E276: Lessons from Allocating $70B as CIO at the University of Texas

Why do the biggest investing breakthroughs come not from complexity, but from simplicity and why is that so hard for smart people to accept? In this episode, I talk with Britt Harris, one of the most experienced institutional investors in the world, about what really drives long-term investment success inside large pools of capital. Britt explains why simplicity beats complexity, how scale creates negotiating power and structural advantage, and why engagement — not intelligence — is the true separator of performance. We discuss how innovation in investing is usually recombination, not invention, why empowered teams outperform credentialed ones, and how leaders can systematically create cultures that compound.