Private Equity Professional at Public Pension Capital
Years as a Camper: 7
Years as a Staff Member/Positions held: 3- Spartan Counselor (1), Trainee Director (2)
Current Profession and Title/Years in Role: Private Equity Professional at Public Pension Capital.
Can you provide a brief overview of your job responsibilities?
I work in finance, managing public pension funds’ assets to invest in private companies. Our firm acquires these companies, helps support management in growing the business, and then ultimately sells the business for an investment return (similar to flipping a house). My day-to-day responsibilities include analyzing financial potential of investment opportunities, conducting strategic analyses on businesses, working with management teams on growth opportunities and negotiating the structuring of transactions.
Do you have any career advice for members of our Camp community?
The beginning of your career is all about relationships! Find the people that you admire / want to support you and focus on cultivating those connections. Those people will be extremely valuable down the road as you advance in your company, try new career paths, and need a network to lean on.
What do you believe have been some of your greatest personal and professional accomplishments? Is there a goal toward which you are currently working?
I’ve helped grow some fascinating businesses and helped launch my firm’s first internship program in partnership with Girls Who Invest. Now every summer we hire female college interns, helping them understand the private equity industry and support them in future job searches. I’ve always thought mentorship is invaluable (à la my Kanata Trainee Director days) and am very proud of how our internship program has rolled out!
How do the values or skills you learned at Camp show up in your everyday work and/or personal life?
Positivity and taking initiative continue to influence my life so much. The working world values those with positive attitudes. Peers will want to work with you, support you and provide greater ability to fail. The constant discussions around positivity at camp defined my character and still have a massive impact on my personal and professional life. Professionally, the value of taking initiative that we learn through the Trainee Program is the single most-determinant factor in my professional success thus far. Having the confidence and drive to act on your own volition is extremely unique in the workplace and highly valued.
Is there a person or a situation that had a huge influence on you while you were at Camp? How and why did they/it impact you?
Working with all of my Trainees was incredibly rewarding and they left a huge influence on me. Despite my being the ‘teacher’, having the opportunity to learn from the varying leadership styles of so many exceptional individuals was an unrivaled experience. Now, as a manager in the workforce, I find myself aiming to embody many of my trainees and am equipped with a much stronger understanding of how to lead and work alongside my peers.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t sweat the small stuff. There will always be a million things going on at once. Take the time to step back and think about which ones really matter. Not every action and decision carry grave consequence even if it’s easier to assume they all do!
Favorite Camp meal: Lunch Chocolate Chip Cookies!!!
Favorite dining hall or flagpole song: Spartan Cookie Call
Favorite evening program at Camp: Final Night Campfire
Devotion you best remember from Camp: Lake Stargazing
What profession other than your own would you like to try? General Manager of the Atlanta Falcons – Combining my analytical mind with my favorite sports team would be a dream come true!
