Nic Badings
Mark has 10 years of experience across Private Equity, Venture Capital and Corporate Finance.
Prior to joining Pemba, Mark worked in London for a multi-family office where he was focused on high-growth technology investments between late-seed to pre-IPO stage and at PwC Australia in the Mergers and Acquisitions team.
Mark holds an MBA from the University of Oxford (Distinction), Bachelor of Commerce & Bachelor of Economics from the University of Queensland and is a Chartered Accountant (CAANZ).
If you could have dinner with any three people in the world (past or present), who would they be and why?
A tricky question so I am going to narrow it down to the ‘present’ to make it easier for myself.
David Attenborough: A walking encyclopedia that has always blown me away with his ability to eloquently articulate the most complex scientific concepts. It would have to be at least a five-course dinner given his depth of knowledge.
Tiger Woods: Ignoring his off-course challenges, Tiger to me has always epitomised mental toughness, resilience and dedication to his craft. I can’t think of anyone who has transformed a sport as much as Tiger’s impact on golf. His ability to consistently find his best in the highest-pressure situations is something I have always admired.
Ricky Gervais: A tactical selection. I would want someone to bring the laughs and entertainment to the dinner. I think Ricky would be the perfect ingredient to soften the blow as to how I got the invitation to sit alongside David and Tiger!
If you could pick up a new skill in an instant, what would it be and why?
I would love to get into spearfishing because it offers a unique blend of skill and adventure. I have a few friends that are passionate about it and their enthusiasm has piqued my interest.
If you weren’t working in Private Equity or Finance in general, what other role or industry could you envisage yourself working in?
I could see myself in sports administration. Recently, I was fortunate enough to watch a handful of college football, NFL and ice hockey games on a trip to the United States and I was amazed about the level of professionalism and overall fan experience. At Pemba, we spend a lot of time researching what is happening in the larger markets such as the U.S. and U.K. and I think I could apply the same skillset to contribute to the growth, strategy and success of sports teams, leagues or events.
What is a learning, either personally or professionally, that you took away from the Covid-19 Pandemic?
I completed a full-time MBA in the U.K. during 2018/19, which was an action-packed year of travel, sport and study. When Covid-19 hit 3 or 4 months after I graduated it came as quite a shock. I was living in London at the time and had just pulled out of a ski-trip which ended up falling on the final weekend before the world shut down. I spent the next few months kicking myself for missing those last moments of freedom! This taught me to live life to the fullest and now I rarely say “No” to new experiences or opportunities to spend time with friends and family.
Book recommendation: I highly recommend American author, Ben Mezrich. He writes non-fiction books based on intriguing stories involving U.S. college students. Bringing Down the House which tells a story about a card-counting syndicate from MIT that won millions in Vegas was hard to put down.
