PE Firm Culture
There seem to be lots of horror stories of people getting to top PE firms and hating it. Assuming as a baseline that every top PE firm is “sweaty,” does anyone (or their friends) have opinions on which shops have the best / worst culture. Largely meaning expectations are high but fair, you like the people you work with, etc. I understand people will mostly just take the best firm they can get, but would love to know if any places stand out negatively or positively (excl. the obvious like APO)
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some insights into PE firm culture:
Firms with Positive Culture:
Bain Capital:
The Riverside Company:
Carlyle Group:
Advent International:
Firms with Mixed or Negative Perceptions:
Apollo Global Management (APO):
Blackstone Group:
Key Cultural Elements to Look For:
Ultimately, while every top PE firm is demanding, the culture can vary significantly. Networking and speaking with current or former employees is the best way to gauge the culture of a specific firm before making a decision.
Sources: 2017 Private Equity Report – 8 Category Highlights, Apollo is revamping recruiting and softening its culture. Here's a look., PE firms that people actually like, and why, Does "good culture" exist at the pre-MBA level in PE?, PE firms that people actually like, and why
best = apax services nyc
Really ? Had heard it was decent
TPG healthcare
So creative and funny man great work thanks a ton
Funny how you missed the Apax reference is also a joke
Firm culture is I think more of an output than an input. And the key component is the long term aspirations of the employees, how well the firm is doing, and investment strategy.
Buy and build low-balling firm where everyone there is dead set on climbing a shrinking or non-existent funnel ruled by an aging set of autocratic tycoons and the portfolio is burning —> hell.
Hands off, pay up investors where many people are looking to build a network / have fun / learn and leave to do something entrepreneurial, and the portfolio is crushing it —> much better, still intense because somewhere up the chain there’s someone married to his internal reputation
Mix and match and adjust sliders gets you something in between.
Some hellish firms are all the big corporate MFs, HIG.
Some more heavenly firms are maybe Advent I’ve heard some good things?
I think consultant friendly firms can be a good correlate to better life, because they less often than finance people choose to feel important by identifying as a Wall Street caricature. But it can be a mixed bag because sometimes it creates more issues than it helps as sometimes those people have fewer PE options — for example Golden Gate.
Centerbridge is full of down to earth folks who value WLB, particularly for juniors.
Are there any PE firms with good camaraderie that you see in the banking bullpen? One of the draws of finance for me is that sort of culture which is super motivating and energetic.
Warburg Pincus IBS
Permira and Cinven have a good, sustainable culture
Are you saying these firms stand out positively, or negatively?
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