Lakisha Williams on Building Wealth with Value Investing

My passion for value investing in the public domain, sparked by independent research and market success, led me to pursue formal education to strengthen my impact and build long-term wealth for myself and my community. My daughter lives in New York, and during one of my visits, I decided to use the time to invest in myself and apply. Columbia Business School’s reputation in investing made it an easy choice.

The program was very rewarding and insightful. The material was thorough, and the instructors brought real-world experience into every session. I gained a clearer understanding of how to evaluate investments with confidence and walked away with useful tools and resources. It was also great to learn alongside a diverse group of accomplished professionals, which broadened both my perspective and my network.

The Advanced Value Investing program was a transformative experience that sharpened both my technical skills and strategic thinking as an investor.

• I built a structured valuation framework that improves rigor in analyzing businesses and supports a flexible, tactical approach to changing market conditions.
• Through the focus on compounders, I learned how to conduct deep-dive analyses into companies with durable growth potential and identify the characteristics that drive sustained long-term returns.
• I gained tools to think about risk more holistically, moving beyond traditional diversification to consider business model fragility, capital allocation, and competitive dynamics.
• The program deepened my understanding of disruption risks and evolving trends, including macroeconomic and regulatory forces.
• I developed a stronger appreciation for slow-moving consumer trends, especially in healthcare, education, and leisure—factors that can enhance portfolio resilience.

It has already broadened my approach and taught me to become more disciplined and strategic in my investments. Whether I’m evaluating stocks or making decisions about private ventures, I now apply a value-based mindset to everything I do. I also gained tools to sharpen my business analysis, stay focused on fundamentals, and think more critically while remaining patient in a fast-moving market.

I would recommend it to anyone who wants to make smarter, more informed investment decisions. If you are curious, self-driven, and serious about building long-term wealth, this program will give you something valuable.