Heather Kennedy Miner serves as Chief Operating Officer and is a Managing Director, based in New York. She is responsible for driving Advent’s operations globally, overseeing the firm’s strategic growth initiatives, marketing and communications, and delivering on talent development priorities. Heather is a member of Advent’s Operating Committee (BOLT), and Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
Prior to joining Advent in 2022, Heather worked at Goldman Sachs, where she held a number of leadership positions during her nearly two-decade tenure at the firm. Most recently, she served as Partner and Chief Operating Officer as well as Global Co-Head of Client Solutions and Capital Markets for Goldman Sachs’ $2+ trillion Asset Management business. Heather previously served as Goldman Sachs’ Global Head of Investor Relations. She began her career as an investment banker in the Financial Institutions Group at UBS.
Heather earned a BS in Finance from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College and an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University.
How does Advent’s culture of collaboration drive impact?
Collaboration at Advent is more than a buzzword – it’s a core principle that drives our success. With 16 offices across the globe, we operate within a diverse and geographically dispersed organization. This setup necessitates a high level of collaboration, allowing us to leverage our deep sector expertise wherever it’s needed. For instance, a specialist in Germany might identify an opportunity to contribute to a payments deal in the US, given their knowledge of the underlying sector. Our collaborative culture ensures that we bring together the best minds to address the most complex challenges, regardless of location or sector.
What makes being part of a privately owned partnership special?
Being part of a privately owned partnership offers a unique experience rooted in collaboration and shared values. We don’t have a CEO or star culture. Our partnership fosters a collegial environment both within our organization and in how we manage our external relationships. This model shapes how we interact – with humility, respect – while still being performance-driven, sector experts, and importantly – both global and local. Our approach is one reason why banks and other partners say they enjoy working with us; we combine a commitment to excellence with a people-first approach.
“Collaboration at Advent is more than a buzzword – it’s a core principle that drives our success. Our culture ensures that we bring together the best minds to address the most complex challenges, regardless of location or sector.”
Heather Kennedy Miner
Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Advent
How do you help people learn and grow within the Advent culture?
At Advent, we prioritize bringing people together and cultivating strong relationships, as these are the foundations of trust and effective communication. We facilitate growth and learning in various ways, such as formal leadership and development training, offsites, and many culture-building activities. A prime example is our annual Associate training. All new associates spend a week focused on training and relationship building. This event allows them to connect with peers across different geographies and sector teams, and build a network they can confidently use to reach out to colleagues as questions arise in their day-to-day.
What continues to inspire you about working in your role?
What inspires me most about my role is the continuous opportunity for growth and learning. I’m constantly exploring new areas – whether it’s new technology, infrastructure, processes – that can enhance how we work, elevate the experience of our employees and stakeholders, and continue to enable our performance culture. This drive to innovate and keep learning keeps me engaged and excited about the impact we can have every day.
What’s the best career advice you’ve received?
I once approached the former CFO of Goldman Sachs to ask for an expanded role. And he told me this: the best way to get a new responsibility, a new opportunity, a new growth trajectory, or a new project is to really excel in your current job. That’s the advice I give now – focus on delivering exceptional results in your current role, and you’ll find that’s what will open the most doors for you.
