Foundations of Leadership: Private Equity Insights with Dave Schnadig

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 Years: Dave’s entrepreneurial childhood and lessons from his family business that shaped his approach to private equity.
• 7:18 - Journey to Cortec Group: How Dave’s experience in investment banking and private equity led him to one of the most unique models in the industry.
• 20:33 - Philosophy of Ownership: Why being “all in” is critical to succeeding in private equity, both for GPs and portfolio leaders.
• 22:35 - Yeti’s Turnaround Story: How tenacity and smart strategic decisions transformed a significant challenge into one of private equity’s top home runs.
• 42:10 - Mitigating Tariffs: Dave explains Cortec’s proactive approach to addressing tariffs and supplier diversification across portfolio companies.
• 48:27 - Adventure and Balance: Dave’s advice for finding balance through curated family trips and why experiences matter as much as success in business.

For more information on Cortec Group, go to https://cortecgroup.com/

For more information on Dave Schnadig, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-schnadig-a585529

For more information on BluWave and this podcast, go to https://www.bluwave.net/podcasts