The Future of Private Equity: Innovation, Transformation, and Leadership
Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business
Release Date: 02/26/2025
The Private Equity Playbook for Add-On Strategy, Data Discipline & Value Creation | Brooke Ablon, Fort Point Capital
Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business
Brooke Ablon, Co-Founder and Partner at Fort Point Capital, joins Sean Mooney to share how his firm scales lower middle market companies through a precise mix of strategy, data, and partnership. From executing disciplined add-on acquisition plans to transforming founder-led businesses into institutional-grade operations, Brooke walks through a real-world private equity playbook that’s built for today’s competitive landscape. 🔑 Key Topics Covered: [00:01:09] How a psychology major and distressed investor found his way into private equity [00:10:22] What distressed investing teaches...
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How Private Equity Pros Build Enduring Value with Discipline & Data | Brian Neider, Lead Edge Capital
Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business
Brian Neider, Managing Partner at Lead Edge Capital, joins BluWave CEO Sean Mooney to break down what great private equity investing really looks like — from systematic sourcing to building one of the most engaged LP networks in the industry. This episode is packed with real-world lessons from 20 years of disciplined execution and growth equity innovation. Episode Highlights: [1:09] Brian’s early lessons in entrepreneurship from running a vending business to building top-of-funnel strategy at Bessemer [6:09] How 20,000 cold calls built the foundation for Lead Edge Capital’s...
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Don McDonough on Leading A Private Equity Business Development Function
Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business
In this episode of Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney speaks with Don McDonough, Managing Director at GTCR, about his career in private equity and his role in building GTCR’s business development function. Episode Highlights: 1:24 - Path to Private Equity: Don’s journey from investment banking to private equity and his early career experiences. 4:56 - Leadership Lessons: How sports and teamwork shaped Don’s approach to leadership and problem-solving. 10:09 - Building a New Role: Challenges and strategies in developing GTCR’s business development function. 27:04 - Value Creation...
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Foundations of Leadership: Private Equity Insights with Dave Schnadig
Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business
In this episode of Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney connects with Dave Schnadig, Co-President of Cortec Group, for an inspiring conversation about private equity, leadership, and the many lessons Dave has learned through his dynamic career. Dave shares his journey from his family’s entrepreneurial roots to leading one of private equity’s most successful firms. Along the way, he dives deep into stories of overcoming challenges, including the Yeti turnaround, managing tariffs, and how to guide portfolio companies through dynamic markets. Episode Highlights: 1:14 - Formative...
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Data, AI, and Leadership: Essential Lessons for Private Equity from Misha Logvinov
Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business
In this episode of Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney sits down with Misha Logvinov, Managing Director and New York Office Lead at MGX, to discuss the essential lessons he’s learned throughout his entrepreneurial journey and private equity career. Together, they explore actionable insights on leadership, adaptability, and leveraging technology for value creation in private equity and beyond. Episode Highlights: 1:19 - Misha’s Early Journey: Growing up in post-Soviet Russia, launching entrepreneurial ventures as a teen, and transitioning to Silicon Valley during the dotcom boom. 7:22 -...
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Private Equity Q1 Insights: Adapting to Economic Shifts and Deal Market Trends
Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business
In this episode of Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney shares key insights from Q1 2025, covering private equity activity and responses to evolving economic conditions. Examining GDP, easing inflation, and rebounding deal activity, Sean discusses how private equity professionals are adapting strategies to capitalize on opportunities while managing risks such as emerging tariffs and global complexities. Episode Highlights: [00:04:03] Economic Landscape: Sean breaks down Q1 economic data, including inflation approaching the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, GDP evaluation, and job market...
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Private Equity Resilience: Turning Adversity Into Opportunity
Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business
This episode of Karma School of Business explores how resilience, tenacity, and grit enable private equity professionals to turn risk into opportunity. Sean Mooney reflects on industry responses to the 2008 financial crisis and COVID-19, showcasing how frameworks like Colonel John Boyd’s OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) drive action during times of uncertainty. Episode Highlights: 0:34 -Sean’s preamble: How private equity reframes risk in uncertain times, with a focus on the 2008 financial crisis and COVID-19. 12:05 - Andrew Joy: Overcoming immense personal adversity,...
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Elements of Value in Private Equity (Part III): Key Characteristics of Great Companies
Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business
In this special episode of Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney revisits insights from previous conversations with some of private equity’s most thoughtful leaders. These experts highlight the "elements of value" they prioritize when evaluating companies for investment, offering actionable frameworks and lessons learned across industries, geographies, and strategies. Episode Highlights: 01:11 - Nik Kapauan shares Access Holdings’ research-driven approach to identifying segment leaders and defining "what good looks like" in fragmented industries. 07:10 - Rob Konrad discusses the...
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AI in Private Equity: How Innovation is Reshaping Business Strategies
Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business
In this special episode, Sean Mooney joins Doug McCormick (HCI Equity Partners) and Lloyd Metz (ICD Partners) to explore the transformative impact of AI on private equity, portfolio companies, and everyday life. From optimizing portfolio company operations to driving innovation in deal sourcing and content creation, this discussion provides actionable insights into how leading firms are leveraging AI to create competitive advantages. Whether you’re an investor, executive, or business builder, this episode is packed with strategies to embrace AI’s potential in your organization. Episode...
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Private Equity Spotlight: Grit, Growth, and Game-Changing Deals with Micah Dawson
Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business
From a non-traditional career path to transforming businesses, Micah Dawson shares his playbook for designing business success in private equity with Sean Mooney. Packed with bold career moves, hard-earned lessons, and fresh perspectives, Micah shares how grit, leadership, and a focus on people drive real impact in the lower middle market. [00:03:15] - Bold career pivots: Micah’s transition from being an architect to entering law school, business school, and eventually joining the world of private equity. [00:06:49] - Entering the operations world: Micah shares lessons from his time...
info_outlineEpisode Highlights:
- 1:16 - Sean introduces four key trends in private equity: proactive due diligence, transformative value creation, modern firm operations, and corporate citizenship.
- 3:54 - The shift from confirmatory to proactive due diligence: How specialists, value creation plans, and detailed insights are helping PE firms bend the supply and demand curve to generate superior outcomes.
- 7:23 - Transformative value creation: Leading PE firms are accelerating change by leveraging internal ops teams, expert third parties, and aligned strategies to drive rapid business transformation.
- 10:17 - Modernizing PE firm operations: How firms are now run like their portfolio companies, with robust BD teams, human capital investments, advanced analytics, and emerging AI tools.
- 15:50 - Corporate citizenship in PE: Examples of firms like KKR, Alpine, and Hidden Harbor leveraging employee ownership, volunteering, and safety nets to create value beyond financial returns.
- 18:01 - Sean introduces BluWave’s Top Private Equity Innovators program, highlighting firms that exemplify innovation and success across the key themes shaping the industry.