DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AND BUSINESS ECONOMICS STRATEGIC PLAN | TEACHING AND LEARNING
Finance education meets real-world wisdom
January 24, 2025 ·
Contributed by: Izabela Shubair, DeGroote Contributor
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Michael Hatcher spent more than 25 years establishing his career as a global equity investor. During this time, he managed billions of dollars, led global investment teams, and coached and mentored emerging investors. As he gained recognition in the concentrated investment industry, Hatcher became known for his investment philosophy, which is based on identifying and understanding high-quality global businesses.
Now, Hatcher has brought his expertise to the DeGroote School of Business. As the recently appointed Michael Lee-Chin & Family industry professor in strategic business valuation, he supports students by bridging the gap between theory and practice — giving them a competitive edge in a lucrative field.
“Investing is an incredibly competitive industry, and it requires developing a skill set to make decisions under uncertainty and pressure,” says Hatcher.
“I put a lot of emphasis on teaching students to ignore the noise and identify and focus on the mission-critical components; clarify their thought process and learn how to communicate with ruthless efficiency; learn to identify the attributes of quality business models and the skills required to value them and create a strong feedback loop to evaluate their decisions.”
Michael Lee-Chin & Family industry professor in strategic business valuation
The two-year professorship term, which started in July 2024, is part of a $5 million gift to DeGroote by philanthropist Michael Lee-Chin and his family. The role is housed under the Michael Lee-Chin & Family Institute and has two primary objectives.
First, Hatcher brings real-world valuation challenges and practices into the classroom in the fields of valuation, value creation and value investing. He also provides students with knowledge of the techniques and expertise to understand and assess business strategies and the tangible and intangible assets that contribute to their value more fully.
“Market volatility can and will present students with opportunities if they are prepared — I am helping them prepare,” says Hatcher, who teaches security analysis courses in the MBA and Commerce programs. “These are the skills required to succeed, and I have the battle scars to prove it. Teaching these topics can save students significant time and effort as they build their investment process early in their careers.
By incorporating real-world applications into investment education, students experience what those battle wounds may feel like but in a safe environment. I treat my students like part of my investment team, so they get put in the hot seat.”
Finance and business economics professor Ron Balvers is the Michael Lee-Chin & Family Institute director. He is involved with the institute’s current and long-term effectiveness. Balvers says Hatcher’s background, which most recently included leading Invesco Canada’s Global Equity teams for over 10 years, made him an ideal candidate for the industry professor role.
“For a professional program like our Master of Finance, for example, it’s essential that students can apply what they learn in the classroom to the practical side, which will also help them interview better when they go into the job market,” he says.
“Very often, the practical aspects are lost because the material students study in class can be technically demanding and complex. So, students get stuck in the conceptual details without seeing the big picture of how their knowledge relates to real life. Michael, with his extensive career and his background in security analysis, is the right person to help with that. Students are very enthusiastic about his involvement and appreciate his input.”
Hatcher’s impact on students
One of those learners is Master of Finance student Swasti Ray. As the outgoing president of the DeGroote Graduate Finance Club, she is working closely with Hatcher to establish the club’s newest investments-focused division. The club aims to help students develop the critical skills to identify high-quality businesses and conduct industry-level equity research. It will leverage the unique insights Hatcher can provide from his extensive career.
Ray says the industry professor’s role is crucial as it keeps students connected to the practical application and purpose of the extensive knowledge they gain in their DeGroote programs.
“Professor Hatcher’s impact on me has been profound, and his mentorship goes beyond academic knowledge,” she says. “He offers guidance on networking, job searching and professional development. His approach is rooted in first principles thinking, which has helped me break down complex problems, think outside the box and always question assumptions. This mindset has been invaluable, not only in the way I approach my academic work but also in my broader career strategy.”
Hatcher adds, “Creating this practical intersection of studying great companies and investing through coursework, custom content and experiences like the investment clubs is a huge value proposition for DeGroote. I don’t think any other business school is doing what we’re doing with this role, and there is a lot of white space to create additional value for students.”
