Member Profile - Patrick Chang

"I miss being able to eat in restaurants without being stressed out!"

ACG Member Since: 2017

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Working in private equity has given me a great appreciation for the challenges and rewards experienced by middle market business owners. I love having the opportunity to meet business owners and learn about their companies. It’s always impressive and inspiring to hear how entrepreneurs have built their businesses to the point where they are ready to transition to the next generation of owners. It’s also extremely rewarding to help the management teams of current portfolio companies develop strategic initiatives and to eventually see the results show up in the business.

If you could snap your fingers and become an expert in something, what would it be?

I would love to be able to play the piano. My son picked it up while we were all home early in the pandemic and has loved it. I tried to learn myself but wasn’t able to get into a consistent routine, despite him continuously urging me to practice. I might eventually commit to getting it down, but in the meantime, I’m happy to live vicariously through my son.

What's your go-to productivity trick?

Massive, massive quantities of coffee! Although I’m not sure if it’s the caffeine or the routine of drinking coffee while I work that helps improve my focus. I also find it helpful to step away and take a walk if I get bogged down for a while with work. When I worked downtown and the weather was nice, my favorite place to go was Mall B where it overlooks the lake. Getting some fresh air is great to help re-focus if you’ve been at something for a while.

What trend do you hope makes a comeback?

Getting back to normal after the pandemic. In particular, I miss being able to eat in restaurants without being stressed out. I would also love to see my golf ball actually drop into the hole again on the rare occasion I make a putt.

Which movie have you seen recently or what are you watching on Netflix?

My wife and I just started watching Schitt’s Creek on Netflix and are really enjoying it. Episodes are about 20 minutes long so it’s not hard to watch two or three at a time, and it is perfect for a good laugh at the end of our hectic days.