What We’re Doing This Holiday Season

Author: The editor's desk

January 2, 2020

Building on a tradition we started last year, we asked members of our leadership team to share a book, podcast, movie or TV selection. In their own words, here’s what they would recommend this holiday season.

Judy Goldring, President and Chief Administration Officer, AGF Management Limited

I recently watched a (short) Netflix series called: Inside Bill’s Mind: Decoding Bill Gates.

I was interested in watching it because Bill Gates has always fascinated me and I wondered what he was like as a person and what makes him tick. I also thought I might learn something. It is also a short, three-episode series so it was quick and easy to consume.

What was most interesting to me was how he thinks so big, and on such a scale that it is really so impressive. In each episode, they speak about three large initiatives that he has undertaken whether it be the eradication of polio around the world, the improvement in sanitation for over four billion people, or how to produce clean nuclear energy that will solve the world’s energy demand and reliance on oil.

In each episode, you learn more about Bill, his genius, his humanity, and his brain. He is truly a genius and it is fascinating to see how he thinks. One great takeaway was just the sheer volume of reading he does. While I won’t match that ever, it was an important learning to read more.

It was really quite inspirational as well to see how he is spending his wealth on looking to truly improve the planet and the enhance humanity’s role on earth.

Chris Jackson, Chief Operating Officer, AGF Management Limited

I’ve just finished Season Four of the Malcolm Gladwell podcast Revisionist History.

I really enjoy his analytical “re-look” at events from the past and his ability to present a different perspective than what the headlines may have portrayed. I also enjoy his quirky sense of humour.

Mark Adams, Senior Vice-President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, AGF Management Limited

I have become a big fan of podcasts in the last few years. They are so accessible and fit in with my busy lifestyle. I listen to them during a workout, while commuting or carpooling with my kids. Here are some of my current favourites:

Invest Like the Best: This podcast is about smart people sharing great ideas and their experience in business and investing. Recommended episode: Michael Kitces – The Past, Present & Future of Financial Advice.

Business Wars: Recounts the story of two corporate titans pitted against each other in a light and accessible format (my kids love it!) – Netflix versus Blockbuster, Nike versus Adidas and Snapchat versus Facebook, to name a few.

Inside the Hive with Nick Bilton: Weekly interviews with the leading minds in tech, business, politics, and culture.

My other guilty pleasure this year has been Fleabag. It’s hilarious and bingeworthy.

John Christofilos, Senior Vice-President, Chief Trading Officer and Investment Management Operations Strategy, AGF Investments Inc.

I’m currently enjoying the David Novak Leadership Podcast. David interviews and questions leaders from across various industries about their leadership style and techniques.

Carol Ferguson, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Human Resources, AGF Investments Inc.

If I need a break from work when I get home, I tend to trend towards entertainment and world politics versus HR discipline research.

I love history, anything with a psychology theme, the economy, and currently anything about climate change. I tend to be drawn to docuseries, whether they are truth or truth/fiction based. Specifically:

Florence Narine, Senior Vice-President, Head of Product, AGF Investments Inc.

Book pick: I Know I Am, But What Are You? by Samantha Bee. It’s a candid, outspoken, laugh-out-loud funny essays from Samantha Bee, the Most Senior Correspondent on The Daily Show

Podcast pick: Detective Trapp Podcast (or anything from Wondery). This podcast follows Anaheim, California investigator Julissa Trapp as she “embarks on a dark journey that brings her face to face with a man who takes ‘a little piece of her soul.’” The series is about a singular detective on a relentless, sometimes lonely, quest for answers.

TV series pick: The Five (Netflix). Four lifelong friends who are forced to revisit a tragedy from their past.

I guess I watch and listen to some dark stuff!

The commentaries contained herein are provided as a general source of information based on information available as of December 30, 2019 and should not be considered as investment advice or an offer or solicitations to buy and/or sell securities. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in these commentaries at the time of publication however, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Investors are expected to obtain professional investment advice.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of AGF, its subsidiaries or any of its affiliated companies, funds or investment strategies.

AGF Investments is a group of wholly owned subsidiaries of AGF Management Limited, a Canadian reporting issuer. The subsidiaries included in AGF Investments are AGF Investments Inc. (AGFI), Highstreet Asset Management Inc. (Highstreet), AGF Investments America Inc. (AGFA), AGF Asset Management (Asia) Limited (AGF AM Asia) and AGF International Advisors Company Limited (AGFIA). AGFA is a registered advisor in the U.S. AGFI and Highstreet are registered as portfolio managers across Canadian securities commissions. AGFIA is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and registered with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission. AGF AM Asia is registered as a portfolio manager in Singapore. The subsidiaries that form AGF Investments manage a variety of mandates comprised of equity, fixed income and balanced assets.

™ The ‘AGF’ logo is a trademark of AGF Management Limited and used under licence

About AGF Management Limited

Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. AGF brings a disciplined approach to delivering excellence in investment management through its fundamental, quantitative, alternative and high-net-worth businesses focused on providing an exceptional client experience. AGF’s suite of investment solutions extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and individual investors to institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds and endowments and foundations.

For further information, please visit AGF.com.