Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.com

SHOW NOTES:

There’s substantial evidence (just look at most of our leaders and politicians today) that humble people DON’T rise – even though research shows they are more effective leaders. Can you be humble and still get ahead, and still get big things done? In this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth speaks to David Harris at Vista Equity Partners about how being “humble and hungry” has propelled his rise in the investment world – and furthers his impact. Beyond being a sponge that is continually learning, David shares how he built a powerful network that opened doors, cultivated and benefitted from diverse mentors, and leveraged and created opportunities that serves larger goals. Memorable and insightful, David will make you think deeply about what it truly takes to earn your seat at the table -- and the critical steps you need to add to your playbook to get there.

• David and Michael were born and raised to be mortal enemies: An attempt to deal with their differences.
• At age 6, why David said he wanted to become a manager at McDonald’s when he grew up.
• David and the US Air Force Academy: “the reason you come is different than the reason you stay”
• Is private equity about “serving”? How David sees it.
• His start in investing began with a terrible LinkedIn profile
• “Reaching out to someone like you:” the huge impact of Christian Evans, and how David reached out to him
• The power of the mindset: “Humble and Hungry”
• Connecting with Kneeland Youngblood: doing his homework and landing the 60-day summer work at Pharos Capital
• Keys to David’s networking: Everyone gets the need to do secondary and tertiary research -- but few people go deeper to create a memorable first impression.
• Have you ever been in “LinkedIn jail?” and how to flood the market.
• Planning ahead: Meeting Michael Milken and benefitting from Riordan, MLT, and Tiogo to build a strong network and receive mentoring to accelerate his path into finance
• The importance of making lifelong connections to institutions
• David gives back, and forms “The Club” that helps Air Force grads get into top MBA programs
• How power comes when you become a “known quantity”
• Creating virtuous circles: giving leads to getting
• How David stays grounded and humble? Insight from 3 football coaches, and his wise girlfriend.
• Why David has little to no social media presence.
• Lightning round: David’s top influences, a non-business book recommendation, and the one place and one dish he has yet to learn how to make
• The one question I didn’t ask: managing the family divide in the OU – UT rivalry.
• How to connect with David Harris

BIO AND LINKS:

David Harris is a software investor at Vista Equity Partners, one the world’s largest private equity firms with more than $100 billion in assets under management. Prior to joining Vista, David worked at Blackstone in the Tactical Opportunities Group, managed a $250 million satellite software portfolio that supported 8,000 users at the National Reconnaissance Office, and led a 30-person team with strategic oversight of the $7.3 billion development phase as Program Manager supporting the U.S. Department of Defense’s Nuclear Cruise Missile. In his first role in finance, David was a summer analyst at Pharos Capita. David is member of the Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle and an active member of Management Leadership for Tomorrow. Originally from Dallas, Texas, USA, David is an avid Cowboys fan. He graduated from the US Air Force Academy and the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

• David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-harris-aa401912b/
• Vista Equity Partners: https://www.vistaequitypartners.com
• The Cowboys-Eagles rivalry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboys–Eagles_rivalry
• Christian Evans: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cevans2008/
• Kneeland Youngblood, Founding Partner, Chairmana & CEO at Pharos Capital Group: https://www.pharosfunds.com/kneeland-youngblood.php
• How to network with powerful people (HBR article): https://changwenderoth.com/articles/
• Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle: https://milkeninstitute.org/partner/young-leaders-circle
• Management Leader for Tomorrow (MLT): https://mlt.org
• Toigo Foundation: https://toigofoundation.org/education/mba-program/
• Coach Candace Tumey at MLT: https://mlt.org/mba-prep/coach-candace-headshot-circle/
• Dr. Wale Lawal, Co-Founder at MesaQuantum: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wale-bumaye-lawal-phd/
• Having a co-pilot: A Chief Pilot’s Insight, interview with Tenille Cromwell on 97% Effective: https://tinyurl.com/ypj99pmt
• David featured in Poets & Quants: From Football to the Military to an MBA at Stanford: https://tinyurl.com/5br498k6
• David interviewed on For the Zoomies: From the Air Force to Finance: https://tinyurl.com/4t8xpt3t
• Michael’s award-winning book, Get Promoted: https://tinyurl.com/453txk74