DIVE BLOG 

Insights from the world of private equity, strategic consulting, and business intelligence.

BluWave Insights: How the Agile Workforce is Impacting the Economy

Many hiring managers report that they face a talent shortage, which is why the agile workforce – independent professionals hired on a project-by-project basis – is only going to become more critical in the coming years. In my first article for Toolbox HR, a new platform for executives to learn about everything from cybersecurity trends to the nuances of “people and talent,” I explore topics related to this workforce evolution. What is the agile workforce? Simply put, it’s flexible, filled with...
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PE Firms

State of PE: An Interview with Huron Capital’s Gretchen Perkins

Private equity is a widely misunderstood industry – from the common belief that Private Equity firms snatch up companies just to strip them down and sell them to the lack of awareness about the pivotal role PE plays in the modern economy. Gretchen Perkins is a partner who focuses on business development at Huron Capital, and there’s nobody better to correct the mistaken assumptions about her industry and give us a glimpse into the current state of PE. Gretchen was kind enough to answer a few of...
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PE Firms

BluWave Forms Fundraising Consortium to Fight Hunger in Nashville

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the demand for food in the Nashville area has jumped from 600,000 pounds a week to a million pounds a week — a 40 percent increase over this time last year, according to Second Harvest Food Bank.  Between unemployment rates skyrocketing and schools (a source of free or reduced cost breakfasts and lunches) being closed, vulnerable children are at risk. At the same time, donations of food are down, distribution and other expenses are up, and all of Second...
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Industry Insights: An Interview with ParkerGale’s Devin Mathews

This is an unprecedented time for private equity firms and their portfolio companies. As the economy begins to show signs of a tenuous post-COVID-19 recovery, there is no telling how the business landscape will be impacted. But one thing is clear: PE will be a major factor in the recovery. Devin Mathews is a partner at ParkerGale, and he generously took the time to discuss his firm, perceptions of the PE industry, and what investment trends we should be keeping an eye on right now. Sean Mooney:...
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PE Firms

How to find and leverage expertise

The COVID-19 pandemic won’t last forever, and companies need to be thinking about how to best position themselves to not only maintain their operations, but also seize upon opportunities and prepare for an uncertain future. This means they’ll have to be agile, getting the right people with the right skills at the right time. Our economy is more dependent on expertise than ever before – a fact that’s even clearer amid this crisis. A 2019 study conducted by the Society for Human Resource...
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PE Firms

OODA Loop Offers a Solid Framework for Agile, Fast-Moving Companies

When I left my partner position at a PE fund to start BluWave, I sought an operating framework to help us build the company in an agile and customer-centric way. I embraced a model conceived by Air Force Colonel John Boyd called the OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act). This framework has been extremely helpful as we’ve grown to serving more than 350 PE funds in a short period of time. Now more than ever, we have found it to be invaluable as we navigate the uncertain world that has emerged...
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PE Firms

Research Finds PE-backed Companies More Resilient Than Others During Economic Contractions

Although states and businesses are beginning to reopen amid progress in the fight against COVID-19, the economic fallout has been devastating. Over the past nine weeks, almost 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment while the unemployment rate reached almost 15 percent in April – a number that has steadily increased since then. The private equity industry plays a substantial role in the U.S. Economy. This raises the question: How is the PE industry equipped to support an economic...
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PE Firms

What We See Now: Post-COVID Strategy

As Yogi Berra once said: “The future ain’t what it used to be.” Those words ring particularly true now, as everyone—from investors and business owners to teachers and healthcare workers—transition to living in a world with COVID-19. The numbers are in, and realistically this isn’t going away any time soon. The good news is that, while the not so great cards have been dealt, we’re starting to see people embrace our new reality and play the hand. In turn, we’re seeing some amazing proactivity and...
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PE Firms

How Companies Can Leverage Interim Leadership for a World in Flux

A rapid transformation of the global workforce has been taking place, fueled by digital transformation, specialization, and an increasingly on-demand labor pool. This transformation will only accelerate in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. Your company can’t afford to be paralyzed. In fact, when the world starts rotating again, now more than ever you and global workers need to proactively embrace these changes and be ready to act. Just look at what’s happening at the government level: a task...
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Human Capital, PE Firms, Value Creation

Bain’s Global PE Report 2020: High Prices and Higher Stakes

Oh, what a difference a month makes. Prior to the coronavirus sending the world into a health pandemic and a global economic downturn, Bain & Company released its annual “Global Private Equity Report” to provide context and insights for the current year. While these reports often top 100 pages (which makes them somewhat cumbersome to digest), they are filled to the brim with useful information. I took a dive into this year’s report and pulled out some highlights. While it’s interesting to look...
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PE Firms, Value Creation, Finance

What you need to know about the CARES Act

Yesterday, we hosted a live “CARES Act” session in conjunction with The Cypress Group, a leading Washington DC advisory firm that advocates for the private equity industry and a member of the BluWave network. Our goal was to offer an up-to-the-minute, inside look into how the proposed bill would likely affect private equity and its portcos. Below is a high-level overview of the $2.2 trillion package, which provides insights into how the funds are being allocated. We encourage you to listen to...
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BluWave Insights

8 Tips for Weathering the Storm

This has to be the strangest St. Patrick’s Day on record. To me, the business world feels a lot like the fog during the few weeks after 9/11 and when the bank meltdowns reached a fever pitch in 2008. Just like then, I’m quite sure that calm will prevail and that “this too shall pass.” We’ve been getting all sorts of calls the last two weeks from fellow PE fund and portco clients to help understand how they can best get ahead during uncertain times. If nothing else, it feels good having...
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BluWave Insights, COVID19, coronavirus

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