Every day at Millennium looks different for Dave Swift, Millennium’s Global Head of Capital Development Strategy. He shares the career advice he’d give his younger self, management style and favorite hobbies.
What does a day in your life look like as Global Head of Capital Development Strategy?
The beautiful thing about Millennium is that every day is different. I never know quite what to expect. It makes my role compelling and engaging, sometimes challenging, but always rewarding. There’s always something new.
What have you learned from Millennium’s capital transformation over the last five years?
There’s so much value in the stability we have created. It positions us well to be an employer of choice when it comes to recruiting leading talent.
How did your childhood in Germany impact your global outlook of your work?
Early in life, I had many opportunities to interact with different cultures. Years later, working at a global, diverse firm, this appreciation for different perspectives remains more important than ever. I’m a people person, so I’ve gravitated towards roles that allowed me to interact with teams around the globe.
How has your relationship with John Novogratz, Millennium’s Global Head of Capital Development and Investor Relations, changed over the years?
We met as Boy Scouts when we were 10 years old. Decades later, we worked together for a stint at a previous shop, before I ultimately joined his team at Millennium. Our relationship helps me understand how he thinks, understand our collective priorities and help deliver for the Firm.
What career advice would you share with your younger self?
Put yourself out there. You should understand each part of the business where you work in order to make the biggest impact. While my role involves talking about the Firm as a whole, I need to understand each component in order to do my best work.
What is your management style?
I like to roll up my sleeves and get my hands dirty. I need to fully unpack a problem in order to help solve it.
What are some of your favorite hobbies?
Outside of the office, I enjoy working with my hands. I do woodworking and woodturning, and have a green thumb. My wife might have mentioned that I have too many propagated plants around my house….
Are you a dog or cat person?
Easy. I have three dogs: two Boston terriers, Roxy and Sloppy Joe, and a chocolate lab puppy named Kielbasa.
