by Rick Nason, PhD, CFA
Partner, RSD Solutions Inc
Genius has many definitions. Genius is often thought of at performing at a superb level of intelligence. However genius was once described to me in this fashion; someone who thinks superbly has a superb intelligence, a genius however thinks differently. A genius is not more and faster intelligence. Genius is a different kind of intelligence.
It is my opinion that the risk industry (and in particular in the financial sector) has a lot of extremely intelligent people. However there are few, if any geniuses at work. A group of really intelligent people are like a group of lemmings – except they are really efficient and quick lemmings – they get to a higher cliff, much quicker than more ordinary mortals.
Risk (and in particular, financial risk) needs some geniuses.
