Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business Mark Langer on Grit, Judgment, and Long-Term Business Building
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Feb 25, 2026 Mark Langer, Managing Director at CenterOak Partners and seasoned middle-market investor, reflects on grit, global capital deployment, and building long-term CEO partnerships. He discusses servant-leadership, reining in chaos without stifling momentum, on-the-ground investing in Africa, and learning from setbacks and risk-taking.
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Early Jobs Taught Grit And 'Figure It Out'
- Mark Langer peeled shrimp and filleted fish during a Christmas break at age 13, working 10–11 hour days for about $3/hour.
- That early hard work from his mother taught him grit, grind, and a "figure it out" mentality that shaped his career choices.
Post 9/11 Pivot Led Him Away From Big Corporates
- After 9/11 Mark lost an Arthur Andersen internship and got a last-minute summer job at Johnson & Johnson, moving to Princeton and finding an apartment by going door to door.
- The experience showed him he couldn't thrive at a large corporate environment and pushed him toward middle-market banking.
Thrown Into Deploying Capital In Africa
- Compass tasked Mark to present a plan to deploy $50M in Africa with only weeks to prepare, then sent him to South Africa and Zimbabwe for on-the-ground work.
- He interviewed State Department and ex-CIA contacts, met managers and public companies, and learned to operate independently in risky environments.