Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business Drew Meyers on Value Creation at Seaport
Nov 5, 2025
Drew Meyers, a Partner at Seaport Capital, brings a wealth of experience in lower middle-market private equity and M&A integration. He shares his unconventional journey from bartending to PE, emphasizing the value of empathy in working with founder-led businesses. Drew reveals Seaport's three-part value creation strategy focused on professionalizing sales and finance without over-spending. He also discusses the importance of strong relationships and using external experts to accelerate growth, alongside valuable career advice on leaving employers gracefully.
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Unconventional Path To Private Equity
- Drew describes a winding path into finance including bartending, selling insulation, and taking bets at an off-track facility.
- Those early, unexpected jobs and an M&A integration role helped shape his PE readiness and grit.
Operator Experience Improves Deal Judgment
- M&A integration work trains you to empathize with operational issues and makes you a better investor.
- Exposure to leveraged finance teaches you to value cash flow and downside risks alongside growth.
Toledo Roots Shaped Founder Empathy
- Drew grew up in Toledo and observed his father's struggle founding an architectural firm.
- That upbringing fosters his empathy for founder-led, lower-middle-market businesses.