Martin Taylor

Vista Equity Partners

Founded and led by icon, Robert Smith, Vista Equity Partners is one of the most important, Black-led investment firms in the country. Investing exclusively in enterprise software, the firm’s has over $100 billion in AUM across private equity, permanent capital, credit and public equity. Most who know Vista know Smith and his intellect and charisma are just part of the reason, his consistent delivery of top quartile returns for almost two decades are the other. Martin Taylor joined Vista Equity Partners in 2006 and has been a significant contributor to the firm’s success during that time. Taylor is Co-Head of the Foundation Funds and sits on Vista’s Investment Committee, Private Equity Management Committee and Executive Committee. Vista’s famed “playbook” that is used to create value with each portfolio company was largely developed by Taylor who was the initial President of Vista Consulting Group. He was instrumental in building and scaling the Firm’s value creation infrastructure, formalizing Vista’s portfolio engagement model and developing many of Vista’s best practices. Prior to Vista, Taylor spent 13 years at Microsoft where mastered best practices in corporate strategy, sales, product marketing and ultimately worked directly for Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer. It is this breadth of experience that is critical to inspiring entrepreneurs and management teams to partner with Vista and to creating value for all Vista stakeholders. At and away from Vista, Taylor is passionate about creating pathways to success for those underrepresented in the business community. He is a member of the Milken Institute’s Executive Council for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Asset Management. Taylor has enjoyed tremendous success in both the corporate and investing worlds. He is unquestionably a standout performer and leader on the team that seems to win the championship year after year.