Hesh Dantanarayana
Investment Manager @ Advent Partners
Interview by Dominic Moore
BIOGRAPHY
I’m an Investment Manager at Advent Partners, which is a Melbourne-based private equity firm that partners with business owners and founders to drive growth. Advent has partnered with over 90 mid-market businesses since it was founded in 1984 and has a strong track record of building market leaders.
In my role I’m responsible for helping Advent manage due diligence for new investments and support investees to drive growth. As part of this role, I work closely with the deal team to assess new opportunities and support the management team post-deal to execute on the investment thesis. During my time at Advent, I have been fortunate to work closely with the management teams of Compass, Tribe, Frosty Boy and Medtech.
Prior to the role at Advent, I was part of the corporate strategy team at Coles and a management consultant at LEK Consulting. I have an MBA from Melbourne Business School and a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Canterbury, NZ.
CAREER RELATED QUESTIONS
What is the best thing about your job?
The best thing is working with Founders and Executives of high growth businesses to help grow the business even faster.
What is the most challenging project/problem you have worked on either as an external consultant or an internal strategist?
Working with a leading transport organisation, I was provided the opportunity to understand and assess the future of transport technology, which ultimately fed into the organisations long-term strategic plan. Beyond the rapidly changing technology landscape, this project was challenging due to the ambiguity of the problem, limited data and wide-ranging expert views on how transport technology would evolve.
What advice would you give someone transitioning from a consulting firm to a role in industry?
Consulting provides a great platform to pursue many different career opportunities in a number of different industries. My piece of advice is to be patient, do your research and seek an opportunity that you’re genuinely excited about where you can make a meaningful impact.
What is the favourite piece of advice you have received and from whom?
A number of years ago a former colleague explained the concept of the growth mindset, which still resonates with me to this day. The key principle is that a person with a growth mindset believes they are in control of their own ability and can learn and grow, which is a great motivator to push through challenging situations
PERSONAL INSIGHTS
As a child what did you want to be when you were older?
I always wanted to be a professional tennis player. I realised early on in my teenage years that it would be harder than I first thought!
What are your three favourite books and what are you currently reading?
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss and The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz.
Currently reading Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, which provides fascinating insights into the mind of a serial entrepreneur.
Who is your personal or business hero/heroine and what quality do you most admire in them?
Satya Nadella, for his leadership style in navigating the strategic direction of Microsoft to where it is today. In particular I admire his clear vision, authenticity and focus on company culture.
What is your favourite quote or motto?
“I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” A great reminder that you make your own luck!