Patrick Stokvis
From graduate to homegrown leader.
Starting from the ground up
Patrick began his journey as a Research Analyst in what was then called the Spotlight Discussions division, now known as Library. The division was in its infancy, and Patrick was among the first hires. “We were maybe five to ten people in London, trying to get what was then a brand new service off the ground,” he recalls.
Despite its startup feel, the team set a high bar for quality. “We had to instill a culture of excellence right from the start,” Patrick says. Mentored by leaders who encouraged curiosity and precision, he embraced the steep learning curve.
The Analyst role involved conducting well-prepared interviews with industry experts and synthesizing their insights into research for institutional investors. “You’re downloading someone’s brain for an hour,” he explains. “I realized that if I was able to retain even 1% of every conversation I had with somebody who has 20 or 30 years of experience, then it would equip me with a unique skill set and a wide knowledge base that I could deploy in different ways for whatever I wanted to do in my career.”
Learning through experience
client dialed into the call. “I was so nervous,” Patrick admits. “It was extra pressure to ask smart questions. That experience taught me that you’ve got to get comfortable being outside your comfort zone. What I always say to new Sector Analysts is that it helps to think about yourself as sitting between two people who know more than you. And if you are going to be the person with the least knowledge on the line, then you better maximize that learning opportunity.”
Another call, this time with an expert in sausage casings, reinforced the unexpected joys of the role. “He was so excited that someone was asking about his niche because he’d never been interviewed about it. And I was excited because that meant I was the first person to be hunting for new opportunities in this area for my clients.”
Not all lessons came easy. A defining moment came when Patrick received strong feedback from a client after an interview went off track, covering topics that weren’t relevant to the project. “It was clear to the client that I hadn’t done my homework, and he was correct. I should have put in the work. That conversation taught me that deep preparation matters and that we can learn a lot from how our clients think to improve the quality of our work.”
Rapid career progression
After three years in London working with Credit clients, Patrick saw a market opportunity in Asia ex-China. He made a bold move: pitching to one of Third Bridge’s co-founders, Rodolphe de Hemptinne, and current Chief of Staff, Alistair Macdonald, that the company should open a Library division in Hong Kong.
Patrick’s proposal was accepted, and he relocated to Hong Kong to lead the new team. “I thought I’d go out, set it up, and return to London. I didn’t expect to end up actually living here in Hong Kong, leading and growing the division – but here I am, seven years later.”
Patrick is proud of the tangible impact his work has had on the business and its clients. “Bringing Third Bridge services to Asia ex-China was a big milestone. We gave clients access to insights they couldn’t get before in a rapidly developing region, helping them make more informed investment decisions.”
Since then, Library has expanded across the region, with additional teams now operating in Tokyo and Mumbai. In his current role as Head of Content and Strategy for Pan Asia, Patrick oversees regional growth, research strategy, and new product rollouts.
The thing that's kept me around for the past 10 years is the ability to learn something new every day.
Culture that accelerates growth
Patrick attributes his rapid progression to Third Bridge’s culture of trust. “One of our core values was ‘shocking with trust’ – taking a chance on somebody and giving them the opportunity to prove themselves. I’ve had a long list of really great managers and mentors in Senior Leadership who gave me that trust.”
Patrick also finds fulfillment in mentoring others. “I really enjoy seeing people grow, succeed, and progress. When a client tells me that a Sector Analyst on my team has done something excellent, that’s my favorite part of the day.”
He emphasizes that career growth isn’t limited to linear promotions. “There’s so much scope to go beyond your role and impress. People who stay here for a long time jump between divisions, functions and roles. Often, new roles are created for them because they’ve been able to identify a pain point for the business, found a solution, and put their hand up to run it.”
This culture makes Third Bridge an ideal place for graduates who are hungry to learn and willing to take ownership early. “Nobody is going to tap you on the shoulder and give you what you want. You have to be proactive and go for it yourself. The people who are successful here are self-starters.”
Beyond the desk
Outside the office, Patrick channels his drive into weightlifting – a hobby that’s become a serious pursuit. “I somehow ended up competing in my weight class,” he shares, casually underplaying the level of dedication it takes to train and perform at that level. Despite describing himself as an introvert, he also enjoys spending time socializing with friends, often over a lively brunch.
Patrick also worked part-time for a Venture Capital fund, with Third Bridge’s full support. “That experience was incredibly intellectually stimulating and good fun. I bring a lot of the lessons I learned during those nine months to my work here, and the connections I made there have continued helping me have an inside line into client and market activity.
Advice for graduates
Patrick’s advice for anyone starting their career journey at Third Bridge is clear: “No matter how repetitive you think the task is, there is always an opportunity for you to learn something. It’s easy to master the mechanics of what you do on a daily basis. However, real mastery of the role is engaging with the experts you speak to, retaining some of that knowledge, and using it as an opportunity to further your understanding of a specific sector.”
He also encourages new joiners to factor in global mobility when plotting their career path at Third Bridge. “I’ve benefited from it personally, and now I’m welcoming someone from our London office to my team in Hong Kong. You have the ability to move across the globe between offices, sharing knowledge and expertise from different regions. If international experience is something you value, Third Bridge can absolutely give that to you.”
Building a career, not just a job
Ten years in, Patrick is still learning, still growing, and still driven by the same curiosity that brought him to Third Bridge in the first place. His story is a powerful example of what’s possible when talent meets trust – and when those just starting out in their career are given the space to lead, learn, and make an impact from day one.
