Sahil Dalal joined Advent in 2009 and is a Managing Director in Mumbai. He advises on investments in the consumer and technology sectors. Sahil has advised on 14 investments during his career, 12 while at Advent.
Prior to joining Advent, Sahil was an associate with JLL Partners, a New York-based private equity firm, where he focused on buyout and growth equity transactions. Prior to JLL Partners, he spent three years with Bear Stearns in New York as an analyst in its Investment Banking Division.
Sahil has a BBA, with high distinction, from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
How has living in your region impacted your perspective on investing?
When I joined Advent, the India office was a small operation. Since then, Advent has built a powerful franchise, which has maintained a reputation for trustworthiness. At the heart of our success is the understanding that every market is local and has its own nuances. Having local teams who understand those nuances is incredibly valuable, both in advising on investment decisions and supporting portfolios. Otherwise, you end up with a ‘one hat fits all’ approach, which would be suboptimal.
How have you seen Advent’s culture of collaboration drive impact both internally and at portfolio companies?
Advent’s global network makes you a better investor, because investing is all about pattern recognition. While the exact same event may not play out twice, often you’ll see the same patterns and themes replicated across different geographies and end markets. By being able to collaborate with colleagues in different parts of the world we get to see and understand many of the varied challenges and opportunities, and learn from them. It helps us to make smarter decisions in every dimension of our work.
“Advent’s global network makes you a better investor, because investing is all about pattern recognition.”
Sahil Dalal
Managing Director, Advent
What advice would you give to a new hire at Advent to set them up for long-term success?
I’d tell them three things. The first is to listen, and never think you know everything. There are many people at the firm with vast experience. Even if they’re operating in a different market, you will learn something from them. Second, understand this is a people-oriented business, and it is crucial to build and maintain relationships. Finally, don’t underestimate the role of luck. This is an industry where you can’t control everything. But if you put yourself in the best possible position, through sound business judgment, hard work, and good relationships, you’ll have a better chance of fortune going your way!
When did you decide you wanted to be in this business? Why?
I’m lucky to be where I am today, as most of the turns in my career journey have been quite accidental. I was working in investment banking in the US and was interacting with a lot of people from private equity. What they were doing seemed intriguing – though I didn’t fully understand the business – so I accepted a job at a mid-market fund in New York. It soon became clear that I wanted to continue in private equity, but in a more entrepreneurial environment. I moved back to India in 2009 and started at Advent.
What keeps you busy outside of work?
It’s important to maintain a sense of balance. I Iove being active and doing things like skiing, diving, travelling, and wildlife safaris. I went to Everest Base Camp once and had 15 days of no network coverage. I make it a point to really recharge during these moments. In our business, everything is important, but not everything is urgent. I have a large amount of trust in my colleagues’ ability to step-up in my absence.
