
 Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business
 Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business Private Equity Spotlight: Dan Ryan on Turning Challenges into Smart Strategies
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 Feb 19, 2025  Dan Ryan, Managing Director at MidOcean Partners, shares his journey from investment banking to private equity. He reveals life-saving lessons from a steak dinner mishap, emphasizing trust and collaboration. Ryan discusses building business functions during the pandemic and leveraging data for a competitive edge. He highlights the adaptive strategies MidOcean is employing, including structured equity and AI integration. Cybersecurity's importance in private equity-backed firms and practical life hacks for daily challenges also feature prominently in their conversation. 
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Career Journey
- Dan Ryan transitioned from investment banking to private equity after 5 years, drawn by the value creation he witnessed through strong leadership.
- He joined Milestone Partners in 2008, right before the Lehman collapse, a challenging period that became a valuable learning experience.
Teamwork and Perseverance
- Dan Ryan's experience walking onto the Georgetown soccer team taught him the value of hard work and perseverance.
- He emphasized the importance of teamwork and building lasting relationships, drawing parallels to the world of M&A.
Choking Incident
- Dan Ryan shared a near-death experience where he choked at a steak dinner.
- Two individuals performed the Heimlich maneuver and saved his life, highlighting the importance of trust and collaboration.






