Founder and head of private equity Auctus Fora. From Steph Adams’s interview archive.
I have always loved to be analytical/conduct analysis, even as a young child, of things consequential or otherwise. My interests evolved but never changed with age, location and life experiences. Economics was, is and will always remain a passion (not so much from purely an academic standpoint, but more pragmatic and application-based). Other areas of interest were the study of the human mind and nature, consciousness and Quantum Physics. Fashion and design have been a creative outlet for me in the past decade; prior to that, it was about appreciation, which has now led to hobby-based creation. Most recently, I have found terrific excitement from interior designing. My parents risked their new lake house by allowing me to handle it end-to-end; since then, it has become a hobby in which I find great delight.
After graduating from Deakin University, I received a placement with a consulting firm in Melbourne owned by my friend’s father, where I had also interned during my last year of university. I continued working for my father’s family office during this time. Eventually, I moved from consulting to the financial sector at Ord Minnett, a JP Morgan company, and finally left to set up my own boutique investment bank at the age of 25 in Melbourne.
So you could say I got my first start working for my father’s investment company at sixteen.
Launching several companies
The aforesaid was a natural progression and outcome of our private equity investment activities. We use an investment methodology developed by me in 2011 – the ROM (Reverse Origination Methodology), allowing us to create assets as well as deploy capital subject to our in-house situational analysis.
Empowering women
We incorporate an impact-centric capital deployment strategy within each of our portfolio assets and have found it to be much more consistent and sustainable in the long term. That’s our first step towards creating a positive impact.
In the past few years, we have begun work on our Power of Policy platform, which is targeted not only towards empowering women but also addressing societal repair, geopolitical instability, the international investment landscape and the trust deficit prevailing across humanity at present.
I do believe that it is becoming easier for women to achieve such a role. I want to redefine as well as re-purpose the term “empowerment” and revitalise this critical movement to evoke a new sentiment causing the women of this world to remember that in fact “power” resides in us. We already are the anchoring force to be reckoned with in life and at work.
Turning point
There have been many, in terms of growing and evolving as a human being, finding a purpose beyond self-serving interests – this came in the form of my Power of Policy platform at the tail end of the second Covid lockdown.
This vision, in its infancy, was supported by my dearest friend Wendy Craft. Her unwavering love and friendship emboldened me to forge ahead.
Challenges
When my boutique investment bank, JPM Capital, had just launched, I made the decision not to rely on family resources but only invest my own earnings from my previous job. Six months in, I had employees who were banking on salaries and no revenue coming in, my own bank accounts grievously inching towards the red zone: the whole situation was fast turning into a feverish nightmare. May I humbly add that during this time, I didn’t, however, feel any sense of defeat but only a heart-wrenching sense of responsibility towards my team?
They must not go without, was the last thought in mind each night before bed, and so I had a fire sale of several personal items (which might have included some of my very favourite pieces of clothing and shoes). In the end, just as the fire sale proceeds were depleting – we won an advisory mandate, then an M&A mandate, and so on.
Inspiration
I have always found inspiration from daily life, its interactions, and everyday experiences. If we pay attention, inspiration surrounds us – everyone we meet or work with, the experiences we have. The key is to be astutely observant and discerning in terms of where we should be inspired “to do” and when “not to do”.
Legacy
I would like to be remembered as someone who uplifted, which may be as small as engaging with a person and leaving them feeling happier.
Jahnavi’s tips
- Be authentic.
- Master your subject matter.
- Have foundational intellect.