In this episode we speak with Zia Uddin, President of Monroe Capital, a premier asset management firm specializing in private credit markets across various strategies, including direct lending, technology finance, venture debt, alternative credit, structured credit, real estate and equity.   Since 2004, the firm has been successfully providing capital solutions to clients in the U.S. and Canada.  As of January 1, 2025, Monroe had $20.3 billion in committed and managed capital. The firm is headquartered in Chicago and maintains 11 offices throughout the United States, Asia and Australia. Zia has over 30 years of management consulting, corporate finance, private equity, turnaround and investing experience. As President, Zia focuses on Monroe’s day-to-day and strategic long-term growth initiatives.  He also assists in both Monroe Capital’s software, technology-enabled and business services lending, as well as the Firms Independent Sponsor activities. Zia's experience includes past and present roles as a Board member of various public and private companies. He joined the firm in 2007 and is a member of Monroe’s Investment Committee. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode we speak with Ran Ding, General Partner at Norwest, a global venture and growth equity investment firm managing more than $15.5 billion in capital. Since its inception, the firm has invested in more than 700 companies and currently partners with more than 250 companies in its venture and growth equity portfolio. Ran joined Norwest in 2011. As a General Partner and Co-Head of the Growth Equity team, Ran focuses on growth equity investments across a wide range of sectors including technology, business services, and consumer. His most recent investments include Banyan Software, Datacor, Elite Business Ventures and SpryPoint. Ran is a two-time awardee of GrowthCap’s Top 40 Under 40 Growth Investors, as well as GrowthCap’s Top Software Investors. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Sean Duffy, the Co-Founder and CEO of Omada Health, a virtual-first healthcare provider that nurtures lifelong health, one day at a time. Since 2011, Sean and his team’s mission has been to inspire and enable people everywhere to live free of chronic disease. They do this by building digital health programs that are evidence-based, performance-priced, and designed to delight their users. Omada is backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Norwest Venture Partners, Fidelity, Wellington Management, and other notable investors. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Satyen Sangani, the Co-Founder and CEO of Alation, an enterprise software company, whose data catalog serves enterprises in organizing and consolidating their data. Nearly 600 global enterprises — including 40% of the Fortune 100 — rely on Alation to realize value from every data and AI initiative. Alation is backed by Thoma Bravo, Riverwood Capital, Salesforce Ventures and other notable investors. Since 2012, Satyen and his team have been passionate about helping enterprises create thriving data cultures where anyone can find, understand, and trust data. Prior to founding Alation, Satyen spent a decade at Oracle where he managed the financial services warehousing and performance management business. I am your host RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode click to follow.

In this episode we speak with Eric Byunn, Co-Founder and Partner of Centana Growth Partners, a growth equity firm with deep, relevant sector experience investing in and working with companies in financial services, fintech, and related enterprise software. Eric is a three-time awardee of GrowthCap’s Top Software Investors. He co-founded Centana in 2015 and previously worked over 20 years in growth equity and technology.  He spent 13 years at FTV Capital, a multi-billion dollar growth equity fund, where he was a partner, served on the management committee and led investments in enterprise technology.  In the earlier part of his career, Eric held positions at Netscape, mCFO and McKinsey. Eric supports Smithsonian Institution. To learn more about this organization click here. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode we speak with Larry Contrella, Partner at JMI Equity, a growth equity firm focused on investing in leading software companies. Today, the Firm’s portfolio represents $9 billion in combined revenue, $75 billion in aggregate enterprise value, and over 37,000 jobs. Larry joined the firm in 2010 and focuses on investments in B2B software businesses. For the sixth consecutive year, Larry has been recognized by GrowthCap as a Top 40 Under 40 Growth Investor, in addition to being recognized as a Top Software investor for the past two years. Larry supports Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Friends of Patterson Park. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

Elizabeth Betten, Partner and Co-Head of Healthcare at Madison Dearborn Partners, shares her insights as a Top Woman Leader in Growth Investing. She discusses unique strategies in healthcare investments, focusing on patient-preferred care and efficient outsourcing. Elizabeth emphasizes the vital role of women's leadership in finance and highlights challenges they face in the industry. Civic engagement is also a key topic, as she advocates for children's healthcare funding and community initiatives in Chicago.

In this episode we speak with Jeff Haywood and Steve LeSieur, Managing Directors and co-heads of Spectrum Equity’s healthcare investments since 2015. For the past two years, Jeff and Steve have been recognized by GrowthCap as Top 25 Healthcare Investors. Spectrum Equity is a leading growth equity firm providing capital and strategic support to innovative companies across the information economy. Since its founding in 1994, the firm has partnered with proven entrepreneurs and management teams to build long-term value in market-leading software and data services companies. Jeff’s areas of investment focus include Internet-enabled healthcare IT, software and information services. Prior to joining Spectrum, Jeff worked at Thoma Cressey Equity Partners and Goldman Sachs. Steve’s areas of investment focus include Internet-enabled software and information services serving vertical end markets such as healthcare, education and travel & hospitality. Prior to joining Spectrum, Steve worked at Trident Capital, Thomas Weisel Partners and The Beacon Group. Jeff supports Utah Athletics. To learn more about this organization click here. Steve supports World Bicycle Relief and Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode we speak with Mike Ettling, the CEO of Unit4, a software company that specializes in the professional services, public services, education, and nonprofit sectors.  Mike was recognized by The Software Report as a Top 50 SaaS CEO of 2023. Unit 4’s integrated suite of AI-powered ERP software solutions built on a robust platform helps elevate businesses, delivering visibility and control over finances, projects, procurement, reporting, forecasting and payroll. The company has 2,700 colleagues across the globe and serves more than 5,100 customers. Mike is a CEO, investor, builder of world class teams, champion of diversity and continuous learner, and he’s passionate about people.  From his first leadership role in the Boy Scouts, to exec positions in the tech industry, his career has revolved around elevating, engaging and enabling people. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode we speak with Peter Chung, CEO and Managing Director of leading global growth investment firm Summit Partners.  For over 40 years, Summit has partnered with profitable, category-leading companies and their leadership teams seeking to build best-in-class businesses by leveraging their deep industry expertise and their Peak Performance Group value enhancement platform. With over 80 growth equity investment professionals in their offices across North America and Europe, Summit has invested in more than 550 companies in the technology, healthcare, financial services, business services and consumer sectors. Peter joined Summit Partners in 1994 and during his tenure has invested in more than 30 companies, including 18 currently or formerly publicly traded companies. He has served as the Firm’s CEO since 2015. Summit Partners was recognized by GrowthCap as a Top Private Equity Firm and Top Growth Equity Firm of 2024. Peter supports Salvation Army, Mercy Ships and Athletes in Action. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.