est. 2020
RAISE VOICES, NOT HANDS
Blue Sapphire Equities' mission, “raise voices, not hands,” highlights our commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive firm culture. We encourage active participation and open dialogue, where team members are expected to share insights and ideas rather than passively following the majority or deferring to authority. This approach prioritizes constructive debate, empowerment, and democracy in leadership, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued. At BSE, we believe that diverse perspectives lead to better investment strategies and the mitigation of risk. Our mission symbolizes the collective’s commitment to intellectual rigor and mutual respect.
OUR MISSION
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A LETTER FROM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
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To whom it may concern,
Blue Sapphire Equities’ mission revolves around three core pillars: consistently outperforming the S&P 500, providing members with a comprehensive financial background, and fostering a culture of passionate individuals. Originally refounded as a student managed investment fund in 2020, the organization has transformed itself by enriching passionate students with financial knowledge, built on the values of integrity, community, vigor, and excellence; BSE has been curated to sit as the premier student led investment fund in the Midwest.
Finance is our focus, but culture is our core: An organization’s success is not solely measured by its size or returns but by its vitality and collective spirit. At BSE, the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts. Over the years, we’ve worked diligently to build a culture centered on educational excellence and inclusivity, embracing students from all majors. This close-knit environment is guided by our mission: “Raise your voice, not your hand.” Every member’s perspective is valued equally, and all share the responsibility of contributing to the betterment of the fund. By fostering this collaborative environment, we ensure that while finance is our focus, culture is our core.
We seek passion not expertise: At BSE, we have a unique perspective when it comes to recruiting prospective members. We seek those passionate to learn regardless of existing knowledge. Unlike other high finance organizations, we recruit from a wide variety of majors: from pre-med and biology, to marketing and data-analytics. Our goal is to afford our members the comfort to ask questions and not feel belittled. As Confucius once said:
“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, but the man who does not ask at all is a fool for life.”
At BSE, it is our goal to push members to challenge themselves and others to create the deepest possible understanding. Our fund is dynamic in nature, which grants us ample opportunity to guide members as they pursue their passions. An excellent example of this took place last semester, when we supported one of our associates in establishing an additional core equity discovery team in healthcare, a sector she was particularly interested in. We seek passion, not expertise.
You learn it, you teach it: Knowledge transfer is a cornerstone of our success at BSE. Through a "learn it, teach it" approach, members are encouraged to share their insights and mentor others, ensuring the continuity of learning and growth. This tradition reflects the wisdom of Sir Isaac Newton:
“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Each generation of BSE analysts builds upon the foundation laid by their predecessors, creating a legacy of perpetual learning and success. You learn it, you teach it.
This fund is more than its portfolio, brand, or achievements. It’s a family. We find success not as a result of individual efforts, but from the collective whole. Blue Sapphire Equities is more than an investment fund, and it always will be.
Sincerely,
Jack Mercer
Managing Director
