The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection
Hosted by Alex Rawlings, Managing Partner of Raw Selection, a specialist executive search firm. Join us as we interview the leading experts in Private Equity, unlocking their secrets of success to share with you. Discover how some of the top Private Equity professionals got into Private Equity, how they rose to success and learn about some of the mistakes they made along the way. Alex has strong connections to the Private Equity industry through his executive search firm, Raw Selection, which specialises in working with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies across Europe and North America. Alex is straight talking and to the point and aims to unlock real gold you can build into your firm or portfolio companies. Find out more at www.raw-selection.com
Episodes
In this episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Jamyn Edis, digital transformation expert, former VC-backed CEO, and NYU professor. Jamyn shares actionable insights on using AI, data, and automation to drive performance across private equity firms and their portfolio companies.
From dynamic pricing models and A/B testing to agentic AI and accelerating product cycles, Jamyn explains how to cut through the hype, identify real opportunities...
Guest: Brian Gustason, Operating Partner at Craig Group
Host: Alex Rawlings, Founder of Raw Selection
🔍 Episode Summary:
In this episode, Brian Gustason shares practical insights on building scalable go-to-market (GTM) strategies for lower-middle-market, PE-backed companies. With over 25 years of operating and advisory experience, Brian explains how to move beyond traditional, backward-looking due diligence and implement forwar...
🎙️ The Private Equity Podcast — Niklas James, Founder of Minds Capital
Host: Alex Rawlings | Guest: Niklas James
In this episode, Alex is joined by Niklas James, Founder of Minds Capital, an independent sponsor investment platform. They explore what sets successful sponsors apart, why industry specialization matters, and how media can supercharge inbound deal flow.
🕒 Episode Highlights
00:00 – Niklas’ background: Bain, VC, HBS,...
🎙️ The Private Equity Podcast — Episode with Cyril Aboujaoude, Co-Founder of TioPo Capital
In this episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Cyril Aboujaoude, Co-Founder of TioPo Capital, a hands-on private equity firm investing in SMEs across the UK and France. Cyril shares the journey of launching TioPo, their operationally driven approach to investing, and how young, entrepreneurial grit fueled their path from deal number one to a thr...
Guest: Greg Nieuwenhuys – PE Operator & Founder, Generative AI Strategy
Host: Alex Rawlings – CEO, Raw Selection
🔍 Episode Summary:
Greg Nieuwenhuys returns to share a practical, step-by-step AI Playbook for hiring. From writing job descriptions to automating follow-ups, Greg breaks down how PE firms and portfolio companies can integrate generative AI into recruitment. Packed with tools, tactics, and workflow tips, this epi...
🎙️ The Private Equity Podcast – Mark Strauch, Founding Partner & President, Alpine Investors
⏱️ Key Takeaways & Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
Alex welcomes Mark Strauch to discuss Alpine’s unique leadership-driven approach in private equity.
01:00 – From CEO to PE Leader
Mark shares his journey from operator to co-founding Alpine, now with $20B+ AUM.
02:08 – The Industry’s Problem: Lack of Differentiation
Alpine avo...
In this episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Amias Gerety, Partner at QED Investors, a leading fintech-focused VC firm managing nearly $1B in assets. Amias shares insights on venture capital strategy, staying disciplined during market hype, sourcing deals, and how lessons from his time at the U.S. Treasury shape his investment decisions today.
⏱ Episode Highlights:
00:00 – Intro & QED Overview
QED’s structure, fintech focus, a...
Episode Overview
In this episode, Alex Rawlings welcomes Michael Von Bevern, Co-Managing Director for Sunterra Fund Services, to discuss the evolving landscape of fund administration in private equity. Michael shares nearly two decades of experience, working with over 500 fund managers, and offers invaluable insight into common mistakes first-time managers make, the growing role of fund administration, and why outsourcing has become...
In this episode, host Alex Rawlings is joined by Joe Basrawy, Managing Director at Partners Capital, a global multi-asset investment firm serving some of the world's most sophisticated investors — including private equity founders, endowments, and family offices.
Joe offers a rare and in-depth look at the Limited Partner (LP) perspective — covering common pitfalls private equity firms make, what LPs are really looking for, and ...
In this episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Jeremiah Wanzell, a seasoned consumer brand executive with leadership roles at Hugo Boss and Calvin Klein, and now an operating partner working with private equity firms to drive growth in the consumer sector. Jeremiah shares his insights into the evolving role of the operating partner, value creation beyond financial engineering, the importance of omnichannel strategy, and how consumer-f...
🔹 Episode Overview:
In this episode, we’re joined by William Quartner, Partner at Prelude Growth Partners, a New York-based private equity firm dedicated to the high-growth consumer space. William shares insights from his impressive journey through investment banking and private equity at firms like Goldman Sachs and TowerBrook Capital, to now helping build Prelude Growth from its inception to the recent close of Fund III. He...
Guest: Greg Moran – Multi-exit founder, investor, and Managing Partner at Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners
Host: Alex Rawlings, Founder of Raw Selection
⏱️ Timestamps & Topics
00:00 – Introduction to Greg Moran
Alex welcomes Greg Moran, a multi-exit founder turned investor, and Managing Partner at Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners. Greg introduces his background in scaling businesses, raising $500M+ in capital, and h...
🕒 Episode Timestamps & Show Notes
00:00 – Introduction
Alex welcomes John Dwyer, Founder of The Institute of WOW, to explore how direct response marketing can drive real results for private equity firms and their portfolio companies.
00:53 – What is WOW Factor Marketing?
John explains his flipped model: get prospects to try your product so they fall in love with your brand—not the other way around.
02:16 – The Power of...
Episode Summary:
In this insightful episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Brett Hickey, the CEO and founder of Star Mountain Capital. Brett shares his unique journey from humble beginnings in Northwestern Canada to leading a multi-billion-dollar asset management firm in the U.S. With deep reflections on leadership, value-based investing, building collaborative ecosystems, and what truly drives sustainable success in private mark...
🧠 Episode Summary:
In this insightful episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Brian Reavell, Founder of R-Squared Advisors and seasoned Private Equity Operating Partner, to dive deep into the world of go-to-market (GTM) strategies. Brian shares a comprehensive GTM playbook for PE-backed portfolio companies—spanning from due diligence and customer segmentation to talent evaluation and post-investment execution.
With over two decade...
🔍 Episode Overview:
In this episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by David Rowley, Operating Partner at Diversis Capital, to explore how private equity can drive value creation through smarter product strategies and the integration of artificial intelligence. With a career spanning back to the 1980s in software product development, David shares practical insights into aligning executive teams with PE theses, building agile innovation po...
🎙️ The Private Equity Podcast — Episode with Graham Bachman, Hidden River Strategic Capital
Guest: Graham Bachman, Managing Director & Head of Business Development at Hidden River Strategic Capital
Host: Alex Rawlings
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings is joined by Graham Bachman, who shares how Hidden River Strategic Capital is reshaping lower middle-market investing with structured capital—a hybr...
The Private Equity Podcast – Show Notes
Guest: Otis Spencer
Host: Alex Rawlings
Episode Title: Lessons in Leadership: From Army Logistics to PE Operating Partner & CEO Success
🎙 Episode Overview:
In this episode, Otis Spencer, a former U.S. Army logistics officer turned private equity operating partner and CEO, shares a compelling journey of leadership, operations, and transformation. From managing global fuel inventori...
This episode is packed with pragmatic advice and “growth hacks for operators” – get your pen ready.
⏱️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps:
00:03 – Introduction
Meet Matthew Kearney: 35 years in private equity, from 3i to operating partner and PE-backed CEO.
01:07 – From 3i to New York CEO
Matthew’s early career, moving from UK PE investments into operational leadership in media and technology.
02:31 – Common PE Mistakes
...
Guest: Greg Nieuwenhuys – Private Equity Advisor, Chairman & AI Expert
Topic: Unlocking Generative AI for Private Equity & Portfolio Companies
🔹 Intro & Background (0:00 – 2:00)
- Greg shares his 20+ years in PE-backed consumer goods: Baver (Netherlands), Cotterdardoor (UK), Mammoth, Wattbike, and No-Door.
- Passion for AI began two years ago, driven by a belief that GenAI is a business and people challenge—not a tec...
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