Theories That Move Markets - David Booth and the Revolution in Investing

The Hong Kong Jockey Club University of Chicago Academic Complex | The University of Chicago Francis and Rose Yuen Campus in Hong Kong
168 Victoria Road
Mount Davis, Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong SAR

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is honored to welcome David Booth, a distinguished alumnus and visionary founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors, as our next Trailblazer Forum guest.

A true pioneer in global finance, Booth helped transform how the world invests. In the 1970s, he played a key role in developing one of the world’s first index funds, and in the early 1980s, he launched the first passively managed small-cap strategy. Throughout his career, Booth has bridged the gap between financial theory and real-world investing—partnering with leading academics to create evidence-based investment strategies that would come to define factor investing.

Under his leadership, Dimensional grew from a start-up in the spare room of his Brooklyn brownstone into a global investment management firm with more than 1,600 employees and $853 billion in assets under management.

Booth earned a bachelor’s degree in economics (1968) and a master’s degree in business (1969) from the University of Kansas, followed by an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1971. A lifelong advocate for education and research, he has been a generous benefactor to both universities. In 2008, his landmark gift to the University of Chicago named the Booth School of Business, recognizing the school’s profound influence on his career and success.

Join us for an inspiring discussion on how David Booth transformed financial theory into practice, built one of the world’s most influential fund management firms, and continues to shape the future of business and philanthropy.

Speaker
David Booth (MBA’71)
Founder and Chairman, Dimensional Fund Advisors

Moderator 
Mark Barnekow (MBA’88)  
Executive Director  
The University of Chicago Campus in Hong Kong 
 

In-person Event
Dec 4, 2025 (Thursday) 
6:00 pm    Event Check-in* 
6:30 pm    Guest Presentation  
7:10 pm     Q&A  
7:30 pm    Networking  
8:30 pm    Event ends* 

*Shuttle bus service 
Running from MTR Kennedy Town Station Exit C to The University of Chicago Campus in Hong Kong -  5:45pm / 6:00pm / 6:15pm 
Running from The University of Chicago Campus in Hong Kong to MTR Kennedy Town Station – 8:15pm / 8:30pm / 8:45pm 

Dress Code: Business Attire

REGISTER IN-PERSON EVENT
 

Online webinar 
Dec 4, 2025 (Thursday) 
6:30 pm          Hong Kong | Beijing | Singapore  
4:00 pm          Delhi 
11:30 am         Paris 
10:30 am         London 
7:30 pm          Japan  
4:30 am          Chicago 

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