Spotlight

Managing Partner Holden Spaht shares his perspective in the FT’s opinion section on the rise of net asset value loans and the importance of transparency about how capital will be deployed. Read More »
Companies across the globe are playing an instrumental role in addressing COVID-19 by offering their resources, services and expertise to support customers, employees, partners and local communities. Thoma Bravo’s Portfolio Spotlight Series recognizes some of these efforts and initiatives taking place across our portfolio of companies.
Managing Partner Holden Spaht shares his perspective in the FT’s opinion section on the rise of net asset value loans and the importance of transparency about how capital will be deployed. Read More »
Authored by Orlando Bravo
Over the course of my life and career, I’m fortunate to have had the support and guidance of so many people. My first mentors were my father and grandfathers in my hometown of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, who taught me the importance of work ethic, organization and helping those in need. Then I met coaches who guided me through the countless practices, matches and tournaments typical of a junior tennis career. They taught me early on to listen, perfect my approach, and learn to love the competitive dance with each opponent I faced. Later in life, Carl Thoma stepped in to show me the ropes of private equity, teaching me professional lessons that continue to shape my career to this day. As I reflect on my personal and professional life, it’s impossible to understate the impact each one of these individuals has had – their influence is everywhere.
Perhaps most importantly, my mentors have inspired what I consider my life’s work: to provide meaningful opportunities for young, talented adults, from Black and Latinx university students exploring summer internships in the Thoma Bravo portfolio (thanks Sponsors for Educational Opportunity!) to recent college grads launching startup companies in Puerto Rico (Bravo Family Foundation and the Rising Entrepreneurs Program). I know from my own experience that sometimes, all it takes for your life to change is for someone to take a chance on you.
That same culture of mentorship is one of my favorite parts of showing up to work at Thoma Bravo every day. I believe it is one of the reasons we’re able to attract and retain the very best people, which is the most important part of delivering long-term results for our investors. Because the biggest entry point for investment talent at Thoma Bravo is at the Associate level, we take care to retain and develop junior team members and prefer to promote from within whenever we can. In fact, many of our current Partners, like Chip Virnig and Robert Sayle, started out as Associates. These success stories are only made possible when senior members of our team, Principals and Vice Presidents, take the time to mentor new Associates – just like Carl Thoma did for me all those years ago.
Being an effective mentor can be both fulfilling and challenging. Over the years I’ve learned five lessons helpful for anyone interested in serving as a mentor to someone new:
Today, I’m so grateful for all the advice, support and guidance the mentors in my life have given me, and I’m excited to do the same for the next generation of talent.
Let’s all look for opportunities to open doors for others in any way we can!
Originally published on LinkedIn
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