Insights
Q&A with New EV employees: Kaivan Forouzesh and Amy Brownlie
Recently joining our Houston office and the EV family, we caught up new employees Kaivan and Amy after our investor conference, which gave them the opportunity to bond with their new colleagues.
Kaivan Forouzesh, Senior Analyst
What attracted you to career in private equity?
I originally was an investment analyst working in the public markets which I enjoyed a lot; however, I disliked the lack of ability to work directly with the companies you are investing in as you don’t have much “control”. EVPE works very closely with their portfolio companies so this was something that really interested me.
Describe what your experience has been so far (in Houston office)
Everyone at the firm is incredibly intelligent and by interacting with them on a daily basis it has been an amazing learning experience. Everyone has been extremely welcoming and has encouraged asking as many questions as possible. So far it has been a very fulfilling and fun experience working in the Houston office.
What would you recommend to anyone considering a career in private equity?
I’m still a relative newcomer to a career in private equity, but my initial recommendation would be to be proactive and comfortable working under pressure. Everyday in this role has been slightly different and you have to be able to work outside of your comfort zone.
What kind of project have you been involved so far?
The main project I have been working on has been assisting the case manager on a fund raise for one of our portfolio companies. The process has been very similar to one that a sell side banking analyst would do.
What was it like to attend the investor conference and go on a hike with some of the team members/guests?
It was an amazing experience getting to meet literally every single person at the firm and getting the opportunity to physically introduce yourself to everyone beyond just a simple phone call or email. The two hikes we went on gave me an opportunity to get to meet my team members even more.
Amy Brownlie, Office Manager
What attracted you to this position at EVPE?
I like the idea of getting back into the energy industry. The office manager role wears many hats and I enjoy the diversity in the day to day tasks.
Describe what your experience has been so far (in Houston office)?
The Houston office is a close team of 6 people. Everyone is very welcoming and it is great to be a part of a collaborative environment where everyone is encouraged to work to their full potential.
What would you recommend to anyone considering a career in private equity?
Since I am not really involved in the private equity side, this is hard to answer. Potential employees of any private equity business should do their due diligence on the company and how they are performing. Work culture is very important to me, as I am sure it is for most, so making sure you fit well with their current team would be something to test out.
What kind of project have you been involved so far?
I just went through the budget process. This is something I haven’t been involved with in previous companies I have worked for, so it was educational to work through the process and analyse the numbers for the upcoming year.
What was it like to attend the investor conference and go on a hike with some of the team members/guests?
I attended the investor conference about three weeks after I was hired into the company. It was a little daunting to get on a long flight to meet the whole company and help with the logistics of the conference. But once I met the team, especially the other two office managers, I realize this was a great company. Just like in the Houston office, everyone is very welcoming and helpful. The hike was unexpected and definitely not something I am used to doing, but I am so glad that I went. It was a good team building experience and the views were simply stunning!