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...

Renn Iaboni, Managing Director at Monomoy Capital Partners, joins Sean to discuss how disciplined sourcing, cultural alignment, and a 15-year proprietary data engine shape Monomoy’s approach to private equity. He shares how engineering training, relationship-driven BD, and resilience forged through career adversity inform the way he builds high-trust deal pipelines. Renn also details how Monomoy’s Beacon platform connects BD, investment, and credit teams to operate as one cohesive firm. It’s a candid look at what modern private equity excellence really requires — and why Monomoy’s model stands apart.Episode Highlights:1:19 – Growing up in New York, engineering ambitions, and the winding path into private equity3:04 – How engineering training equips professionals for ambiguity and problem-solving in PE9:40 – Renn’s pivotal career setback at Macquarie and how building a new practice became an inflection point14:46 – Why Monomoy’s integrated model works and how cross-functional...

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...

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 -...