Ep. 43 José E. Feliciano, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Clearlake Capital Group
On this episode of Investors & Operators, Jordan sits down with José Feliciano, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Clearlake Capital Group, to discuss:
the importance of giving back
the power of acknowledging the unknown
the payoff of entrepreneurial ups and downs
—and so much more.
LINKS:
iTunes - http://apple.co/2Wta5t2
Spotify - http://spoti.fi/38k9org
Google - http://bit.ly/37t81rk
Stitcher - https://bit.ly/3aAKQ0j
“Regardless of the current circumstances, there’s always someone that could use some help.”
José Feliciano was brought up to appreciate the simple things--he used to drive two and a half hours every weekend to visit his grandmother. Now, with two degrees from Princeton and Stanford in tow, he’s the Managing Partner & Co-Founder of Clearlake Capital in Santa Monica, CA.
On the surface, José’s world looks vastly different than it did growing up. At his core, not much has changed.
You don’t have to have a lot to share with others.
As a child, José took notice of his mother’s devotion to giving back. Whether she was picking up the phone at the sight of a UNICEF commercial or sending checks to relatives in need, she was dedicated to sharing with others--even when there didn’t appear to be much to share.
“I have been very fortunate to now have a lot more resources,” says José, “but from the very beginning, ever since I can remember, it was that concept that you didn’t have to have a lot to be able to share with others. And that’s something that I still carry with me.”
Whether you’re able to give with your checkbook or only with your calendar, you are always able to help someone in need. As José points out: no one has ever been poorer by giving.
Challenge yourself to find creative ways to give back at the points when you feel the least equipped to do so.
Do the right thing today and it will serve you tomorrow.
A copy of Goldman Sachs’ 14 Business Principles sits printed in José’s office, for the times when he seeks clarity in his personal and business ventures. During his time at Goldman, he learned to carry himself according to their strict code of ethics. One principle in particular sticks out to him, as it reminds him of those moments with his mother, picking up the phone or writing checks: do the right thing for your client, and your own success will follow.
It was his mother’s commitment to the betterment of others that would eventually take José all the way to school at Princeton, where he met his wife, Kwanza Jones. As partners both in life and in business, they manage the Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Supercharged Initiative, dedicated to giving back to non-profit organizations. KJSI and affiliates have committed $50 million to organizations with diverse/women founders, and over $25 million to education and empowerment organizations.
For José, the cycle of giving never ends.
Know what you don’t know.
No one had to teach José Feliciano how to be charitable--it came to him innately. That said, there are a few qualities that he was forced to learn through trial and error. Chiefly: you can’t do it all.
“If you’re in this business long enough, you’re gonna make mistakes,” says José, citing major personal growth between his first fund raised and his sixth and current fund. “Know what you don’t know.”
It’s comforting to admit that you can’t do it all. The moment you come to terms with that, you open yourself up to a world of possibilities.
Self-feedback and honesty are key to growth as both an investor and a human being. After all, if the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, then growth is what keeps us sane.
When was the last time you checked in with yourself honestly: what am I doing well? What am I doing poorly? At which things should I keep chipping away? And which should I let go?
***
José Feliciano is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Clearlake Capital Group, LP. Clearlake is a leading private investment firm that has managed approximately $9 billion of institutional capital since its inception. José is involved in the investment side of the firm, as well as its day-to-day management, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of several Clearlake portfolio companies.
José started his career in investment banking in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Finance Groups at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Prior to co-founding Clearlake, José was a Partner and member of the investment committee at Tennenbaum Capital Partners, a leading alternative investment management firm, and served as Chief Financial Officer of govWorks, Inc.
In 2014, José and his wife, Kwanza Jones, founded the SUPERCHARGED Initiative, a philanthropic grant-making and impact investment organization. Their initiative is focused on creating lasting impact in four key areas: Education, Entrepreneurship, Equal Opportunity, and Empowerment. To date, the organization and its affiliates have made over $40 million in commitments to diversity efforts and over $25 million to organizations focused on education and empowerment. José is also a Board Member of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, which works alongside activists to ensure positive changes in governments and corporations, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Robert Toigo Foundation. The Robert Toigo Foundation is dedicated to promoting the career advancement and increased leadership of under-represented talent.
José graduated from Princeton University with a BS in mechanical & aerospace engineering and received his MBA from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.
