Rob Turano, Operating Partner at Bloom Equity Partners, breaks down the playbook he uses to transform lower middle-market software companies—from sharpening product focus to elevating talent and building repeatable go-to-market engines. He shares how Bloom integrates operating partners early in diligence, accelerates transformation in the first 12–18 months, and instills a performance culture rooted in data, speed, and ownership. Rob also gets personal, from his love of cooking to the practices he uses to think more clearly as a leader. It's a sharp, candid look at what real value creation in private equity demands today—hit play and take notes.
Episode Highlights
- 1:31 – Growing up in New Jersey, Villanova roots, and the consulting-to-private-equity path
- 5:56 – Why food matters in Rob's life and how he became Bloom's unofficial in-house chef
- 9:22 – The three traits Bloom looks for: focus, management strength, and GTM maturity
- 14:38 – Selling value vs. selling features—and why every salesperson must think like a CFO
- 20:49 – How Bloom's deal, BD, and operating teams collaborate from diligence through execution
- 27:45 – The urgency of the first 6–12 months and the sequencing of transformation in PE
- 36:18 – Rob's top advice to PortCos today: talent first, disciplined KPIs, and repeatable GTM engines
- 40:25 – The book shift that made Rob more creative—and the life hack that helps him think clearly
For more information on Bloom Equity Partners, go to https://www.bloomequitypartners.com/ For more information on Robert Turano, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-turano
