Sam is an associate at Tercera and supports the sourcing, execution, and monitoring of investments in third wave services businesses. Prior to Tercera, Sam worked at J.F. Lehman & Company, a private equity firm with a focus in the aerospace & defense industry. Sam holds a B.A. in English from Williams College and is from Randolph, Massachusetts.

What makes you tick?

I strive to understand what motivates people and what their end goal is. Then I like to discover how they plan to achieve those goals. Understanding people and why they think like they do can be tricky but it’s key. I can use those insights to reflect on my own perspective and outlook while working with them.   

Why are you so passionate about helping founders and/or services businesses?

In my previous role in the aerospace & defense industry, I engaged with several founders and management teams at companies in the space.  It was interesting to hear how seemingly low-profile companies – whether they were repair shops for one single structure of an aircraft or suppliers of literal nuts and bolts – were critical to the U.S. defense landscape. Seeing how the management teams of these organizations were so passionate about the sectors they serve was inspiring. It’s astonishing to see this passion from founders manifest in a different industry while at an inflection point. 

What is a company you really admire and why? (for-profit)

Tentree, a clothing company that plants ten trees for every item purchased. Tentree walks the walk when it comes to sustainability and environmental stewardship. They do this through their carbon-neutral operations, use of lower-impact materials, and circular return & resell policy, all without sacrificing style.