← All contributors
Miller Adams

Finance

Miller Adams(he/him)

Managing Partner · Pier 70 Ventures

JD University of Puget Sound Law

Over 30 years of senior legal and executive experience in private equity, venture capital, aerospace and defense, technology development, industrial participation programs, wireless communications and the regulated utility industry. • Proven track record closing transactions with extensive experience managing diverse technology investment portfolios. • Courageous leadership of innovative global business teams. • Public speaking assignments on a global scale. • Ability to inspire teams to unexpected success. • Senior executive experience managing various global corporate-level functions including Corporate Administration, Legal, SEC Compliance, Human Resources, Contracts Management, Procurement, Export Compliance, Facilities, Corporate Security, Quality and Government Compliance. • Demonstrated leadership skills in organizational development, strategic planning, corporate governance and global development. • Broad global network of technology, business, academic and government leaders. • Government Clearance: Top Secret

Their story

"I'm typically more prepared than they are," Miller Adams Investment Banker

19 min

Watch the full story →

Watching requires a free Vitaes account.

Key quotes

“In most of the positions I've been in, I have to be honest and say that there's always a sense that people want to know, are you really prepared to do this work? Miller. And the answer is, I'm typically more prepared than they are, but they don't want to admit that.”

Miller Adams, Managing Partner, Pier 70 Ventures

“Just as important as being successful for myself, look for ways to help other people who look like me be successful.”

Miller Adams, Managing Partner, Pier 70 Ventures

“I think it's important to not wait until you get a job to find out if that's the kind of job you want to do. Try to find an opportunity to learn more about that sort of work as you make a decision on your career.”

Miller Adams, Managing Partner, Pier 70 Ventures

“Work is really something that takes a lot of our time. We probably spend more time with people that we work with than with our own families. And so if we're not having fun, why are we doing that?”

Miller Adams, Managing Partner, Pier 70 Ventures

“People commented often about the fact that the team that I had created was very diverse. And I did not necessarily do that intentionally, as much as I went out and found the best people to do the work. And it turns out that the best people did not all look the same.”

Miller Adams, Managing Partner, Pier 70 Ventures

Career highlights

Shadow someone before you commit to a career path — don't wait until you have the job to find out if you actually want it.

Miller describes how he spent time with a lawyer in Seattle before deciding to go to law school, and how he has hosted people who shadowed him throughout his career in law and private equity.

Your college major doesn't have to match your career — what matters is the skills and perspective you build along the way.

Miller earned an undergraduate degree in sociology, not business or finance, and says those people skills were critical throughout his career. He notes law school classmates came from art, drama, and business backgrounds alike.

In private equity, your compensation has three parts: base salary, annual bonus, and long-term incentives — and the long-term piece is where the real money is.

Miller breaks down that even entry-level analysts can earn $80K–$150K, while senior professionals can see total compensation well over a million dollars when long-term incentives are included.

Build your network intentionally and stay visible — a lot of deal flow and opportunity comes from relationships, not job boards.

Miller explains that companies pitch his firm largely through personal networks and public speaking engagements, not formal applications or cold outreach.

When you face exclusion or subtle bias at work, keep pressing forward — and make a point of lifting others who look like you as you rise.

Miller openly discusses being left off lunch invites and dinner plans as the only Black person in many of his professional environments, and emphasizes his commitment to helping other Black professionals succeed.

Find work that fulfills you emotionally, not just financially — you will spend more time with coworkers than with your own family, so it has to be worth it.

Miller reflects on his long career and encourages students to look for jobs that are genuinely exciting and meaningful, not just ones that pay well.

Student summary
Miller Adams is a managing partner at a venture capital firm in Seattle, Washington, with over 30 years of experience across law, global business strategy, and private equity. He started his career as an attorney, transitioned into a senior executive role overseeing global research and development strategy for a massive public company, and eventually landed in private equity — where he now invests in companies with diverse leadership teams. His path was anything but straight, and that's exactly what makes his story worth paying attention to. Miller's educational background might surprise you: his undergrad degree was in sociology, not business or finance. He went to law school not because he had it all figured out, but because he spent time with a lawyer and realized it felt right. That law degree ended up opening doors he never expected — from managing international tech partnerships to running corporate strategy for a 100,000-person company. His story is a reminder that your major doesn't lock you into one path, and curiosity can take you further than a perfectly planned résumé. As a Black man who has spent most of his career in rooms where he was often the only one, Miller speaks honestly about what that experience is like — the subtle exclusions, the unspoken doubt from colleagues, and the pressure to constantly prove yourself. He doesn't sugarcoat it. But he also talks about how he kept pressing forward and made it a priority to bring other people who look like him along for the ride. That combination of resilience and intention is something he clearly carries with him every day. For students thinking about finance, private equity, law, or business leadership, this video is packed with concrete insight — from what a typical day looks like, to how compensation is structured, to why building a network and showing up in public spaces matters so much. Miller also makes a strong case for job shadowing before you commit to a path, and for finding work that actually fulfills you — not just work that pays well. Both matter, and you deserve both.