Jordan Katz

How do you identify interesting companies in your sector of focus?

Our job is about being able to answer key questions with conviction. Being a part of the Advent ecosystem gives us access to an incredible amount of intellectual resources to inform our investment decisions. We have Advent’s sub-sector expertise, analytical muscle, and access to senior industry leaders at our fingertips to drive differentiated perspectives and insights. All this valuable information flows freely – knowledge sharing is ingrained deep within the sector teams and the Advent culture. The investment process is grounded in honesty and humility, and we endeavor to create an open atmosphere where all perspectives are heard, and the best ideas rise to the top.

How have you seen Advent’s culture of collaboration drive impact?

Collaboration has been a key pillar of Advent since day one. Our founder, Peter Brooke, knew that it was central to building a truly global firm, and it’s something that you pick up on very quickly when you get here. Those who rise to the top are those who collaborate, who don’t need to be asked to lend a hand, and who share their knowledge. Collaboration is what makes Advent what it is.

What’s a mistake you made early on in your career, and what did you learn from it?

Learning lessons is a fundamental principle within Advent, and specifically at Advent Global Opportunities. We’re getting better and more intentional every year. We scrutinize the past year and multi-year periods, both on qualitative and quantitative metrics. We look at every data point we can. Over time, this discipline has helped us to get better at managing the long-term view, and to become more tactical in the short-term.

What about your job inspires and drives you?

I love learning about new businesses and new themes – questioning the status quo and asking ourselves, ‘Hey, just because it’s always worked this way, will it continue to do so?’ We’re rigorously analyzing themes, changing trends, and new regulations to glean insights. A certain subsector that has been flat for years can suddenly become unbelievably interesting. It’s the same with companies: a seemingly small change can make a massive difference. What keeps me interested is that it’s always shifting, and there’s always something new and exciting to understand.

If you weren’t in this profession, what would you be doing?

In another life, I think I would have been a police detective. I’ve been a curious person since I was young. I love studying the intricacies of things that on the surface seem simple, and then peeling back the layers, taking everything apart and seeing how things really work. You have to keep pulling at that thread. That’s when the real excitement happens – when you unearth something that others haven’t. The investment world tends to reward that type of curiosity. The landscape is constantly shifting, and there are always new questions to ask, and new areas to investigate.