long-term growth.
Featured clips
Your Work Ethic is in Your Control
What Happens Post Business Acquisition?
Identifying Talent
Work and Life Harmony
Listen and Learn: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | X | Transcript
Discover why effective investing begins with minimizing losses, how waiting for perfect information can result in missed opportunities, the strategies Brookfield uses to manage market risk while maintaining upside potential, and the key insights he gained working alongside Bruce Flatt.
This discussion goes beyond investment strategies, offering a glimpse into Connor’s perspective on decision-making in an uncertain environment, mentorship, culture, positioning, and talent.
It’s a rare inside look at the operations of one of the world’s most tight-lipped firms.
Enjoy!
Tiny Lessons
- “When something feels 90% right, do the deal. The most important thing is that you do 10 of them.”
- If you can do the work but can’t explain the work, it doesn’t matter that you can do the work.
- When you stop asking for permission, you start to trust yourself.
- Working hard isn’t just about grinding more; it’s about being available for others.
- “There is no limit to how much you can care about things.”
- In a crisis, don’t mourn the damage. Instead, focus on capitalizing on the opportunity that just opened up.
- Overbuild happens in every asset class, every cycle, everywhere. The question is, how do you protect yourself?
- Isolate every bet.
- You can’t eliminate risk, but you can contain it.
- Cash is like oxygen, you don’t realize you need it until you can’t live without it.
- When you know the answer, do it now.
- Keep your eyes on the horizon. “We learn a lot from the past, but we don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on it.”
- “There’s a false degree of precision in today’s world of Excel. The reality is that so many times you just have to overlay good judgment, and you have to recognize that there are certain things outside of your control that your Excel model will make seem like a certainty, but aren’t.”
- Working hard is 100% in your control.
- Protect your downside. “If you underrate the worst-case scenario, the base case or the expected case will end up being very attractive.”
- Liquidity is consistently undervalued.
+Want more? Check out our episode with Bruce Flatt
* Note: Shane and guests may hold positions in assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this conversation should be considered investment advice, financial guidance, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Always do your own due diligence or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
