The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection
Hosted by Alex Rawlings, Managing Partner of Raw Selection, a specialist executive search firm. The podcast features interviews with leading experts in Private Equity, uncovering their secrets of success. Listeners learn how top professionals entered the industry, rose to success, and the mistakes they made along the way. Alex aims to provide actionable insights for Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies across Europe and North America.
Episodes
How Private Equity Knows When Management Needs to Change
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings is joined by Thomas Igeme, Managing Partner at TL Partners, to explore one of the biggest challenges facing private equity firms: understanding whether performance issues are caused by the leader, the operating system around them, or both.Thomas shares lessons from his time in organisational development, BCG, LinkedIn, ServiceNow and Tur
What’s Next for the Middle Market? AI, Succession & Private Equity
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings is joined by Andrew Weinberg, Founder and CEO of Brightstar Capital Partners, to explore how private equity firms can create value in the middle market while navigating a changing exit environment. Andrew explains why culture, apprenticeship and team-based decision-making are central to Brightstar’s approach, and why spending more time u
EY Insights Private Equity Exit Readiness: How to Maximise Valuation Before the Sale
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings is joined by Konstanze Nardi, Partner at EY and leader of EY’s Global Exit Readiness offering, to explore how private equity firms and portfolio companies can prepare for successful exits and maximise value.Konstanze shares insights from EY’s Global Private Equity Exit Readiness Study, based on perspectives from 100 PE executives and 100
Why PE-Backed Go-to-Market Strategies Fail: Talent, CRM, AI and Execution
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings is joined by Dan Bernoske, Founder and CEO of Cortado Group, to explore how private equity firms and portfolio companies can strengthen go-to-market performance while effectively leveraging AI.Dan explains why speed matters after an acquisition, particularly when assessing commercial talent, and why firms need to separate emotional attac
Building the Finance Function in a Private Equity firm
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings is joined by Jeffery Raju, Founder & CEO of Stonehill Business Services.With 15 years of experience across fund administration, controller, and CFO roles, Jeffery has worked with emerging managers ranging from sub-$10 million funds to multi-billion-dollar platforms.Jeffery explains why emerging private equity managers must treat thei
From Founder-Led to Exit-Ready: How CEOs Build Buy-In, Grow EBITDA and Deliver Successful Exits
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings speaks with Brian Bishop, an electrical engineer and experienced Chief Executive with a background in embedded systems, product development, business building, and successful company exits.Brian shares lessons from leading businesses through seven- and eight-figure exits, including the importance of structuring deals to align the interes
9 PE-Backed Exits and 20+ Add-on Acquisitions: What Winning Private Equity CEOs Get Right
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings speaks with Paul Golden, an experienced CEO, private equity investor, and operating partner with nine private equity-backed exits and more than 20 add-on acquisitions.Paul shares lessons from operating, investing, and leading PE-backed businesses, including why speed matters when building the right leadership team, how to identify strong
Mentored by a Billionaire: How to Invest, Create Value and Exit at the Right Time
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings is joined by Mark Radzik, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Granite Creek Capital Partners, to explore investing and value creation in the lower middle market.Mark shares his journey from Arthur Andersen and banking to spending seven years at Equity Group Investments, the private investment firm founded by billionaire Sam Zell. It was t
BC Partners’ Former CIO: When to Sell, What Creates Value and Where Private Equity Goes Next
After more than 30 years in investing—including 20 years at BC Partners and a decade as CIO—Jean-Baptiste Wautier joins Alex Rawlings to share the lessons that have shaped his approach to private equity.Jean-Baptiste explains why trying to time markets is a mistake, how GPs should think about exits, and why time and DPI can matter just as much as MOIC. He also argues that private equity has entere
The REAL Cost of Fear, Ego and Slow Decisions in Private Equity
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings speaks with Lesley Thomas, founder of the Money Confidence Academy, about how financial pressure, fear, and ego can affect value creation within private equity-backed businesses.Lesley explains how pressure changes executive behaviour, slows decision-making, and discourages honest communication. She outlines the early warning signs that
How Private Equity Firms Can Build a Scalable Go-to-Market Engine
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings is joined for a second time by Brian Gustason, Fractional Operating Partner at BG Operating Advisors.Brian explains why many lower-middle-market businesses struggle to scale after receiving institutional investment and how private equity firms can professionalise their go-to-market strategy.The conversation explores founder dependency, u
Secondaries Are No Longer a Liquidity Tool. They’re a Private Equity Strategy with Adrian Siew, Rothschild & Co
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings is joined by Adrian Siew, Managing Director at Rothschild & Co and co-leader of its GP Solutions practice.Adrian explains why continuation vehicles have become an increasingly important part of the private equity market and how firms can use them to generate liquidity, retain high-performing assets and strengthen relationships with i
How a PE-Backed CRO Drove 4x Revenue Growth
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings speaks with Adam Crandall, Chief Revenue Officer at Addtronics, a private equity-backed platform of robotics and automation companies.Adam shares how he helped quadruple revenue at a founder-led automation business before its successful exit. He explains why growth begins with putting the right people in the right seats, rather than rely
Building Professional Services Firms for Growth: Private Equity, Acquisitions and AI
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings speaks with Zachary Darrow, Chief Executive of Darrow Everett and leader of the firm’s Private Equity and Securities Practice Group.Zachary shares how Darrow Everett grew from a real estate and finance boutique into a full-service law firm with eight offices across the East Coast. He explains how the firm navigated the global financial c
How the Best Companies Design and Deploy a Scalable Sales Engine
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings speaks with Bill Bell, Fractional Chief Revenue Officer at Chief Outsiders, about building a repeatable sales engine that drives organic growth across private equity portfolio companies.Bill explains why commercial due diligence is often far less rigorous than financial, legal, and operational diligence—and how this leads firms to underw
How Private Equity Is Investing in Founder-Led Software Businesses
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings speaks with Bobby Ocampo and Sheldon Lewis, co-founders and managing partners of Blueprint Equity.Following the successful close of Blueprint Equity’s $333 million third fund, Bobby and Sheldon explain how the firm identifies and supports high-growth B2B software companies. They discuss Blueprint’s early growth investment strategy, its d
Insights into the Private Equity Lower-Middle Market
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings speaks with Paul Isaac, Managing Partner of Isaac Management LLC, about investing in lower-middle-market businesses through a permanent-capital model.Paul explains why Isaac Management operates without a traditional fund, predetermined exits or outside investor pressure. He discusses the risks of overleveraging, the importance of underst
Building Value Through Carve-Outs, Operational Transformation and AI
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings speaks with Russ Roenick, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Transom Capital, about building a differentiated middle-market investment strategy around carve-outs, special situations and operational complexity.Russ explains how launching Transom shortly before the global financial crisis shaped the firm’s highly hands-on approach. He outl
$465M Exit and how to get to the top 5% in US Buyouts
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings speaks with Daniel Pianko, Co-Founder of Achieve Partners, about Achieve’s talent-led investment strategy, its $465 million exit of Optimum, and how the firm reached top 5% performance for DPI in Cambridge Associates’ US buyout benchmark.Daniel shares how Achieve Partners invests in businesses where the biggest growth constraint is acces
From Warby Parker to Diapers.com: David Bell on Consumer Brand Success
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings speaks with David Bell, former Wharton Professor of Marketing and early-stage investor in consumer companies including Diapers.com, Warby Parker, Harry’s and Jet.com. David shares what he looks for in standout consumer brands, why founder insight and capital discipline matter, and how businesses can build emotional and symbolic value aro
Are law firms ripe for Private Equity investment
In this episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Adil Taha, a private equity operator specialising in the UK legal sector. They explore why private equity has struggled to scale law firms, the challenges of buy-and-build strategies, and why many legal businesses are weaker than they appear financially.Adil shares lessons from rescuing and rebuilding Child & Child, explains why consumer legal service
Why Most PE-Backed Companies Are Invisible to AI Search
In this episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Shiv Narayanan, CEO of How to SaaS, about how private equity firms can use marketing and AI as value creation levers. They discuss why many B2B companies underinvest in marketing, how AI is changing buyer behavior, and why brand authority and content are becoming critical for growth.Timestamps00:03 – Introduction to Shiv Narayanan and How to SaaS01:55 – C
How to manage the priorities between the executive team and the investor
In this episode of the Raw Selection Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings speaks with Christina Haxton about the relationship between private equity firms and portfolio company leadership teams.They discuss how trust, communication, alignment, and culture impact execution during periods of rapid growth — and why many businesses struggle not because of strategy, but because of leadership friction
The Hidden Mistakes Killing PE Value (And How to Fix Them)
Episode Summary Paul Brennan, PE-backed CFO, shares lessons from exiting Lindsay Precast (sold to The Jordan Company), covering exit prep, value creation, and integration.⏱️ Key Timestamps00:00 – Intro & Background CFO experience across PE, public, and family-owned businesses.01:23 – Common PE Mistake Lack of clarity on why data requests matter → impacts alignment.03:13 – Exit Preparation 👉 Pr
From Founder to Three Exits Building a Services Company and Selling to Private Equity
In this episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Robert Irving, CEO of Buffalo Growth Partners. Robert shares his journey from building and selling a fire & life safety business to scaling within private equity and launching his own independent sponsor firm.⏱️ Timestamps & Key Topics00:00 – Introduction Robert’s journey across founding, exiting, and re-entering private equity.00:30 – Building &a
A different approach to Private Equity with Michael Arrieta
Guest: Michael Arietta Host: Alex Rawlings🕒 Key Timestamps00:00 – Intro Overview of Garden City Equity’s long-term, people-first model.00:40 – Biggest PE Mistake Short-term thinking (IRR focus) limits investment in transformational initiatives like ERP, CRM, and AI.01:37 – Long-Term Hold Strategy 30-year horizon allows compounding value without forced exits.03:05 – Holding Company Model All invest
How to Drive Organic Growth in a Private Equity Backed Company
Alex Rawlings speaks with Nigel Green on why private equity firms struggle with organic growth and how better hiring, faster execution, and customer focus can unlock value.⏱️ Timestamps & Key Takeaways00:00 – Introduction Nigel’s background and advisory focus00:29 – Career Highlights Two successful exits before 30 Now advising PE-backed companies on growth 01:34 – Biggest PE Mistake Weak comm
How to Double EBITDA in 3 Years The Multi-Unit Retail Playbook
Alex Rawlings speaks with Jeff Helfgott, CEO of Boardroom Salon, about scaling PE-backed multi-unit businesses. They discuss talent strategy, retention, resilience, and how to turn operational fixes into sustainable growth.⏱️ Key Timestamps00:00 – Introduction & Jeff’s Background From barbershop beginnings to PE-backed CEO.01:04 – Common PE Mistakes Overlooking talent strategy during diligence
The investing strategy in the franchising and multi-unit retail sector
Mike Esposito shares his journey from a 30-year career at Goldman Sachs to co-founding Franchise Equity Partners, highlighting their differentiated approach to private equity through franchising and multi-unit retail investing.⏱️ Key Timestamps00:00 – Introduction 00:30 – Career background and transition to PE 01:45 – Pitfalls of “me-too” PE strategies 03:13 – Leaving Goldman Sachs during COVID 04
Mastery of the Psychology of Change & Transformation
Guest: Meg Pogue, Founder, Mission SquaredHost: Alex RawlingsMeg Pogue joins Alex to discuss the psychology behind change in private equity-backed businesses. A former CEO who scaled her company from 2 to 95 employees, Meg now works with executive teams to navigate transformation, cultural friction, and the human dynamics of growth and acquisitions.The conversation explores why acquisitions and ma
Scaling a Home Services Business
Guest: David Williams, CEO, Advantage Services Group (ASG) Host: Alex RawlingsDavid Williams joins Alex to share how he transitioned from consulting into entrepreneurship through acquisition — and scaled a home services platform to $100m+ in revenue in just five years.Since acquiring his first HVAC business in Oregon during COVID, David has completed 10 acquisitions, expanded into three states, an
Balance Sheet First Investing Like an Operator, Not Traditional PE
In this episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Andrew Sachs, Founder of Mauloa, about why he believes the traditional private equity model is fundamentally flawed — and what a long-term alternative looks like.After starting his career at Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, Andrew built Mauloa around a simple philosophy: no excessive leverage, no forced exits, and a focus on compounding cash flow over dec
The lessons from Formula 1 to 22 acquisitions by a Private Equity-backed CTO
In this episode, Alex sits down with Peter Rossi, a UK-based CTO with 25+ years in technology and 15 years in commercial leadership. From running trackside IT at McLaren to leading 22 acquisitions in a PE-backed group, Peter shares hard-earned lessons on growth, integration, and operating under pressure.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Introduction & career overview 00:28 – Life at McLaren & high-perf
What Two PE Exits Taught James About Winning as a CFO
In this episode, host Alex Rawlings welcomes James Carver, a seasoned CFO with two private equity-backed exits under his belt. James shares his unique journey from the trading desk to executive leadership, and unpacks valuable lessons from navigating complex M&A deals, ESOP sales, and private equity integrations.⏱️ Episode Highlights00:00 – Intro & Background James shares his career path f
Learnings from a $1BN+ exit and 300 investments in Private Equity
Episode Overview:In this episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Richard Fitzgerald of CapitalSpring, a private equity firm specializing in foodservice and multi-location consumer businesses. Richard shares insights into CapitalSpring’s differentiated, sector-focused approach, how they’ve scaled over 20 years, and the recent $1B+ exit to Bain Capital. He also unpacks their latest fundraising success in
Building a Value Creation Machine & Scaling a Private Equity Firm
🎧 Episode Summary: In this episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Chris Sznewajs of Pacific Avenue Capital Partners about building a private equity firm focused on complex corporate carve-outs and businesses owned by “unnatural owners.” Chris shares how Pacific Avenue identifies overlooked assets, drives value through operational focus, and recently expanded into Europe with a team-first approach.He d
How private equity firm THL is winning with AI implementation
In this episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Alex Sabel, Vice President at THL Partners, to explore how the firm is embracing AI across its operations and portfolio. Alex leads THL’s research function and AI strategy, bringing a data-driven, quant mindset to private equity.He shares how THL uses AI internally to improve investment workflows, how portfolio companies are deploying AI to drive product
Emerging markets investing in the consumer & retail sector
In this episode, Giovanni Zangani joins Alex Rawlings to share insights from operating in Vietnam’s emerging private equity landscape. As Managing Partner at Maestro Equity Partners, Giovanni discusses the firm’s hands-on approach to investing in consumer and F&B businesses, the challenges of deal execution in emerging markets, and why local understanding is critical to success.⏱️ Timestamps:0
The 5 step playbook assessment on business leadership effectiveness
In this episode, Sam and Taavo from CEO Advantage return to dive into the 5X CEO Assessment—a diagnostic tool developed from two years of research into top-performing private equity-backed CEOs who delivered 5x+ MOIC.The conversation explores how the 5X model—comprised of Strategic Clarity, Scalable Talent, Relentless Focus, Disciplined Execution, and Energized Culture—is used not just as a concep
How Private equity Firm Council Capital Approach Value Creation
In this episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Tim Schulte, Value Creation Partner at Council Capital, a Nashville-based private equity firm investing in healthcare businesses across tech-enabled services, outsourced services, and provider platforms.Tim brings a unique blend of consulting, operational, and investing experience. He shares how Council Capital drives value creation through collaboration
Private Equity market trends and investing techniques
🎧 Guest: Maxwell Nee – Chairman, Family Office Insider & Managing Partner, Black Mountain Capital🌍 Episode Theme: 10X Deals, Market Gaps & Global InvestingIn this episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Maxwell Nee to explore how thinking bigger—10X bigger—can simplify investing and unlock outsized returns. Maxwell shares his 3-leg framework for identifying high-potential opportunities and div
The journey from $140M to a $1Bn Valuation and a stage 4 cancer victory
In this powerful episode, Marc Adams shares his remarkable journey from a stage 4 cancer diagnosis to a full recovery—and how that experience inspired him to rethink private equity. Now leading Acquisitions for You, Marc helps business owners double their company’s value and cash out tax-free—without debt, dilution, or outside capital.With 40+ years in leadership, IPOs, and M&A, Marc discusses
A GP Stakes Perspective on the Professionalisation of Private Equity
Overview:In this high-energy episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Brad Pilcher, Partner and Co-Founder at Bonaccord Capital Partners, a leading mid-market GP Stakes investor. Brad shares his fascinating journey from aspiring concert pianist to private equity investor, and dives deep into how the private equity world is evolving — particularly around culture, capital, talent, and growth.They explore
An investors value creation plan for $100M+ revenue companies
In this episode, host Alex Rawlings speaks with Eric Wiklendt, Managing Director at SpeySide Equity, a private equity firm focused on lower middle-market manufacturing businesses.Eric shares his “fix and build” value creation strategy, the key elements of successful human capital alignment, and why cost accounting is the hidden killer in many portfolio companies. With deep operational experience,
The secrets behind top PE-backed CEO’s achieving 6.2X MOIC
📍 Episode Overview: Alex Rawlings welcomes Taavo Godtfredsen and Sam Allison, co-founders of Advantage CEO, to discuss insights from their two-year research study of over 50 private equity-backed CEOs who averaged 6.2x MOIC. They break down the habits, systems, and mindset that separate high-performing CEOs from the rest—and introduce their proven 5X CEO Model.⏱️ Key Timestamps:00:00 – Introductio
How to approach AI implementation, and Karmel Capital's AI investing strategy outlined
Note: The securities mentioned in this podcast are not considered a recommendation to buy or sell and once should not presume they will be profitable.In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings welcomes Scott Neuberger, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Karmel Capital, a private equity firm investing in late-stage software and AI companies. Scott shares deep insights into how Kar
Preparing for Your Management Presentations to Investors & Acquirers
🗣️ Guest: Carola Kamuff – Presentation Coach | Author of Quick Guide Management Presentation 🎧 Host: Alex Rawlings, Founder of Raw Selection⏱️ Key Topics & Timestamps:00:00 – Meet Carola Kamuff Former M&A exec turned expert in coaching management teams for exit presentations.01:54 – Why Communication Matters Carola explains her shift from numbers to narratives and why people—not just slide
Data, Deals, and Disruption The Real AI Shift in Private Equity
In this episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Jamyn Edis, digital transformation expert, former VC-backed CEO, and NYU professor. Jamyn shares actionable insights on using AI, data, and automation to drive performance across private equity firms and their portfolio companies.From dynamic pricing models and A/B testing to agentic AI and accelerating product cycles, Jamyn explains how to cut through th
How to Build a Go-To-Market Strategy That Scales in Private Equity
Guest: Brian Gustason, Operating Partner at Craig Group Host: Alex Rawlings, Founder of Raw Selection🔍 Episode Summary:In this episode, Brian Gustason shares practical insights on building scalable go-to-market (GTM) strategies for lower-middle-market, PE-backed companies. With over 25 years of operating and advisory experience, Brian explains how to move beyond traditional, backward-looking due d
How Storytelling Meets Strategy Niklas James’ Media-Driven Investment Approach
🎙️ The Private Equity Podcast — Niklas James, Founder of Minds Capital Host: Alex Rawlings | Guest: Niklas JamesIn this episode, Alex is joined by Niklas James, Founder of Minds Capital, an independent sponsor investment platform. They explore what sets successful sponsors apart, why industry specialization matters, and how media can supercharge inbound deal flow.🕒 Episode Highlights00:00 – Niklas
The Real Due Diligence | What Makes or Breaks a Deal
🎙️ The Private Equity Podcast — Episode with Cyril Aboujaoude, Co-Founder of TioPo CapitalIn this episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Cyril Aboujaoude, Co-Founder of TioPo Capital, a hands-on private equity firm investing in SMEs across the UK and France. Cyril shares the journey of launching TioPo, their operationally driven approach to investing, and how young, entrepreneurial grit fueled their
How Private Equity Can Win With AI-Driven Hiring | Greg Nieuwenhuys
Guest: Greg Nieuwenhuys – PE Operator & Founder, Generative AI Strategy Host: Alex Rawlings – CEO, Raw Selection🔍 Episode Summary:Greg Nieuwenhuys returns to share a practical, step-by-step AI Playbook for hiring. From writing job descriptions to automating follow-ups, Greg breaks down how PE firms and portfolio companies can integrate generative AI into recruitment. Packed with tools, tactics
Inside Alpine Investors: How Mark Strauch Scales Leadership to Drive 1,000+ Deals
🎙️ The Private Equity Podcast – Mark Strauch, Founding Partner & President, Alpine Investors⏱️ Key Takeaways & Timestamps:00:00 – Intro Alex welcomes Mark Strauch to discuss Alpine’s unique leadership-driven approach in private equity.01:00 – From CEO to PE Leader Mark shares his journey from operator to co-founding Alpine, now with $20B+ AUM.02:08 – The Industry’s Problem: Lack of Differe
How Amias Gerety Wins in Venture When Others Chase Hype
In this episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Amias Gerety, Partner at QED Investors, a leading fintech-focused VC firm managing nearly $1B in assets. Amias shares insights on venture capital strategy, staying disciplined during market hype, sourcing deals, and how lessons from his time at the U.S. Treasury shape his investment decisions today.⏱ Episode Highlights:00:00 – Intro & QED Overview QED
Why Outsourcing Fund Admin Is the Smartest Move PE Leaders Can Make in 2025 With Michael Von Bevern
Episode OverviewIn this episode, Alex Rawlings welcomes Michael Von Bevern, Co-Managing Director for Sunterra Fund Services, to discuss the evolving landscape of fund administration in private equity. Michael shares nearly two decades of experience, working with over 500 fund managers, and offers invaluable insight into common mistakes first-time managers make, the growing role of fund administrat
Inside the LP Mindset & Mastering Co-Investments | Joe Basrawy, Partners Capital
In this episode, host Alex Rawlings is joined by Joe Basrawy, Managing Director at Partners Capital, a global multi-asset investment firm serving some of the world's most sophisticated investors — including private equity founders, endowments, and family offices.Joe offers a rare and in-depth look at the Limited Partner (LP) perspective — covering common pitfalls private equity firms make, wh
Operating Partners Are the Future of Private Equity | Jeremiah Wanzell on Consumer Brand Growth
In this episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Jeremiah Wanzell, a seasoned consumer brand executive with leadership roles at Hugo Boss and Calvin Klein, and now an operating partner working with private equity firms to drive growth in the consumer sector. Jeremiah shares his insights into the evolving role of the operating partner, value creation beyond financial engineering, the importance of omnic
How Top Talent & Consumer Trends Drive $1.3B Growth With William Quartner
🔹 Episode Overview: In this episode, we’re joined by William Quartner, Partner at Prelude Growth Partners, a New York-based private equity firm dedicated to the high-growth consumer space. William shares insights from his impressive journey through investment banking and private equity at firms like Goldman Sachs and TowerBrook Capital, to now helping build Prelude Growth from its inception to the
Inside the Psychology of Elite Founders (What 9-Figure Exits All Share) with Greg Moran
Guest: Greg Moran – Multi-exit founder, investor, and Managing Partner at Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners Host: Alex Rawlings, Founder of Raw Selection⏱️ Timestamps & Topics00:00 – Introduction to Greg Moran Alex welcomes Greg Moran, a multi-exit founder turned investor, and Managing Partner at Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners. Greg introduces his background in scaling businesses, raising
Marketing That Delivers: Direct Response Tactics for Private Equity with John Dwyer
🕒 Episode Timestamps & Show Notes00:00 – Introduction Alex welcomes John Dwyer, Founder of The Institute of WOW, to explore how direct response marketing can drive real results for private equity firms and their portfolio companies.00:53 – What is WOW Factor Marketing? John explains his flipped model: get prospects to try your product so they fall in love with your brand—not the other way arou
How Brett Hickey Built a $Billion Firm From Nothing | Leadership & PE Lessons Every CEO Must Hear
Episode Summary: In this insightful episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Brett Hickey, the CEO and founder of Star Mountain Capital. Brett shares his unique journey from humble beginnings in Northwestern Canada to leading a multi-billion-dollar asset management firm in the U.S. With deep reflections on leadership, value-based investing, building collaborative ecosystems, and what truly drives susta
Private Equity’s GTM Wake-Up Call: Talent, Segmentation & the $500M Mistake
🧠 Episode Summary: In this insightful episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Brian Reavell, Founder of R-Squared Advisors and seasoned Private Equity Operating Partner, to dive deep into the world of go-to-market (GTM) strategies. Brian shares a comprehensive GTM playbook for PE-backed portfolio companies—spanning from due diligence and customer segmentation to talent evaluation and post-investment e
How AI and Product Strategy Are Reshaping Value Creation
🔍 Episode Overview:In this episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by David Rowley, Operating Partner at Diversis Capital, to explore how private equity can drive value creation through smarter product strategies and the integration of artificial intelligence. With a career spanning back to the 1980s in software product development, David shares practical insights into aligning executive teams with PE th
Why Founders Are Saying No to Buyouts — Hidden River’s Game-Changing Capital Strategy
🎙️ The Private Equity Podcast — Episode with Graham Bachman, Hidden River Strategic CapitalGuest: Graham Bachman, Managing Director & Head of Business Development at Hidden River Strategic Capital Host: Alex RawlingsIn this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings is joined by Graham Bachman, who shares how Hidden River Strategic Capital is reshaping lower middle-market investing w
From Army Officer to PE CEO: 4 Mistakes Killing Portfolio Performance (Otis Spencer)
The Private Equity Podcast – Show NotesGuest: Otis Spencer Host: Alex Rawlings Episode Title: Lessons in Leadership: From Army Logistics to PE Operating Partner & CEO Success🎙 Episode Overview:In this episode, Otis Spencer, a former U.S. Army logistics officer turned private equity operating partner and CEO, shares a compelling journey of leadership, operations, and transformation. From managi
From Investor to Operator: Hard Truths from 35 Years in Private Equity with Matthew Kearney
This episode is packed with pragmatic advice and “growth hacks for operators” – get your pen ready.⏱️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps:00:03 – Introduction Meet Matthew Kearney: 35 years in private equity, from 3i to operating partner and PE-backed CEO.01:07 – From 3i to New York CEO Matthew’s early career, moving from UK PE investments into operational leadership in media and technology.02:31
How your competitors are using AI in the Private Equity industry with Greg Nieuwenhuys
Guest: Greg Nieuwenhuys – Private Equity Advisor, Chairman & AI Expert Topic: Unlocking Generative AI for Private Equity & Portfolio Companies🔹 Intro & Background (0:00 – 2:00)Greg shares his 20+ years in PE-backed consumer goods: Baver (Netherlands), Cotterdardoor (UK), Mammoth, Wattbike, and No-Door.Passion for AI began two years ago, driven by a belief that GenAI is a business and p
Investing in the hospitality industry with Nate Edgerly
In this insightful episode, Nate Edgerly, CEO of Enzo Group Inc., discusses his journey from CPA at PricewaterhouseCoopers to a seasoned private equity investor and executive leader in the hospitality industry. Nate shares valuable insights on leadership, long-term investing, and what makes hospitality businesses thrive or fail.Key Takeaways:Nate’s journey from CPA to CEO, highlighting his pivotal
Building a $2.3 billion-dollar business from the ground up with Jeff Zwiefel
In this episode, Alex speaks with Jeff Zwiefel, former President & COO of Life Time, about scaling the business from $139M to $2.3B in revenue and navigating multiple private equity exits and IPOs. Jeff shares how a people-first culture and rigorous training enabled long-term, sustainable growth in a competitive industry.Jeff discusses why private equity firms often miss the mark by focusing o
The professionalisation of Private Equity with Henry Ward
In this episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Henry Ward, CEO and Co-Founder of Carta, to explore the evolving landscape of private equity and venture capital through the lens of software, operations, and professionalization. Henry shares his journey building Carta into a multi-billion-dollar software business and how it’s transforming the infrastructure of private markets.Henry dives into why priva
The most important factor of business with David Feingold
David Feingold, CEO of Broad Street Global, joins us on The Private Equity Podcast to share his 35+ year journey from law to leading one of the largest infrastructure-focused PE firms in the U.S. He unpacks lessons in leadership, hiring, culture, and why they’ve entered crypto mining. This episode is a masterclass in building high-performing teams and seizing unconventional opportunities.[00:00] W
Raising capital in 2025 with James Varela
Fundraising in 2025 isn’t business as usual. James Varela, Partner at Rede Partners and Head of MENA, joins us to break down what it really takes to raise capital from LPs—especially in the Middle East. We talk DPI pressure, LP targeting, co-investments, how to build credibility in emerging markets, and the biggest mistake GPs still make when pitching. Whether you’re struggling or oversubscribed,
The Lessons Learned from a Private Equity Founder from 19 Acquisitions with Sequoya Borgman
From Big Four to 19 Acquisitions: Sequoya Borgman on Building Borgman Capital Sequoya Borgman, Founder of Borgman Capital, joins the show to discuss his leap from public accounting into private equity, building an independent sponsor model, and the real challenge behind every deal—people. He shares lessons from 19 acquisitions, why they prioritize cultural fit, and how they’re tapping into retail
Billion-dollar portfolio executive to infrastructure private equity investor with Chris Rozzell
Chris Rozell, Managing Partner at Cresta, joins us to discuss his journey from portfolio exec to founding a PE firm, scaling businesses to billions, and investing in decarbonization-focused infrastructure. He shares pragmatic insights on ESG, early-stage infra, and building trust with management teams—plus how Cresta bridges the gap between VC and large infra players. [00:00] Chris Rizel, Managing
The Framework Every Private Equity Investor and Operator Needs in the Tool-Kit with Sam Bendix
Sam Bendix, Partner at Chicago Pacific Founders, returns to share his framework for capital raising using motivational interviewing. He explains how it uncovers real motivations and qualifies prospects faster—without a hard sell. We cover how it applies to investor meetings, deal sourcing, hiring, and beyond. A practical framework for better conversations and better results. [00:00] Sam Bendix, Pa
The Pricing Advantage Easy EBITDA Wins with Jared Weisel
In today’s episode, Jared Weisel, SVP at Revenue Analytics, joins us to break down how PE-backed manufacturing and distribution businesses can use pricing to drive serious EBITDA gains. We dive into why most firms ignore pricing, how to avoid customer churn while raising prices, and why a 3–7% increase can deliver outsized impact. Jared shares the biggest mistakes PE firms make, how to build long-
From the first HVAC Services acquisition to the 25th with Steve Carroll
In today's episode we have Steve Carroll, CEO and Co-Founder of Kelso Industries, join us to share his journey from a small-town construction background to leading a 25-acquisition HVAC roll-up. We dive into his Walmart days scaling EBITDA from $15M to $250M, his views on where PE firms get it wrong, and how Kelso’s long-term partnership model is flipping the script on traditional roll-ups.[0
100+ Add on Acquisitions Learning and Lessons on Integration by Scott Cook
Welcome to another episode of the Private Equity Podcast. Today, I’m joined by Scott Cook, an experienced Chief HR Officer with over 100 add-on acquisitions under his belt. We dig into what really drives successful integration—nailing culture, managing change, aligning roles, and avoiding the classic post-acquisition mistakes. If you want a no-nonsense guide to people, process, and performance in
Scaling Your Business the Playbook Series with Andrew Towne
Welcome to another episode of the Private Equity Podcast. Today, I’m joined by Andrew Towne, Partner at Olympus Pines. We break down what it really takes to grow a portfolio company—hiring the right team, aligning goals, building execution plans, and pulling the right levers for revenue and EBITDA growth. If you're after a practical playbook on scaling businesses in the lower mid-market, this
The Outlook for the Private Credit Market from Hamilton Lane's Nayef Perry
Welcome to another episode of the Private Equity Podcast, today I’m joined by Nayef Perry, Head of Direct Credit at Hamilton Lane. We dive into the state of the private credit market—where the opportunities are, how interest rates are shaping returns, and what investors need to watch out for. If you want a sharp, no-fluff breakdown of where private credit is heading and why it still has room to ru
