Being a good steward extends beyond our role as an investment partner with our clients—it includes our roles as an employer, corporate citizen, industry participant, and thoughtful member of the global community.
Striving to constantly strengthen ourselves in each of these roles is reflected in a variety of initiatives outlined below—some new, some established at our firm’s inception.
As long-term investors, we value thoughtful analysis, adherence to our value investing philosophy, hard work, and patience. Our people are our greatest asset, and their success translates to our clients' success. We foster a culture of respect, support colleagues at different career stages, provide career advancement opportunities, and ensure fair compensation practices.
We strive to create a workplace where everyone can connect, thrive, and grow. We honor and celebrate the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and identities of our team members, believing that this diversity leads to better decisions that benefit our clients in the long run.
In the past, the firm and its partners have donated to various community-based charities where the firm operates. In August 2020, we established a donor-advised fund at The San Diego Foundation called the “Brandes Employees Community Investment Fund” (BECIF). Starting in 2021, the primary objective of BECIF is to make annual charitable grants to organizations focused on addressing social and environmental causes in communities where we have offices. We have established the BECIF Committee, a small committee of non-partner employees, to guide the grant recommendation process. We plan to grow the fund on an annual basis through contributions from the firm’s profits.
Over the years, the firm has moved to maximize a positive environmental impact. We work in a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building. We moved from printed subscriptions (newspapers/magazines) to online only. We recycle trash, ink and toner cartridges, upgraded coffee machines, phased out providing Styrofoam cups and have encouraged colleagues to use their own, reusable mugs. We donate books and equipment to schools. All conference rooms are set up with A/V equipment, so less paper is needed at meetings. We retired desktop printers and moved to centralized and more efficient multi-functional printers where duplex and black & white printing being the default. In 2019, we established a small group called the Brandes Green Task Force to identify areas where we can make additional, impactful changes. The firm has committed to a donation and investment of time and effort to San Diego’s Balboa Park to plant 25-30 trees there in November 2021. In addition, we became a signatory to the United Nations “Principles for Responsible Investment” (UN PRI) confirming that we incorporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors into our investment process.
Working hard for our constituents remains our primary goal. At the same time, we recognize the importance of work-life balance and offer resources and initiatives designed to help employees “live well”. We take a wholistic approach: whether it’s physical care, mental health support, financial wellbeing, or resources for a family member including pets. We strive to foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. Through our inclusive benefits programs, we cater to a diverse range of needs promoting employee wellness at work and at home. Offering inclusive benefits is the right thing to do to contribute to health and wellbeing for all employees.