Mergers & Acquisitions names the 2023 Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A, including Argand Partners LP’s Heather Faust.

Tell us about yourself.
I have a strong sense of duty and gratitude, and I never lose sight of the many, many people who through their guidance and partnership have affected this journey I’m on. It was one of the reasons I raised my hand to work with the Department of Defense in Iraq during the early days of the war. Among other things, I oversaw microlending programs around the country to enable entrepreneurs, often women, to build businesses and support their families, providing stability in uncertain times.

How did your further your firm’s ESG goals?
Over the last year, I have led the ongoing evolution of Argand’s ESG frameworks in anticipation of our upcoming reporting requirement as a signatory to the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment. We became a signatory in August 2021.

For example, during the last 12 months, Argand worked extensively with the management teams of various portfolio companies to achieve various positive ESG outcomes. We have implemented enhanced environmental standards, reducing waste and moving toward more efficient manufacturing processes.

In accordance with our commitment to social improvements, we have implemented culture enhancement and retention initiatives including increased wage rates for manufacturing team members, employee title changes and leadership training and development, new employee recognition tools (e.g., uniforms for shift leads, trainers, technicians), and new open door policies to empower employees at all levels to bring their insights to senior levels of the organization.

For the full list of 2023 Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A, see here.