Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry Innovation in Private Markets 2: Mark Johnson – New Leaders in Private Equity at Astra (Capital Allocators, EP.193)
May 6, 2021
Mark Johnson, Managing Partner of Astra Capital Management, shares his entrepreneurial journey in private equity. He reveals how Astra was founded with a utopian ideal and a focus on innovative practices in communications and technology. Mark discusses the importance of partnerships and ethical investment principles. He highlights the evolving role of co-investing and club deals, stressing trust and alignment in private equity. Additionally, he reflects on personal motivations, value creation, and the journey towards long-term success in the industry.
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Early Finance Interest
- Mark Johnson's interest in Wall Street started in high school after participating in a business program.
- Witnessing entrepreneurs profit $200 million through leverage sparked his fascination with finance.
Princeton and Wall Street
- Mark chose Princeton partially due to Michael Lewis's Liars Poker, linking the university to Wall Street.
- His motivation stemmed from a desire to maximize opportunities provided by his family and explore wealth creation.
Early Career and Lacrosse
- Mark's early career involved hard work and learning the craft of investing, not instant success as he'd envisioned.
- He won two national lacrosse championships at Princeton.
