She says all of the investment managers can discuss all ideas and this pooling of ideas means they can achieve more than the sum of their parts.
Boyle adds that Troy has also probably reached the level where it is large enough to be able to navigate what she believes is the increased complexity in the industry since she entered it in 1990.
She is very measured when discussing the investment process at Troy, but more animated on how the industry has changed, or failed to change. In addition to her role at Troy, Boyle is also on the board of the Witan Investment Trust.
Diverse thinking
Boyle says there are fewer women fund managers now than when she began her career.
“When I began I had two very strong female role models, but it is harder to see those now. I think I have had a wonderful career, still have a wonderful career, and I have been able to have four children and have a career, I think it is a great industry to work in.
"I actually think being an Irish person working in the City and being a woman in the City has given me a bit of an advantage, as there is an outsider’s perspective which can be useful.”
Boyle says one of the issues is the relatively low number of women who apply for jobs in financial services. She says only about 25 per cent of applicants are female.
She notes the global financial crisis “really harmed the industry in terms of getting more diverse voices into it, and the science exists that shows that more diverse teams achieve better outcomes. At Troy we have hired some established fund managers in recent years, but we also have an intern programme, and we are very determined to have a team in all functions of the business that has a lot of cognitive diversity. That is very important”.
In terms of how she sees markets right now, at a time of profound turbulence, she says: “When I started in 1990, [environmental, social and governance considerations] more generally were not really something people spoke about.
"My view is that, quite simply, those firms that care about more than just the interests of the shareholder – so they care about the people they employ, they care about their suppliers and supply chains – I think those things matter to the new generations, and actually the companies which care about those things will be the winners in future, so we have integrated that into what we do.
"I know there is a lot of cynicism around ESG, but I think with us it goes back to the founding of the company by Weinstock.”
