Private Equity Value Creation Podcast

On this episode, Shiv interviews Kelly Ford Buckley, General Partner at Edison Partners, a growth equity firm with over 39 years of experience investing in high-growth software companies in secondary markets. Kelly dives into Edison's hands-on approach to value creation, emphasizing their preference for taking on execution risk over product or market risk, and how they use maturity assessments across five centers of excellence—like go-to-market, product, and finance—to identify and prioritize opportunities for portfolio companies.She shares real-world examples of transforming pricing models, aligning sales and marketing for faster growth, and building operational muscle to scale without paralysis, while stressing the importance of capital efficiency in today's macro environment. Kelly also discusses the role of AI as an efficiency tool rather than a distraction, the advantages of focusing on secondary markets for more grounded founders, and how Edison's domain expertise in verticals like fintech and healthcare IT drives repeatable success. This episode offers actionable insights for investors and operators looking to maximize enterprise value through focused, low-risk execution.

Shiv Narayanan tackles the struggle of portfolio companies hitting sales targets, revealing how AI and economic shifts create a perfect storm for underperformance. He shares a roadmap for increasing efficiency by cutting wasted marketing spend and optimizing team structures. Strategies for maximizing customer value through upselling and reengaging lost deals are emphasized. The importance of targeted outreach and authentic thought leadership is discussed, offering a fresh approach to driving sustainable growth amidst rising competition.

In this conversation, Craig Jones, a private equity investor with TPE Boulder, shares insights into scaling lower middle-market companies, particularly in healthcare. He emphasizes the importance of organic growth and operational improvements. Craig discusses strategies for aligning with founders on growth plans, managing founder dependency, and prioritizing resource allocation. He also highlights high-potential niches like neuropathy treatment, explaining how targeting these sectors can improve enterprise value and attract larger buyers with better multiples.

Gus Araya, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner of Cordillera Investment Partners, specializes in investing in alternative assets like marinas and music royalties. In this conversation, he shares how private equity can thrive in less competitive markets. Gus discusses the power of an operational playbook and the importance of thorough due diligence. He dives into strategic sourcing and how to navigate unconventional investment avenues. Finally, he emphasizes building partnerships to create sustainable enterprise value and attract investor backing.

On this episode, Shiv Narayanan interviews Andy Lund, Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Primary Capital Advisory at Houlihan Lokey, to discuss strategies for private equity firms navigating today's challenging fundraising and liquidity environment.Andy shares insights on how GPs can differentiate themselves in a crowded market, leveraging tools like secondary transactions, continuation vehicles, and direct investments to address LP liquidity demands. He explores the impact of macroeconomic shifts, including geopolitical uncertainties and tariffs, on M&A and fundraising, and highlights the growing importance of operational value-add and AI integration to drive enterprise value.The conversation also covers the evolving dynamics of the private equity landscape, from the rise of next-gen firms to the challenges faced by mid-market players, offering practical advice for GPs aiming to thrive in a competitive market.The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.

Eliot Kerlin, Co-Founder of Broadwing Capital, shares insights from his journey from Wall Street to private equity. He discusses a five-part framework for driving value in the lower middle market, emphasizing operational expertise and talent development. Eliot highlights the importance of building strong relationships and collaboration to enhance performance. He also reveals strategies for prioritizing initiatives amidst limited resources, showcasing how investing in human capital leads to successful transformations and long-term success.

Shiv interviews Michael Wilkins, Partner at Shamrock Capital, to explore the opportunities PE firms can unlock through deep expertise in sectors including media, entertainment and sports.Michael explains how industry focus and long-term networks translate into proprietary deal flow, why value creation plans need to be tailored to each company rather than run from a single playbook, and how to balance partnership with hands-on support. He also shares how firms can approach AI in practical, incremental ways—turning it from a perceived threat into a tool for margin expansion and growth.

In this episode, Shiv Narayanan sits down with members of the How To SaaS client services team to talk about the most common marketing challenges inside PE-backed portfolio companies—and how to solve them. Chief Client Officer Farhad Chikhliwala, VP of Marketing Taylor Moore and Director of Marketing Tatiana Morand discuss why poor tracking and misaligned spend can drain ROI, how to prioritize the right order of operations for go-to-market, the role of the CMO as a “custodian of investment” and how to align team structure with the investment thesis. Tune in to hear about overlooked growth levers like upsell and cross-sell, how to find 20–40% efficiency in existing spend and how to balance AI adoption with the marketing fundamentals that still drive enterprise value.

Shiv interviews Brian Boorstein, Co-Founder and Partner at Granite Creek Capital Partners. On this episode, Brian shares how to leverage flexible investment structures to unlock growth in lower middle market companies. Learn about the importance of aligning capital, talent and opportunity, and hear about how rigid investment mandates can cause PE firms to miss out on high-potential businesses. 

Shiv interviews Garrett Marsilio, Partner at Delta-v Capital. On this episode, Garrett dives deep into the evolving landscape of secondaries in private markets. Learn how secondary investments are creating new liquidity pathways for venture-backed companies and why this is becoming a preferred strategy. Hear about adding post-investment value through targeted operational support and Delta-v Capital’s unique ‘flight plan’ approach.