Karma School

Episode 023

Q2 Snapshot: Key Findings from BluWave’s Private Equity Insights Report

Listen as Sean Mooney discusses private equity findings from the Q2 2023 BluWave Insights Report. The report uncovers how private equity firms are taking action, securing safety and finding success. In this episode, Sean discusses:

1:02 - Why value creation is surging
3:33 - Cooling activity on human capital
4:32 - Growing activity across other value creation sectors
5:12 - The trend toward data and AI
6:30 - An update on 2023 predictions

To download the full report, go to www.bluwave.net/insights-report/.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE BUSINESS BUILDER’S PODCAST

OTHER RECENT EPISODES

Episode 094

Private Equity Business Builders’ Bookshelf 2024

In this special episode, we gather impactful book recommendations from our guests, offering insights into the minds of leading business builders.

Episode Highlights:

1:12 - Emily Holdman: Recommends "The Book of Charlie" by David Von Drehle for its profound wisdom and applicability to life changes.
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Charlie-Remarkable-American-109-Year-Old/dp/1476773939/

6:04 - Suzanne Yoon: Shares insights from "Traction" by Gino Wickman, emphasizing the entrepreneurial operating system for accountability and growth.
https://www.amazon.com/Traction-Get-Grip-Your-Business/dp/1936661837/

10:03 - Tim Schulte: Suggests Yuval Noah Harari’s "Sapiens," "Homo Deus," and "21 Lessons for the 21st Century" as thought-provoking reads on humanity and its future.
https://www.amazon.com/Sapiens-Humankind-Yuval-Noah-Harari/dp/0062316117/
https://www.amazon.com/Homo-Deus-Brief-History-Tomorrow/dp/0062464345/
https://www.amazon.com/Lessons-21st-Century-Yuval-Harari/dp/0525512195/

12:00 - Eric Hansen: Describes "The Loop Files" by Rick Kaempfer and "The Mosquito Bowl" by Buzz Bissinger for their engaging historical narratives.
https://www.amazon.com/Loop-Files-History-Outrageous-Station/dp/B0CNH5TZSQ/
https://www.amazon.com/Mosquito-Bowl-Game-Death-World/dp/0062879936/

16:43 - Josh Adams: Highlights "What It Takes" by Stephen Schwarzman, "Greenlights" by Matthew McConaughey and "Shoe Dog" by Phil Knight emphasizing the engaging storytelling and life lessons.
https://www.amazon.com/What-Takes-Lessons-Pursuit-Excellence/dp/1501158147/
https://www.amazon.com/Greenlights-Matthew-McConaughey/dp/0593139135/
https://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Dog-Memoir-Creator-Nike/dp/1501135910/

19:31 - Bob Belke: Discusses "Die With Zero" by Bill Perkins, advocating for investing in life experiences, and "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari" by Robin Sharma for its insights on living a fulfilled life.
https://www.amazon.com/Die-Zero-Getting-Your-Money/dp/0358567092/
https://www.amazon.com/Monk-Who-Sold-His-Ferrari/dp/0062515675/

26:34 - John Stewart: Talks about "Building a Second Brain" by Tiago Forte, which outlines a methodology for organizing information efficiently.
https://www.amazon.com/Building-Second-Brain-Organize-Potential/dp/1982167386/

31:45 - Erik Ginsberg: Recommends "Leadership and Self Deception" by The Arbinger Institute for its insights on self-awareness and organizational behavior.
https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Self-Deception-Fourth-Transforming-Relationships/dp/1523006560/

33:21 - Darren Herman: Offers "Startup" by Jerry Kaplan for its diary-format insights on building a technology company, and reflects on "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger as an inspirational read.
https://www.amazon.com/Startup-Silicon-Adventure-Jerry-Kaplan/dp/0140257314/
https://www.amazon.com/Catcher-Rye-J-D-Salinger/dp/0316769177/

37:16 - Christian Bullitt: Suggests "The Fund" by Rob Copeland, describing Bridgewater Associates' unique corporate culture.
https://www.amazon.com/Fund-Bridgewater-Associates-Unraveling-Street/dp/1250276934/

PE Firms
CEOs
Due Diligence

Episode 093

Private Equity Spotlight: From NFL to Investment Leadership with Rob Konrad

Join us as Rob Konrad, co-founder of Alterna Equity Partners, shares his journey from NFL athlete to private equity leader. Rob discusses how experiences from sports influence his investment strategies and success in building businesses.

Episode Highlights:
1:05 - Rob recounts his early fascination with economics and football during his upbringing in Boston.
4:14 - The transition from college football at Syracuse University to a career in the NFL.
6:51 - Rob reflects on the crucial role of leadership and preparation learned from sports.
14:05 - Hear the extraordinary story of survival and resilience during Rob’s unexpected boat accident.
29:12 - A look into value creation strategies at Alterna Equity Partners.
39:05 - The significance of OKRs and aligning interests for achieving strategic objectives.

For more information on Alterna Equity Partners, go to https://www.alternaequitypartners.com/
For more information on Rob Konrad, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/rlk44
For more information on BluWave and this podcast, go to https://www.bluwave.net/podcasts/

PE Firms
CEOs
Due Diligence

Episode 092

Digital Transformation in Private Equity: Nik Kapauan’s Journey with Access Holdings

Explore the role of digital innovation in private equity with Nik Kapauan, Managing Director at Access Holdings. Host Sean Mooney, founder and CEO of BluWave, delves into how Access Holdings applies digital strategies and value creation to enhance middle-market businesses. Learn about Nik's shift from strategy consulting to leading initiatives at Access Holdings, the development of the Access Acceleration Center, and the impact of these efforts on the private equity landscape.

Episode Highlights:

1:19 - Nik's transition from strategy consulting to impactful work in private equity.
4:07 - The importance of strategy consulting experience in private equity.
8:10 - How Access Holdings identifies and assesses investment opportunities.
14:00 - Enhancing portfolio companies with the Access Acceleration Center's digital and data capabilities.
25:15 - Key value creation strategies in today's market.
39:54 - Nik shares a personal life hack for managing energy and time effectively.

For more information on Access Holdings, go to https://accessholdings.com/
For more information on Nik Kapauan, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkapauan

PE Firms
CEOs
Due Diligence

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