Views & Lessons #1: Signs of Excellence in Smaller Companies

The Quiet Strategies That Drive Exceptional Performance

After years of hunting for hidden champions across global markets, you develop a certain instinct. It's that moment when you're reading through yet another annual report, perhaps translating it from German or Italian, and something catches your eye. Not just the numbers - though those are important - but signs of a business doing something special in their own quiet way.

I've found myself increasingly drawn to these smaller companies precisely because this is where excellence often hides in plain sight. While the investment world obsesses over the latest tech giant's AI strategy, there are businesses out there dominating their niches, solving real problems, and creating tremendous value without anyone noticing. That's what I want to share with you today - the patterns I've noticed that often indicate something special is happening.