Hedge Fund Question of the Week – Winter Edition – No. 10

How many degrees of separation are you?

Answer: Not more than three.

Everyone in the hedge fund business knows someone who knows someone who knows you. That can make the industry seem quite small. And it is, but it isn’t.

The hedge fund business is ultimately a people business. So make yourself more valuable and become a one or two degrees-of-separation person. Get out of the office a few times a month. Attend an occasional conference, or better yet speak at one. Join an industry group. Industry associations such as @AIMA and @Managed Funds Association sponsor terrific working groups and conferences. @HFM Global, GAIM Ops with @Informa and others also put on top-flight conferences.

Several ad hoc industry groups have also grown organically. Consider joining a group outside your area of expertise where you will expand your knowledge and meet new people. Got an issue that might be interesting to the hedge fund industry, write an article. If it’s good, someone will publish it or you can publish it yourself.

At the end of the day, becoming a one or two-degree person will help not only you, but also your firm. It’s important to be recognized as a well-connected industry leader.