The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection

                                       Private Equity Podcast Today's GuestToday we welcome Laith Murad, an experienced Chief Marketing Officer, having worked for small equity-backed companies right up to being a vice president with Yahoo.  What You'll LearnThe relationship between marketing and business successHow to beat your competition using SEOWhy emotions and human behavior are essential to every marketing campaignWhy data doesn't always work in marketingHow to determine your target audienceHow influencers have evolved from the '90s up to now Breakdown[00:54] Getting to know Laith Murad[04:02] The Biggest marketing mistakes most companies make[06:01] Defining marketing from a CEO's perspective[10:50] How companies with limited resources can stand out from the crowd[17:10] Parts of a business that influence effective marketing strategies [21:58] Data that guarantees effective marketing campaigns[28:01] Notable attributes of top-performing individual[33:35] What Lath likes and dislikes about private equity[39:19] Marketing for beginners ResourcesLaith's LinkedIn Thank you for tuning in! To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com

Today's GuestToday we welcome Greg Gille, the chief editor of Unquote, a European public equity publication that focuses on financial markets across Europe from a data viewpoint. Gille is also the chair of the judging panel for the British Private Equity Awards. What You'll Learn How private equity firms create valueWhy consistency is key in value creationWhat makes a successful private equity firmWhy most finance people detest private equityHow cumulative mistakes have the potential of sinking a businessHow private equity firms attract top talents The link between diversity and thriving workplacesBreakdown[00:40] Who is Greg Gille[03:47] The main thing judges look out for during the British Private Equity Awards[09:06] What is value creation[13:48] Cumulative areas where private equity firms are struggling with[20:40] Why sticking to a working strategy can be a good thing[25:03] The relationship between private equity firms and the media[33:41] How private equity firms stand out in the financial sector[40:39] Things that Greg likes and dislikes about the industry[53:20] Greg's influences and what he's reading now[58:40] Greg's advice to his 20-year-old selfResourcesGreg Gille’s LinkedInUnquote.comThank you for tuning in!To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com

Today's GuestToday we welcome Carol Crick, Vice President of HR at Acorn Growth Companies, a middle market Private Equity firm focused on aerospace, defence and intelligence.  Acorn invests in operating companies that strive to enhance global mobility, protect national interests, and develop next-generation intelligence gathering technology. Prior to joining Acorn, she spent years mentoring and leading teams to build corporate HR departments, and assisted multiple companies to grow both organically and strategically. As director of Human Resources for Select Energy Services, Carol was instrumental in leading a strategic expansion of growth from 1000 employees to more than 6,200 over a 4-year period.Carol graduated from Central Texas College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She served many years on the Lake Dallas ISD School Board of Trustees, currently sits on the Aerospace Employer Advisory Board for COWIB and is very active at Woodland Hills Baptist Church. What’s in this episode?In today’s episode Carol talks about her responsibilities as VP of HR and her experience partnering with business ownersWhat you'll learn·         Why trusting your Private Equity firm is key to success as a Portfolio Company·         The similarities between a HR role and an Operating Partner role·         Why talent is vital when making add-on acquisitions Breakdown01:45 - Managing the difference between working for an Operating business to working for a Private Equity firm02:44 - What are the biggest mistakes PE firms and Portfolio companies are making right now06:47 - What does HR do outside of the usual hiring/firing09:22 - What are the key challenges facing portfolio companies right now?11:47 - Biggest challenges when purchasing and integrating new portfolio companies15:29 - What do you like and dislike about the Private Equity Industry19:15 - 3 qualities of a top performer21:50 - What are your influences23:27 - Have you even been blindsided and what did you learn from it?24:30 - What advice would you give to your 20 year old self?Resourceshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-crick-ab9b634/https://acorngrowthcompanies.com/Thank you for tuning in!To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com

Today's GuestToday we welcome Greg Bloom, an experienced private equity backed operating partner and CEO experienced in the aerospace, defence and intelligence sector. Greg is possibly one of the most connected people I know in the A&D world and has a stellar track record of growing companies.   Starting his career in Investment Banking, Greg spent his early career working for Prudential Securities in both Los Angeles and New York.Greg then spent the next 10 years working for various different companies before joining Seal Science in 2002. Being hugely impacted by the 9/11 terror attacks, Greg was instrumental is driving the company to become a military and aerospace support organisation and developed Seal Science into one of the top companies in Signature Management (stealth technologies).Greg made the move the Private Equity in 2019 and now works closely with Acorn’s Aerospace and Defence portfolio companies. What’s in this episode?In today’s episode Greg talks all about his experience working in the Aerospace and Defence industry and gives his predictions for the future. What you'll learn·         Why now is the best time to look at your portfolio of talent·         Why fleets and A&D companies need to diversify towards environmentally friendly aircraft·         Why you need to make decisions quickly in your company·         Why you should be willing to serveBreakdown3:47 - What are the differences working for non PE backed companies to working in a PE company now5:46 - What are the biggest mistakes PE firms and Portfolio companies are making right now9:15 - Greg talks about his time leading Seal science and 7x the revenue11:55 - What should Aerospace and Defence companies be doing in the current climate15:12 - What is the biggest area for growth in the A&D area right now?20:10 - What three attributes makes a top performer28:25 - What do you like and dislike about the Private Equity Industry33:08 - What are your influences36:00 - Have you even been blindsided and what did you learn from it?39:50 - What advice would you give to your 20 year old self?Resourceshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/gbloom/https://acorngrowthcompanies.com/http://sealscience.com/https://www.anduril.com/ Thank you for tuning in!To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com

Today's GuestToday we welcome Marc Prine, an industrial-organisational psychologist working with Private Equity clients in the US to improve their performance by using data to better manage their people.What’s in this episode?In today’s episode Marc explains how he helps his clients secure the talent that is right for them, using a mixture of executive assessment and selection, succession planning, job analysis and business process improvement. What you'll learnWhat exactly is an industrial/organisational psychologistWhy experience in an industry doesn’t always translate to success in the jobWhy you need to think about where you want to go before hiring talentWhat is the 'locus of control'Why instant gratification could kill your careerWhy optimism is a key factor in great leadershipBreakdown6:46 - What one mistake do you see PE firms or Portfolio Companies making10:20 - The two main duties of an organisational psychologist14:45 - What PE firms can learn from working with an organisational psychologist18:40 - The difference between a controller and a CFO20:44 - How do you measure if someone can create strategic value?23:07 - The three attributes of a top performer32:14 - What do you like and dislike about Private Equity35:20 - Marc’s influences and what he’s reading right now38:20 - A time Marc was blindsided and what he learned from it41:25 - What advice would you give your 20 year old selfResourceshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/marcprine/https://www.mipconsultingllc.com/Thank you for tuning in!To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com

Today's GuestToday we welcome Paul McCluskey, an experienced Private Equity board director with a record of creating significant shareholder value and delivering strategic growth.  Originally qualifying with KPMG as a Chartered Accountant, Paul then moved into the FTSE 100 environment.After selling one of the FTSE 100 businesses to an American business, Paul started on the Private Equity journey in 2007 when he was part of the MBO team that took Synexa life sciences private with Private Equity, successfully exiting at 3x investment value in 2011.Later, in 2014, Paul was part of the MBI team that created Concept Life Sciences with support from Equistone Partners. He now works as a Consultant, advising business in the Life Sciences and Technology industries. What’s in this episode?In today’s episode Paul discusses with Alex how he created Concept Life Sciences with a series of management buy-ins and the challenges he faced growing this business before ultimately exiting in 2018 for 3x ROI.What you'll learnWhy talent is the key factor in success of a companyWhy urgency could be the key different between working in a PE backed vs non PE backed companyWhy finding your niche in the market is vital to successWhy you don’t need to have all the answersWhy you need to stick to your 100-day planWhy you should be taking more risks earlier in your careerBreakdown4:44 - What one mistake do you see PE firms or Portfolio Companies making8:07 - Advice for CEO’s looking to enter the Private Equity world14:26 - Paul discusses what it was like growing a business with a Private Equity sponsor and exiting24:30 - The challenges Paul faced integrating multiple add-on business and making sure there were no culture clashes 27:31 - Paul shares his biggest successes with Concept Life Sciences30:06 - How can PE firms get more value from their Portfolio Companies 32:44 - Advice for CEO’s wanting to take their business PE backed35:45 - What three attributes make a top performer38:59 - What Paul loves and hates about the PE industry44:11 - Paul’s influences 49:12 - Paul talks about a time he was blindsided and what he learned from it55:55 - What advice would you give your 20 year old self Resourceshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-mccluskey-3488b09a/https://www.conceptlifesciences.com/https://www.synexusclinic.co.uk/https://www.equistonepe.com/Thank you for tuning in!To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com

Today's GuestWe’re extremely excited to welcome Victor Vescovo to the podcast today.Victor is an American private equity investor, co-founder of Insight Equity, retired naval officer, and undersea explorer, being the first person to reach the deepest points of four of the Earth’s five oceans during the Five Deeps Expedition of 2018-2019.In 2017, Vescovo became the 12th American to complete the “Explorers Grand Slam” which requires climbing the highest peak on all seven of the world’s continents, including Mt. Everest.For more than 20 years, Vescovo served as an office in the U.S. Navy Reserve, retiring in 2014. He served at various times on extended active duty, including Pearl Harbor where he was posted after the 9/11 attacks as a counter-terrorism specialist. In the Private Equity world, he is cofounder and Managing Partner of Private Equity firm Insight Equity, an industrial buyout firm with over $1B AUM, where he focuses on growing and enhancing aerospace and defence firms.What’s in this episode?In today’s episode Victor chats with Alex about his experiences in mountaineering and undersea exploration and draws on the strong parallels between working in Private Equity and doing expeditions and military operations. What you'll learn Why risk mitigation plays a vital role in both expeditions and Private Equity InvestingWhy hesitating on decision making can kill your businessWhat Victor has drawn from his military background to influence his Private Equity firm todayThe most painful decision Victor has ever had to makeWhat drove Victor to set up his current PE Firm, Insight EquityHow 9/11 changed his lifeWhat makes some a great leader and top performerBreakdown4:40 - Why do some people take on more risk than others, in expeditions and in business?8:45 - The biggest mistakes Victor sees people making in PE10:16 - How Victor’s military background influences his decision making today13:00 - Why Victor set up his PE Firm, Insight Equity16:04 - Victor describes what was working in the military was like17:30 - How to make partner in your firm19:57 - Victor’s interpretation of what makes a great leader22:34 - The makeup of a top performer25:10 - Victor’s likes and dislikes in the Private Equity Industry33:40 - what advice would you give to your 20 year old selfResourceshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-vescovo-4a130775/https://fivedeeps.com/https://www.ted.com/speakers/victor_vescovohttps://www.insightequity.com/Thank you for tuning in!To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com

Today's GuestToday we welcome Rick Brawn, Operating Partner at GenNx360, an operationally focused Private Equity firm that invests in industrial and business service companies. After receiving his engineering degree from MIT, Rick joined Pratt and Whitney, an engine company part of United Technologies. He was with the company for 17 years, achieving his masters and MBA in engineering, holding various different positions and even moving to 6 different countries with his wife and 4 children to go where the company needed him.5 years ago he made the transition to working for GenNx360 as Operating Partner and now lives in Florida.What’s in this episode?In today’s episode Rick explains how he transitioned from running companies as the former Managing Director of Rolls Royce and Pratt & Whitney, to working for a Private Equity firm as an Operating Partner and the steep learning curve that came with that transition. What you'll learnWhy it’s vital for Portfolio Companies to fully understand the Investment thesisWhat to do as a CEO if your firm is being acquired by Private EquityWhat exactly is the role of Operating PartnerHow Rick made the transition from being CEO to Operating Partner, never having worked in Private Equity beforeThe steep learning curve Rick experienced coming into the Private Equity industryThe best way to really learn more about PEThe main challenges Rick faces as an Operating PartnerRick’s advice for anyone looking to make the move to an Operating Partner role Breakdown2:36 - What one mistake do you see PE firms or Portfolio Companies making4:03 - Advice for a CEO of a business being acquired by a PE firm6:04 - How do you define the role of Operating Partner8:04 - How involved in the deal process are Operating Partners?10:29 - How Rick transitioned from running companies as MD/CEO to working for the PE firm as Operating Partner18:39 - Main challenges faced as an Operating Partner20:12 - What advice would you give someone looking to make the move to Operating Partner27:00 - The three attributes that make a top performing executive32:08 - Rick’s likes and dislikes in the Private Equity industry39:30 - Rick’s experience with being blindsided42:17 - What advice would Rick give to his 20-year-old self?Resourceshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/operatingpartner/https://gennx360.com/team-info/rick-brawnhttps://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/en_GB/home.htmlhttps://prattwhitney.com/Thank you for tuning in!To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com

Introducing The Private Equity Podcast, hosted by Alex Rawlings.Over the coming episodes Alex will be interviewing the leading experts working in the Private Equity industry, unlocking their secrets of success to share with you. Discover how some of the top private equity professionals got into Private Equity, how they rose to success and learn about some of the mistakes they made along the way. Alex has strong connections to the Private Equity industry through his executive search firm, Raw Selection, which specialises in working with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies across Europe and North America. Alex is straight talking and to the point and aims to unlock real gold you can build into your firm or portfolio companies.