Sean Mooney curates the 2025 reading list recommended by private equity investors, operating partners, and portfolio company CEOs featured on Karma School of Business this year. The episode spans business strategy, capital allocation, leadership, happiness, mindset, and life design—through the lens of people actively building and scaling companies. From The Outsiders to Traction to unexpected personal favorites, the list reflects what serious operators are actually reading and rereading. If you’re building for the long term, this one earns a spot in your queue.Episode Highlights1:12 – Casey Myers on shifting from achievement to fulfillment with From Strength to Strength2:53 – Steve Hunter reframes money, time, and health through Die With Zero4:04 – Jonathan Metrick on compounding time, skills, and careers via The Algebra of Wealth7:35 – Ran Ding explains why great CEOs are elite capital allocators in The Outsiders11:11 – Chris Scullin on dynamic competition and adaptation from The...

Rob Turano, Operating Partner at Bloom Equity Partners, breaks down the playbook he uses to transform lower middle-market software companies—from sharpening product focus to elevating talent and building repeatable go-to-market engines. He shares how Bloom integrates operating partners early in diligence, accelerates transformation in the first 12–18 months, and instills a performance culture rooted in data, speed, and ownership. Rob also gets personal, from his love of cooking to the practices he uses to think more clearly as a leader. It’s a sharp, candid look at what real value creation in private equity demands today—hit play and take notes.Episode Highlights1:31 – Growing up in New Jersey, Villanova roots, and the consulting-to-private-equity path5:56 – Why food matters in Rob’s life and how he became Bloom’s unofficial in-house chef9:22 – The three traits Bloom looks for: focus, management strength, and GTM maturity14:38 – Selling value vs. selling features—and why every...

Eliot Kerlin, Founder and Managing Partner of Broadwing Capital, shares the unconventional path that took him from pre-med to private equity and the principles that now guide his firm’s approach to building durable, high-performing companies. He unpacks Broadwing’s value-creation playbook, the importance of forecasting NTM cash flow, and why culture, people analytics, and in-person leadership sit at the center of long-term success. Eliot also reflects on the tenacity required to launch a firm—and the clarity needed to focus on what truly matters. It’s a grounded, thoughtful conversation that sharpens anyone building or leading in today’s private equity landscape.Episode Highlights:1:04 – Growing up in Texas, early influences, and the winding path from pre-med to finance3:44 – Breaking into Wall Street from a non-target school and the power of persistence10:51 – Lessons from hands-on jobs and how service work shapes leadership instincts17:54 – What makes a “good business” vs. a “good...

In this episode of Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney interviews Drew Meyers, Partner at Seaport Capital. Drew shares how his unconventional path—from off-track betting to M&A integration—shaped his approach to lower middle-market private equity. He breaks down Seaport's focused strategy on founder-led businesses, where they invest early in professionalization across strategy, sales, and finance. The conversation covers everything from the importance of relationships and never burning bridges to how BluWave helps Seaport access cost-effective resources tailored to smaller portfolio companies.Episode Highlights:2:00 - Drew's winding path into PE, including bartending and selling industrial insulation6:00 - Why M&A integration experience is valuable training for private equity13:00 - Working with founder-led businesses and understanding the founder mindset19:00 - Seaport's three-part value creation playbook: strategy, sales, and finance29:00 - How to professionalize early-stage...

In this special edition of the Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney, Founder and CEO of BluWave, breaks down key findings from BluWave’s Q3 2025 Private Equity Insights Report. Drawing parallels between his son’s fencing lessons and today’s economic climate, Sean explains how the best investors are shifting from a defensive stance to an offensive one. Seeing through the noise, leaning forward, and playing to win.He shares fresh data showing that deal activity, due diligence spending, and AI investment are all surging—signs of an industry on the offense. From the manufacturing renaissance to the rise of flatter, AI-enabled organizations, Sean offers a grounded, data-backed view of where private equity and the broader economy are heading next.Episode Highlights1:07 – The Sport of Fencing and PE: what private equity can learn from shifting from defense to offense4:40 – Why the U.S. economy is “good enough” and accelerating despite the noise11:45 – Deal data shows confidence returning:...

Sean Mooney speaks with Bob Morse, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Strattam Capital, about the changing playbook in private equity, especially in tech.Morse traces his path from Morgan Stanley and Oak Hill to founding Strattam, then lays out a no-surprises model: turn cards face-up pre-signing, align on a founder-written five-point plan, and opt-in support with real accountability. He explains why AI threatens seat-based SaaS economics, where outcome pricing wins, and how PE firms should push portfolios to experiment while keeping the founder’s innovative spark alive.Clear-eyed and practical, this conversation arms business builders with a framework to act now.Episode highlights:1:26 – An engineer’s path into private equity7:15 – Why tech needed a dedicated, specialized PE fund and the genesis of Strattam13:03 – Solving the “first board-meeting surprise”19:45 – The founder persona Strattam backs: industry operators with proven product-market fit27:15 – AI as invention vs. innovation...

Dan Gaspar, Partner at TZP Group, shares how private equity investors drive growth through focus, actionable insights, and strong partnerships. Hear Dan’s approach to evaluating businesses, aligning on key priorities, and leveraging innovations like AI. With decades of experience, Dan breaks down what it takes to create value in today’s dynamic market. A must-listen for private equity professionals and business builders alike.Episode Highlights:1:12 - Dan Gaspar's pathway to private equity: A straightforward yet insightful start12:14 - What "specialness" means when evaluating businesses for investment19:33 - How TZP Group aligns with management teams to focus on 2–3 key growth priorities26:19 - The role of AI in modern private equity: Dan’s take on experimentation and adaptability35:54 - Navigating uncertainty in today’s market: Lessons on maintaining margins and flexibility39:21 - Book recommendations for business builders: Traction, Good to Great, and Who Moved My Cheese41:35 -...

The second quarter of 2025 showcased one of the most compelling periods for private equity, revealing how firms responded to disruption through strategic action and decisive adaptation.Join BluWave Founder and CEO Sean Mooney as he unpacks the insights from BluWave's Q2 Private Equity Insights Report, including data showing rolling recovery trends, reshoring efforts in manufacturing, and technology investments.This episode dives into the unique frameworks private equity applies to thrive amid uncertainty, setting the stage for long-term growth. Confidently engage with insights that matter to your business.Episode Highlights1:21 – Navigating stop-and-go economic disruptions: Key Q2 observations5:45 – How private equity firms utilize OODA loops for decision-making12:30 – April 2nd tariffs: A black swan reshaping manufacturing and trade18:20 – Technology investments surge: AI and data projects skyrocket27:05 – Resilience returns: PMI and consumer sentiment rebound in June34:50 – The deal...

In this episode of Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney speaks with Ben Gaw, Partner and Head of Portfolio Operations at Cross Rapids Capital. Ben shares stories from his journey as a first-generation immigrant to becoming a sought-after private equity leader, highlighting lessons learned from turnarounds, rapid decision-making, and building successful companies.Episode Highlights:1:03 - Ben’s background: From chemical engineering to corporate turnarounds, restructuring, and private equity.10:03 - What makes a good company great: Identifying defensible markets, customer relationships, and opportunities hidden in mismanagement.12:20 - The Cross Rapids playbook: Leveraging pattern recognition, providing resources, and empowering management teams to execute.18:13 - Advice for uncertain times: The importance of assembling the right team, moving quickly, and focusing on growth from day one.22:27 - Soft skills and leadership: How servant leadership and bedside manner help operating...