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
Sam Bendix, Partner at Chicago Pacific Founders, returns to share his framework for capital raising using motivational interviewing. He explains how it uncovers real motivations and qualifies prospects faster—without a hard sell. We cover how it applies to investor meetings, deal sourcing, hiring, and beyond. A practical framework for better conversations and better results.
[00:00] Sam Bendix, Partner at Chicago Pacific Founders, ...
In today’s episode, Jared Weisel, SVP at Revenue Analytics, joins us to break down how PE-backed manufacturing and distribution businesses can use pricing to drive serious EBITDA gains. We dive into why most firms ignore pricing, how to avoid customer churn while raising prices, and why a 3–7% increase can deliver outsized impact. Jared shares the biggest mistakes PE firms make, how to build long-term pricing strategies, and why th...
In today's episode we have Steve Carroll, CEO and Co-Founder of Kelso Industries, join us to share his journey from a small-town construction background to leading a 25-acquisition HVAC roll-up. We dive into his Walmart days scaling EBITDA from $15M to $250M, his views on where PE firms get it wrong, and how Kelso’s long-term partnership model is flipping the script on traditional roll-ups.
[00:00] Steve Carroll joins to discus...
Welcome to another episode of the Private Equity Podcast. Today, I’m joined by Scott Cook, an experienced Chief HR Officer with over 100 add-on acquisitions under his belt. We dig into what really drives successful integration—nailing culture, managing change, aligning roles, and avoiding the classic post-acquisition mistakes. If you want a no-nonsense guide to people, process, and performance in PE-backed services businesses, this...
Welcome to another episode of the Private Equity Podcast. Today, I’m joined by Andrew Towne, Partner at Olympus Pines. We break down what it really takes to grow a portfolio company—hiring the right team, aligning goals, building execution plans, and pulling the right levers for revenue and EBITDA growth. If you're after a practical playbook on scaling businesses in the lower mid-market, this episode delivers.
[00:00] Andrew To...
Welcome to another episode of the Private Equity Podcast, today I’m joined by Nayef Perry, Head of Direct Credit at Hamilton Lane. We dive into the state of the private credit market—where the opportunities are, how interest rates are shaping returns, and what investors need to watch out for. If you want a sharp, no-fluff breakdown of where private credit is heading and why it still has room to run, this one's for you.
Description:
In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings sits down with Ben Claremon, Partner at Devonshire Partners, a lower middle-market PE firm investing in micro and nano-cap businesses. Ben shares insights into why PE firms overlook small public companies, how microcap investing presents unique opportunities, and why a hedge fund mindset can be valuable in private equity. He also discusses the challenges...
Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection. In this week's episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Cari Lodge, a seasoned investor with 25 years in private equity secondaries. They explore the market’s rapid growth from $2 billion to $160 billion, the increasing need for liquidity, and how secondaries optimize portfolio management. Cari discusses GP-led secondaries, continuation funds, and the market’s evolution, ...
Welcome Back to another episode of the Private Equity Podcast, In this episode, Alex Rawlings sits down with Tracie Kelly, Director of Marketing at Exellere Partners, to explore the evolving role of marketing within private equity firms. Tracie shares insights into how marketing contributes to deal origination, firm differentiation, and relationship-building with investment bankers, founders, and advisors. She also discusses the in...
Welcome to The Private Equity Podcast by Raw Selection, hosted by Alex Rawlings. Brent Burnett, Head of Infrastructure and Real Assets at Hamilton Lane, shares insights on infrastructure growth, key trends, and the 2025 outlook. Tune in for a deep dive into its role in PE.
Breakdown:
[00:00] Welcome to the Raw Selection Private Equity Podcast with host Alex Rawlings and guest Brent Burnett, Head of Infrastructure and Real Asset...
Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection. Host, Alex Rawlings speaks with John Dahlgren, VP of Talent at SBJ Capital, about the growing role of internal talent in private equity, portfolio hiring strategies, and using talent partnerships to generate deal flow. John shares insights on hiring trends, common mistakes, and how SBJ Capital optimizes talent operations for long-term success.
Breakdown:
[00:00] Introduct...
Welcome to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection, hosted by Alex Rawlings. In today's episode, Jordan Burton shares his expertise on hiring, training, and evaluating executives. They discuss common mistakes private equity firms make when hiring portfolio executives, how to improve interview techniques, and the critical role of structured assessment. Jordan also covers the importance of preparing for interviews, aligning...
Welcome back to the Raw Selection Private Equity Podcast. Today’s guest is Ron Ramanujan, Technology Transformation Operating Partner, discussing value creation, tech transformation, AI, and cybersecurity within Private Equity.
Breakdown:
{00:30} Ron shares his background, highlighting his extensive experience in enterprise technology, data infrastructure, machine learning, and his time at BCG.
{01:28} Discussing common mistakes in ...
Welcome to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection. Today’s guest is Jeff Wigle, Managing Director at Banyan Capital Partners, a lower-to-middle market private equity firm based in Canada. Jeff shares insights on transitioning portfolio companies from founder-led to data-driven decision-making, leveraging technology, and managing cultural change during these shifts.
Breakdown:
[00:00] Jeff Wigle discusses his background, Banyan ...
Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection. Our host, Alex Rawlings is joined by Sanjay Chandra, Managing Partner of Trinity Investors, a Private Equity firm based in Texas. Sanjay brings decades of experience as an operator, entrepreneur, and private equity investor. In this episode, we explore how he scaled businesses from single-digit EBITDA multiples to double-digit exits, his unique journey from operator to i...
Welcome to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection. Host Alex Rawlings interviews Randy Cohen, a lecturer at Harvard Business School, and Jean-Louis Lelogeais, co-founders of PEO Partners. Together, they dive into liquid private equity, its uses, and how it complements traditional private equity.
Breakdown:
[00:00] Introduction to Randy Cohen and Jean-Louis Lelogeais, founders of PEO Partners, and their experience in private equ...
Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection! Today’s guest is Jon Sonnenschein, Private Equity Operating Partner and former SaaS and software CEO. Jon shares insights on driving cultural change in portfolio companies, blending his experience as a CEO and Operating Partner.
Breakdown:
[00:00] Jon Sonnenschein discusses his experience as a Private Equity Operating Partner and former SaaS CEO, focusing on cultural trans...
Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection! Today, we’re joined by Christen Paras, Partner of the Transaction Team at MiddleGround Capital, to explore innovative exit strategies and how MiddleGround is redefining Private Equity practices.
Breakdown:
[00:03] Christen Paras returns to discuss MiddleGround’s unique exit strategy approach.
[00:30] Partner at MiddleGround Capital, based in New York City, leading the trans...
Welcome back to the Private Equity Podcast by Raw Selection! Joining me today is Brad Armstrong, Partner at Lovell Minnick, a Private Equity firm celebrating its 25th anniversary. Brad shares insights into value creation, forecasting for 2025, the importance of sticking to your core strengths, and how simplicity done right can drive Private Equity success.
Breakdown:
[00:00] Sticking to fundamentals, value creation, and staying disci...
Welcome to The Private Equity Podcast, hosted by Alex Rawlings. Today’s guest is Seth Auld, VP of Portfolio Management and Deal Origination at Kompass Kapital. Seth shares his insights on building LP relationships, raising capital effectively, and the importance of sector specialization.
Breakdown;
[00:00] Introduction to Seth Auld and the episode’s focus on LP relationships and capital raising.
[00:29] Seth’s journey from running a f...
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