Clearlake Capital Exec Serves On National Board
Arta Tabaee is a partner at Clearlake Capital Group, a leading private equity firm with more than $90 billion in assets under management. Recently appointed to Posse’s National Board of Directors, Arta brings a wealth of resources and leadership experience to the role. His considerable investments in the program’s success reflect a commitment to diversity and a belief in the power of education to transform lives.
In addition to offering his expertise in finance, extensive network, and funding support, Arta has recruited business leaders from within his network to join the Los Angeles and New York Advisory Boards and serves as a career coach, helping Scholars navigate paths to leadership in their fields. He recently completed a career coaching rotation with University of Wisconsin Posse Scholar Jayden Lott, who will be spending next summer interning with the Technology, Media, and Telecom group at Goldman Sachs. He has signed on Clearlake Capital as a Posse Career Program partner to provide meaningful professional development opportunities for Posse alumni.
This past summer, Clearlake Co-founder and Managing Partner, José E. Feliciano, served as a Jeff Ubben Posse Fellowship host. Through the fellowship, Pepperdine University Scholar Vincent Vergara had the opportunity to shadow José, Arta, and other top executives at the firm, gaining invaluable exposure to the world of private equity while refining his professional skills. Vincent will spend next summer interning with the restructuring advisory group at investment banking firm Evercore.
Posse is America’s best kept secret. The merit-based talent assessment, built-in support system, training and mentorship is incredibly impactful.
“Vincent and Jayden are just two examples of the caliber of leader coming from this organization,” Arta says. “Posse is America’s best kept secret. The merit-based talent assessment, built-in support system, training and mentorship is incredibly impactful, and it’s obvious based on the statistical outcomes.”
Arta was born in Tehran, Iran and immigrated to the United States with his family as an infant.
“While my parents both came from families well-established in their home country, they made tremendous sacrifices to leave their support networks in the wake of revolution and war to give my brothers and I better opportunities and security. Their sacrifice and hard work have been an inspiration to me throughout my life.”
Healthcare professionals who had met in medical school—his father a cardiologist and his mother an intensive care nurse practitioner—Arta’s parents instilled in him and his brothers a strong work ethic and appreciation for the power of education. His three older brothers have achieved prominence in the fields of finance and medicine.
“My parents constantly reinforced the value of higher education and professional achievement, and my older brothers served as strong examples reinforcing their importance,” he says. “I knew from a young age that I needed to excel academically to establish a foundation for a successful career and fulfilling life. I was lucky to have parents so focused on my success that way.”
In high school, Arta excelled both inside and outside the classroom. He served as student body president, was captain of his track team and maintained a high standard academically.
“I knew what it would take to stand out,” he says, “so I made myself as well rounded as I could.” That focus paid off. Arta attended Duke University, earning a B.S. in economics and graduating Phi Beta Kappa, then spent his early career as an analyst in Morgan Stanley’s M&A practice and as an investment professional at TPG Capital before earning his MBA at Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar.
Reflecting on the value of Posse’s cohort model, Arta notes, “A Posse would have really helped me. In addition to the support, it would have helped me see the big picture and perhaps get more out of the opportunities and environment available to me during college.”
Graduating from Duke University in the wake of 9/11, Arta recalls facing distinct challenges getting hired. He remembers leaning on the Duke alumni community to break through barriers and get his start. This experience left an indelible impression on him and a keen appreciation for the power of networks.
“When I see the Posse alumni network and the role it has in universities and organizations, it is easy for me to understand the inherent value of many leaders advocating for one another,” he says. “We face unprecedented challenges as a nation and even as a species and need stronger, more grounded, and diverse leadership in business, philanthropy, government, and society at large. Posse’s mission strives to achieve just that as a merit-based organization whose goal is to identify and enrich tomorrow’s leaders.”
Arta’s leadership on the board is helping to shape the next generation of leaders, empowering Posse Scholars to reach their full potential and ensuring the organization’s continued success.
