During the recent NFL lockout, New England Patriots kicker Sultan Masco reportedly spent his summer as an intern at a private equity firm. Unusual? Not really. It seems the private equity industry has a slew of ex-NFL stars, reports Fortune.
Two-time league MVP and Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young is currently a co-founder and managing director at Huntsman Gay Global Capital, a mid-market buyout firm that is currently investing its $1.1 billion debut fund.
Drew Bledsoe, the quarterback who helped lift the New England Patriots to new heights, is co-manager of Bledsoe Capital Management, a firm that invests in tech, entertainment, luxury services and real estate.
Former wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad of the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears is managing director with Axum Capital Partners, a Durham, N.C.-based PE firm focused on the lower and middle-markets.
The list goes on. The Fortune article lists a total of 15 former NFL stars who are now in senior positions with various private equity firms. So what is it about pro football or the NFL that gives you a leg up on landing a private equity job? Is it the ability to open doors with football-mad fans in high places? Or that nebulous but often-mentioned quality in private equity job interviews: the ability to be a “team player”?
Recruiter Gail McManus, with the London-based firm of Private Equity Recruitment Ltd., elaborates on the whole notion of being a team player in a recent blog post for her firm.
“Most work in private equity is done as an individual – you have to work on your own – even when contributing to a deal team you will be doing your bit on your own. Rarely does the whole group work together on something,” writes McManus.
“So how do we find these individuals who can work on their own towards a common goal? We look for evidence of working effectively on their own and communicating with others, whether in the work place or in team activities such as sport. In the work place they are going to be the high performers – that usually means they achieve as an individual and stand out from their peers.”
“Team sports are good – and rowing and rugby are probably the most common sports on the CVs of those people we see hired. What I like about all serious sports people is that they have had to dedicate time and commitment away from their main daily activity to succeed. It helps show that intangible characteristic of ‘going the extra mile’”, McManus says.
How about you? Do you have a background in sports or teams? Do you think it has helped your private equity career? Add your comments below.
Comments on this entry are closed.