Brilliant People Podcast

What does it take to build a value-creation engine that scales across portfolios, empowers CEOs, and blends purpose with performance?In this episode, host Linnea Jungnelius sits down with Tory Ramaker, Senior Partner and Co-Head of Vistria PRG, LLC ("Portfolio Resources Group") at The Vistria Group, one of the private-equity industry’s most forward-thinking operating leaders.From founding the PRG from the ground up to re-engineering how portfolio teams drive transformation, Tory shares what it really means to create impact in essential industries — where financial returns and societal outcomes go hand in hand.For Operating Partners, CEOs, and investors alike, this conversation breaks down the next generation of value creation, grounded in partnership, empathy, and disciplined execution.What You’ll Learn:• How to architect a portfolio operations model that bridges strategy and execution• Why management ownership, not investor direction, determines success• The playbook for aligning boards, sponsors, and CEOs around one value-creation plan• Why the best portfolio leaders blend consulting rigor with real operating experience• The leadership balance between autonomy and accountability that builds lasting trustTimecodes00:00 Intro00:15 Guest Introduction: Tory Ramaker, The Vistria Group00:54 Early Lessons in Resilience and Adaptability02:26 Learning to Influence: From Data and Logic to Empathy07:13 Building the PRG: Founding Vision and Early Model08:04 Evolving the Model: From Generalists to Functional Specialists09:51 Portfolio Priorities: Technology, Talent, and Finance11:06 Hiring Strategy: Product-Minded Tech Leaders and PE-Proven CFOs11:45 Next-Gen Operating Talent: Consulting Rigor Meets Operating Experience13:00 Operating Model Shift: Fewer Companies, Deeper Engagement14:33 Value Creation Planning: It Must Be Management’s Plan15:14 Execution and Measurement: Defining Success Metrics17:03 Integrating Impact: Embedding Purpose into Value Creation19:00 Partnering with CEOs: Building Trust and Candid Collaboration21:03 Leadership Alignment: Autonomy with Accountability22:35 Co-Investment Collaboration: Clarity and Over-Communication23:46 Change Leadership: Applying AI and Data to Transformation26:42 Capacity Discipline: Forced Scarcity and Strategic Resourcing29:15 Leadership Standard: Autonomy with Accountability31:39 Human Capital Playbook: Assessments, Coaching, and CEO Readiness36:20 Leadership Evolution: EQ Over IQ38:19 Lightning Round: Personal Reflections Resources:Tory Ramaker:LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tory-ramaker-a077141/ Linnea Jungnelius:LinkedIn: https://⁠www.linkedin.com/in/linneajungnelius ⁠X: ⁠https://x.com/itslinnea⁠Explore the Podcast:Spotify: ⁠https://acertitu.de/tory-ramaker-spotify-podcastApple Podcasts: ⁠https://acertitu.de/tory-ramaker-apple-podcast⁠Blog: ⁠https://acertitu.de/tory-ramaker-blog⁠Found Value?👍Tap Like. And Subscribe: ⁠https://acertitu.de/rate-brilliant-people-podcast⁠Stay Updated on Acertitude:LinkedIn: https://⁠www.linkedin.com/company/AcertitudeX: ⁠https://www.x.com/acertitude⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/acertitude ⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/brilliantpeoplepodWebsite: ⁠https://www.acertitude.com ⁠

What does it take to modernize a legacy sport, inspire global fans, and build commercial engines that stand the test of time?In this episode, Linnea Jungnelius sits down with Jeff Price, Chief Commercial & Philanthropy Officer at the PGA of America, and one of the most influential architects behind golf’s modern growth story.From transforming brand partnerships at Gatorade and MasterCard to reshaping how millions experience the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup, Jeff has built a career at the intersection of sport, business, and innovation. His lessons apply far beyond the fairway: they’re about building trust, culture, and commercial momentum in any business facing disruption.What You’ll Learn:• How to turn sponsorships into lasting, growth-driving partnerships• The leadership shift from instructing teams to empowering them• Why understanding your “dual-habit” consumers drives sustainable engagement• How to extend experiences beyond the venue and into culture• Why focus and the smart use of AI defines the next wave of sports innovationTimecodes:00:00 Intro00:26 Guest Introduction: Jeff Price1:09 Early Career & Lessons from Rejection 02:45 Career Journey: NBA, Gatorade, MasterCard06:31 Startup Experience & Learning from Failure08:43 Leadership Evolution: Empowerment vs. Instruction10:16 Decision-Making & Strategic Frameworks11:37 Joining PGA of America: Strategic Gaps & First Moves13:15 Partnership Economics & PGA’s Commercial Strategy17:10 Ryder Cup: Brand Unification & Global Growth20:36 Commercial Innovation: Events, Experiences, and Media22:51 Media Strategy: ESPN+ Streaming Deal25:42 The Future: AI, Data, and Personalization in Golf30:05 Building High-Performing Teams: The “We” Mentality32:51 Commercial Leadership: Data, Social Media, and Revenue34:01 Advice for CEOs & Commercial Teams35:00 Personal Routines & Sustaining Performance36:41 Sources of Inspiration & Industry Trends38:01 Trends in Sports Business & Media49:00 Lightning Round: Personal ReflectionsResources: Jeff Price: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-price-24481318/Linnea Jungnelius: LinkedIn: https://⁠www.linkedin.com/in/linneajungnelius ⁠X: ⁠https://x.com/itslinnea⁠ Explore the Podcast: Spotify: ⁠https://acertitu.de/jeff-price-spotify-podcast Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://acertitu.de/jeff-price-apple-podcast⁠Blog: ⁠https://acertitu.de/jeff-price-blog⁠ Found Value? 👍Tap Like. And Subscribe: ⁠https://acertitu.de/rate-brilliant-people-podcast⁠ Stay Updated on Acertitude: LinkedIn: https://⁠www.linkedin.com/company/acertitude ⁠X: ⁠https://www.x.com/acertitude⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/acertitude⁠ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/brilliantpeoplepod Website: ⁠https://www.acertitude.com ⁠

What does it take to transform a team, ignite a movement, and build a future that didn’t exist before? In this episode, Linnea Jungnelius sits down with Dr. Allison Barber – trailblazing leader, ex-president of the Indiana Fever, and now the force behind Marvella Academy, the first-of-its-kind youth sports and leadership campus built entirely for girls. From reimagining a professional sports franchise to shaping the next generation of leaders, Allison shares lessons from the locker room, the boardroom, the Pentagon, and beyond. Her stories reveal how vision, conviction, and the courage to show up, again and again, can create lasting impact in business, sports, and life.What You’ll Learn:How to reimagine and rebuild a brand from the ground upThe framework used to turn fans into loyal, lifelong advocatesHow to prepare your team for a transformational "lightning strike" moment and sustain itWhy the best leaders show up in the community, not just the corner officeHow investing in girls' sports creates a talent pipeline for future CEOs and leadersTimecodes:00:00 Intro00:11 Guest Introduction: Dr. Allison Barber01:16 Transforming the Indiana Fever: Rebuilding & Strategy01:39 Building a Championship Culture: The Three C’s02:17 Leadership Lessons: Vision, Strategy, and Patience04:34 The Caitlin Clark Moment: Preparing for Transformation08:54 Building Belief: Fans, Culture, and the “Movable Middle”14:17 Shaping a Winning Culture: Optimism & Fundamentals16:55 What Matters Most in Leadership: Integrity24:13 9/11: Leading Through Crisis28:24 The Mission Behind Marvella Academy34:17 Marvella’s Best-in-Class Approach35:51 The Business of Youth Sports39:57 What’s Next: Marvella Mobile & Campus Launch40:54 The Surge in Women’s Sports: What’s Fueling It?45:11 Advice for Women in Sports Leadership49:20 Book & Podcast Recommendations50:05 Marvella’s Legacy: Empowering Girls52:58 Lightning Round: Personal ReflectionsResources:Dr. Allison Barber:  Website:  ⁠https://www.marvellasports.com⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-barber-phd-06201a2/⁠Linnea Jungnelius: LinkedIn:  ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/linneajungnelius⁠X:  ⁠https://x.com/itslinnea⁠Explore the Podcast: Spotify:  ⁠https://acertitu.de/dr-allison-barber-spotify-podcast⁠Apple Podcasts:  ⁠https://acertitu.de/dr-allison-barber-apple-podcast⁠Blog:  https://acertitu.de/dr-allison-barber-blogFound Value? 👍Tap Like. And Subscribe: ⁠https://acertitu.de/rate-brilliant-people-podcast⁠Stay Updated on Acertitude: LinkedIn:  ⁠www.linkedin.com/company/acertitude⁠X:  ⁠https://www.x.com/acertitude⁠Instagram:  ⁠https://www.instagram.com/acertitude⁠Website: ⁠https://www.acertitude.com⁠

Peter Browning, a boardroom legend with experience on over 14 public company boards, shares his insights on leadership and governance. He discusses the importance of courageous listening and the often-overlooked role of personal resilience in effective leadership. Peter highlights the evolving dynamics of board responsibilities, particularly in CEO succession planning, and the critical need for diversity and trust within boards. He emphasizes that true leadership is forged through real-life challenges, offering inspiration for current and aspiring leaders alike.

For Charlie Turano, legacy isn’t just nostalgia. It’s strategy. As Executive Director at Heritage Werks, Charlie is helping pro sports teams, leagues, and now even universities unlock the untapped power of their history—not just to preserve the past, but to propel the future.Before that, he co-founded Genesco Sports Enterprises, shaping it into one of the industry’s most respected corporate representation firms, advising global brands on how to maximize their presence in sports. But it all started with the Dallas Cowboys, where Charlie got his first taste of the business side of sports, an experience that sparked a career defined by innovation, storytelling, and the pursuit of enduring value.What You'll Learn:– How to turn your team's history into a high-ROI brand asset– How to drive fan engagement and revenue with digitized legacy content– The power of cutting through the noise with story-driven brand campaignsResources: Charlie Turano:  Website: https://www.heritagewerks.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-turano-7605302/   Linnea Jungnelius: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/linneajungnelius/ X: www.x.com/itsLinnea Explore the Podcast: Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4q2SyG7jTqV109lC37RtOV  Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-people-podcast/id1582636185 Blog: www.acertitu.de/charlie-turano-blogStay Updated on Acertitude LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/acertitude/  YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCaRywuMZMbDfHR77TyzEQZQ  X: www.x.com/acertitude  Instagram: www.instagram.com/acertitude  Website: www.acertitude.com 

Today, as Go-to-Market Operating Partner at Sixth Street, Paul brings both commercial operator chops and deep empathy to help CEOs, CROs, and deal teams turn strategy into sustainable results.He doesn’t do playbooks. He does pattern recognition. His approach is high-trust, high-discipline, and highly customized. Whether he’s transforming revenue orgs or coaching commercial leaders, Paul shows up like an athlete: focused, gritty, and committed to continuous improvement.

Today, as Managing Director of Technology and Digital at CD&R, Chris helps companies do the hard work behind “digital transformation” with no buzzwords, no shortcuts, and a sharp eye on what the business actually needs.His path has been anything but linear. But the throughline is clear: build great teams, make bold decisions, and lead from deep in the trenches.

Before Jimmy Holloran was leading talent strategy for a $16B private equity powerhouse, his path ran through classrooms, consultancies, portfolio companies, and boardrooms—and, in the very early days, behind the bar at his family’s Irish pub in St. Louis.Today, as Talent Partner at American Industrial Partners (AIP), Jimmy is reshaping what it means to drive value through people. He built the firm’s talent function from the ground up—advancing it from Talent 1.0 (better hiring, structured feedback), to Talent 2.0 (proactive leadership development, early diligence, a repeatable CEO playbook). Now, he’s laying the groundwork for Talent 3.0: a full-cycle leadership engine anchored by the Alpha Lab to grow and promote the next generation of C-suite talent.

As Founder & CEO of WestRiver Group—a thematically driven investment platform that funds and builds companies across the global innovation economy, and Vice Chairman of Topgolf Callaway Brands, Erik has led and scaled some of the most iconic and forward-looking brands in sports, tech,and entertainment. Under his leadership, Topgolf became a globalphenomenon, reimagining how people connect through play. He’s also a recognized visionary at Singularity University, where he helps organizations embrace exponential technologies to tackle complex global challenges.

Ram Charan, world-renowned business advisor, has spent decades inside boardrooms guiding CEOs and leadership teams through transformative decisions. Fortune calls him "the most influential consultant alive," and for good reason - his insights on leadership, strategy, and talent development have shaped the course of global businesses. Joining him in conversation is Kevin O’Neill, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Acertitude, a firm dedicated to unleashing human potential through executive search. Together, they delve into the forces shaping today’s business landscape and what separates great leaders from the rest.