Valerie Kendall, Founding Partner, WestBridge
Explain your job in three sentences
My role is deliver great returns to our investors. I do this by finding interesting companies to invest in and working with the management teams to ensure that all the right building blocks are put in place to ensure that the business can scale quickly. This is a structured process using the WestBridge value creation model, and helps deliver the full potential of a business over a period of time. This delivers value to the shareholders and for our investors.
What influenced your decision to pursue a career in private equity?
I was fortunate to join the industry in the early 1990’s. I was working at HSBC when it became clear that private equity investors have a much greater ability to influence a company’s direction than their bankers, and I was fortunate to be able to join the private equity industry at a time when the discipline was still relatively young.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt in your career?
Always treat people respectfully, even when you vehemently disagree with them – you will only understand someone’s perspective by listening to them.
What has surprised you most about working in the sector?
I have been in the industry too long to be surprised my much, but the resilience shown by British companies to the twin shocks of Brexit and Covid in recent years has been impressive.
What would you say to encourage other women to work in private equity?
While there are still big characters in the industry, private equity has progressed enormously, and different perspectives and approaches are welcomed.
Christina Walsh, Chief Operating Officer, Acuity Care Group
Explain your job in three sentences
I work closely with our senior team, providing operational, HR/people, clinical and governance support, while also ensuring Acuity meets the strict regulatory requirements of our sector. We provide high quality care that is tailored to meet the specific needs of the people we care for. By delivering such high quality care, we enable them the choice of continuing to live at home and not having to move into institutional care settings.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt in your career?
Every day I continue to learn new things. The lesson is to learn from mistakes and be prepared to evolve and change through experience.
What has surprised you most about working in your sector?
Having worked in the care sector now for over 32 years, not much surprises me anymore. That said, the commitment of our staff to providing exceptional care to the people we support never fails to surprise me on a daily basis - we are so fortunate to have such amazing people working with us.
What would you say to encourage other women to work in your sector?
At times, the care sector is extremely challenging but it is also equally rewarding knowing that every day we make a positive difference to so many people’s lives.
Katherine Bond, Investor Relations Director, WestBridge
Explain your job in three sentences
I lead WestBridge’s engagement with existing investors – both institutional LPs and members of our HNW Strategic Investor Group. I oversee the development of relationships with new prospective limited partners, particularly as we prepare for the launch of WestBridge III. A key part of my role is turning the investor lens onto our firm and providing insight into what investors expect from their managers and ensuring that their needs are prioritised.
What influenced your decision to pursue a career in private equity?
This is very much a people business. The opportunity to meet and work with thoughtful, talented and entrepreneurial professionals in the UK and on an international level were key attractions for me.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt in your career?
It’s important to work alongside people you like and trust, and equally as important to be part of an organisation with a collaborative and partnership type culture. Second biggest lesson - try and retain your sense of humour at all times.
What has surprised you most about working in the sector?
Whilst progress is being made, particularly with the industry’s focus on ESG, I still believe private equity needs to evolve further and achieve a better balance and representation of diversity.
What would you say to encourage other women to work in private equity?
Private equity is a fascinating and dynamic industry with so many interesting people to learn from. PE is about growth and development – not just of businesses but also of professionals. If an opportunity to enter the asset class presents itself, take it and providing the cultural fit is right, you will not be disappointed.
Rebecca Sinclair, Investment Manager, WestBridge
Explain your job in three sentences
I spend my time working on origination, deal execution and portfolio management. I focus on deal origination in London and the West Midlands. I also have portfolio responsibilities as alternate director of APEM and Channel 3 Consulting as well as being part of the Acuity Care Group investment team.
What influenced your decision to pursue a career in private equity?
I started my career in banking, having been attracted to a role that combines being analytical with good people skills. Having spent a number of years in banking, focused on mid-market private equity backed transactions, I wanted to find a role that combines being analytical with a need for good people skills and the ability to form strong working relationships. I was drawn to a career in private equity as it gives you the opportunity to work in a fast paced, transaction based environment, whilst also working on a long-term basis with portfolio management teams. I have enjoyed the challenges that combining a transactional and heavily relationship based role presents.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt in your career?
The benefit of hindsight is not necessarily your friend. Every challenging decision you have to make will be without the full set of facts and once it is made you should stick by it and not regret it. It will all work out in the end!
What has surprised you most about working in the sector?
The private equity industry generally suffers from a lack of diversity of experience. Firms are increasingly understanding the importance of recruiting from varied backgrounds with differing skill bases. This encourages diversity of thought and allows for robust discussion and challenge whilst making investment decisions. I believe there is more that can be done to promote a career in private equity from varied industries and providing on the job training where experience is less transaction based.
What would you say to encourage other women to work in private equity?
One of the most important roles of a private equity investor is to be able to quickly forge strong relationships with people. Having diversity, including gender diversity, within investment teams is key to ensuring that a people first approach is maintained. There is a common misconception that a career in private equity is ruthless and requires you to only be good at analysing data, spreadsheets and working with numbers. The very best private equity investors I have seen combine this need to analyse businesses and spot opportunities with the ability to quickly form strong relationships with people not only in the businesses they partner with but also across the industry. The importance of people skills and relationship building is so often overlooked by those not in the industry.
Lisa Kerford, Managing Director, Aptus Utilities
Explain your job in three sentences
My role is to lead the executive team to deliver a quality product and excellent customer service whilst maintaining business performance that meets business objectives and complies with all relevant statutory and other regulatory requirements. I also work with the team and the board to deliver strategic action plans which deliver business improvements.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt in your career?
Always work hard to deliver to the best of your ability and never assume everyone else will do the same.
What has surprised you most about working in your sector?
The lack of consideration given to ‘whole project cost’ when awarding contracts.
What would you say to encourage other women to work in your sector?
Opportunities are there to be taken, the only limit is your own belief. However, you need to earn respect by working hard and delivering well.
Nicola Hunter, Finance Director, APEM Group
Explain your job in three sentences
My primary role is to ensure we plan and deliver our strategy in line with our financial objectives. To help achieve this, I lead the business support teams to ensure they are high performing, enabling and driving value in the business. Underpinning all of this, my role is to ensure appropriate governance and oversight is in place.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt in your career?
It’s important to reflect on personal, team and company achievements and to celebrate success more often.
What has surprised you most about working in your sector?
The amount of growth across the sector which benefits our employees through variety of work and development opportunities.
What would you say to encourage other women to work in your sector?
Our sector doesn't appear to have any gender bias, with expertise and passion being the most important pre-requisites. Across the sector, companies have embraced flexible working which enables an improved work life balance for all employees.
Nicola Teague, Divisional Director, APEM Group (photo
Explain your job in three sentences
As a national expert in my field, I lead a division of aquatic scientists. Through this role I ensure that as a division we are constantly preparing for new industry challenges and can partner with our clients to offer the outstanding quality that we're well known for. As part of the senior management team, I am also responsible for the financial oversight of the division and contributing to the growth and success of the business.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt in your career?
To play to people's strengths. Everyone offers something different to the team and by identifying individual strengths and maximising their potential ensures a strong, effective and resilient team.
What has surprised you most about working in your sector?
The diversity and constant new challenges in the sector. No two days are the same, which keeps the sector exciting and very rewarding.
What would you say to encourage other women to work in your sector?
As I celebrate my 16th anniversary at APEM this week, I have clearly found that place.