Investment manager: we all have biases

A big mirror. That's what investors should hold up to themselves more often. What about my "bias? Do I look honestly? Do I dare to give someone who is different a chance? ''Nothing is alien to us either,'' says Jens Ruesink, investment manager at NOM. ''I - and many colleagues with me - always try to be aware that those prejudices are in every one of us. You really can't tell from someone whether he or she will become a successful entrepreneur. This is human work and sometimes your personal set of values, judgments, experience and more get in the way. That's how honest we have to be. Sometimes it would be good not to go for the "safe" middle ground that seems less risky. The very people who are and think differently and give a different perspective can be very valuable. Bluntly put: yes-men won't get you anywhere.''

Don't look for copies

Rightly so, in short, that thanks to Fundright the theme of diversity is back on the agenda. Ruesink: ,,Although diversity is not the best chosen word, I think. To me, from an investment perspective, the term complementarity is better. It is about people in a company complementing and challenging each other. Knowledge, ability, skills and background, they have to be different for each person. And yes, if you do that, no doubt you will get more diversity. But I think that's the right order. Diversity for diversity's sake is not what we need and is not an end in itself. You just want to have the right people in the right places and with that form a complementary team.''

As an investor, Ruesink doesn't just approve or reject plans. He tries to make potentially successful companies better, and regularly that involves increasing diversity. Literally. ,,You often see founders of growing startups looking for copies of themselves. I then make it clear to them that that is exactly not what they should do, that they should find someone who complements, challenges and adds something.''