Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business

BluWave
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Private equity insights for and with top business builders, including investors, operators, executives and industry thought leaders. The Karma School of Business Podcast goes behind the scenes of PE, talking about business best practices and real-time industry trends. You'll learn from leading professionals and visionary business executives who will help you take action and enhance your life, whether you're at a PE firm, a portco or a private or public company. BluWave Founder & CEO Sean Mooney hosts the Private Equity Karma School of Business Podcast. BluWave is the business builders' network for private equity grade due diligence and value creation needs. To learn more, visit: https://bit.ly/3oPBjs8

  1. Jul 1

    Private Equity Growth Levers for Founder-Led Businesses with Tim Billings

    Tim Billings, Senior Partner at Quad-C, joins Sean Mooney to discuss how the firm evaluates founder-led businesses and partners with "mountain climber" CEOs who want more than capital. He breaks down the traits Quad-C looks for, including superior service, sticky customers, pricing power, multiple growth levers, and leadership teams ready to scale. Tim also explains how value creation comes to life through sales and marketing, executive talent, finance and IT support, disciplined M&A, and thoughtful AI adoption. For private equity leaders and CEOs building toward the next peak, this conversation is worth the climb—hit play. Episode Highlights 2:00 - Growing up in Northern Virginia, working early jobs, and discovering finance 3:16 - Learning to think like an investor through banking and underwriting committees 9:38 - What Quad-C looks for in founder-led business services companies 11:56 - Why "mountain climber" CEOs are critical to private equity value creation 16:43 - Quad-C's owner mindset and hands-on approach to scaling portfolio companies 21:34 - Sales, marketing, talent, and M&A as core growth levers 30:15 - Tim's advice to his younger self: choose great people and take off the blinders For more on Quad-C, go to https://www.quadc.com/ For information on Timothy Billings, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-billings-67549058/

    Private Equity Growth Levers for Founder-Led Businesses with Tim Billings

  2. Jun 17

    Private Equity and AI Execution in the Portfolio

    In this Karma School of Business crossover episode, Sean Mooney is joined by Lloyd Metz, Managing Partner of ICV Partners; Doug McCormick, Managing Partner of Oridian Capital Partners; James Aylward, Chief Product and Technology Officer at BluWave; and Nathan Plummer, Co-Executive Director of Venture Café Global Institute. The group explains how AI moved from long-running concept to practical business tool, and what that means for private equity firms and portfolio company leaders right now. They cover agentic AI, data readiness, applied AI use cases, internal tooling, security concerns, and the leadership challenge of getting teams to adopt new ways of working. This is a practical conversation for business builders who want to move past AI hype and start creating real value—hit play. Episode Highlights 2:13 - James Aylward's path from Fidelity's AI incubator to BluWave's technology strategy 5:08 - Nathan Plummer on Venture Café's role in connecting startups, investors, and innovators 9:17 - Why ChatGPT marked a "Gutenberg moment" after decades of slower AI progress 13:10 - AI shifts from autocomplete and thought partnership to writing major chunks of code 18:06 - Applied AI moves beyond efficiency into biotech, robotics, imaging, and new product creation 23:28 - Why proprietary data may become the real moat for private equity-backed companies 35:42 - AI literacy, adoption, and the leadership work required to make tools stick 44:05 - BluWave's internal AI tool shows how company data can power faster decisions For information on Oridian Capital Partners, go to https://oridiancapital.com/ For information on ICV Partners, go to https://www.icvpartners.com For information on BluWave, go to https://www.bluwave.net

  3. Jun 3

    Private Equity Transformation Through Partnership and AI with Bob Root

    Bob Root, Transformation Partner at Southfield Capital, joins Sean Mooney to discuss how hands-on operating experience, curiosity, and genuine partnership shape lower middle market value creation. He shares how Southfield works alongside founder-led businesses during the first 100 days, getting close to the work before refining the growth plan. Bob also explains why AI, data moats, and purpose-built technology can help small and mid-sized businesses leapfrog larger competitors. It's a thoughtful conversation on building better companies with humility, speed, and trust—hit play. Episode Highlights: 1:18 - Growing up in Canada with an educator's curiosity and engineer's problem-solving mindset 3:16 - Lessons from Procter & Gamble, Microsoft, and learning through constant role changes 10:35 - Why Bob's garage reveals his love of building, tinkering, and continuous learning 12:38 - Navigating personal loss while starting a new role and building deeper trust 21:46 - Southfield's "first day in the life" approach to understanding portfolio companies 26:31 - Using technology to help lower middle market companies leapfrog larger competitors 31:18 - Why AI should expand the business, not just reduce costs 38:38 - Bob's advice to his younger self: learning on the job is a feature, not a bug For more on Southfield Capital, visit: https://www.southfieldcapital.com/ For more information on Bob Root, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-root-372aa6/

  4. May 20

    Private Equity Growth Strategy in Vertical Software Markets with Bobby Ocampo

    Bobby Ocampo, Managing Partner at Blueprint Equity, shares how his firm approaches early growth-stage investing within private equity. He explains Blueprint's focus on capital-efficient, founder-led vertical software businesses and how they build scalable go-to-market engines post-investment. The conversation also explores how AI, rising competition, and shifting market dynamics are reshaping underwriting and value creation. A practical look at where private equity is heading—and how to win in it. Episode Highlights: 2:05 - From physics major to private equity via investment banking and venture capital 7:20 - Why Blueprint Equity was built to avoid "asset gathering" and mediocre returns 14:10 - Breaking down growth equity vs. venture capital and traditional private equity 16:05 - Key investment criteria: capital efficiency, retention, and vertical focus 26:10 - Turning "successful in spite of themselves" companies into scalable platforms 30:45 - How AI is reshaping underwriting, product strategy, and competitive dynamics 38:45 - Career advice: spotting opportunity early and jumping on asymmetric upside For more on Blueprint Equity, visit:  https://www.onblueprint.com/ For more information on Bobby Ocampo, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/bocampo

    Private Equity Growth Strategy in Vertical Software Markets with Bobby Ocampo

  5. May 6

    Private Equity Business Development in a Crowded Market with Tyler Ashley

    Tyler Ashley, Head of Business Development at McNally Capital, shares the unconventional path that shaped his approach to private equity. From early global experiences to building a career in deal sourcing and relationships. He explains how McNally's family-backed roots influence its focus on founder-led businesses, and how its "Atlas" framework drives disciplined value creation across the portfolio. Tyler also breaks down the growing importance of business development in an increasingly crowded market, where strategy, specialization, and authentic relationships win deals. This is a practical conversation on sourcing, differentiation, and building durable networks in modern private equity—press play.  Episode Highlights 2:20 - From Wyoming ranch to Argentina: a nontraditional start that shaped his career 7:09 - Why unique life experiences create an edge in private equity relationships 11:58 - A serious ski accident and the perspective it brought to work and life 17:07 - McNally Capital's roots and focus on founder-led, family-backed businesses 23:18 - The "Atlas" framework for structured, end-to-end value creation 27:32 - Why business development has become critical in a crowded PE landscape 30:09 - Expanding deal flow through proactive outreach and market coverage 35:38 - Building and maintaining a network as the foundation of long-term success For more on McNally Capital, visit:  https://mcnallycapital.com/  For more information on Tyler Ashley, go to  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerwashley/

    Private Equity Business Development in a Crowded Market with Tyler Ashley

  6. Apr 22

    Private Equity in 2026: AI, Deal Slowdowns, and What Comes Next

    Sean Mooney, Founder and CEO of BluWave, breaks down the firm's Q1 2026 Private Equity Insights Report and what it signals for investors and operators navigating a volatile environment. He outlines how geopolitical shocks are once again stalling deal activity, why the economy remains surprisingly resilient, and how private equity firms are leaning harder into value creation. Sean also explains the shift of AI from buzzword to real execution—and why data readiness is now a competitive imperative. This is a clear-eyed view of the current market and where private equity leaders should focus next—hit play. Episode Highlights 1:15 - "Groundhog Day" returns as geopolitical shocks stall deal momentum 3:20 - Why sellers pause deals: the need for 4–6 months of visibility 5:30 - Economic resilience despite inflation, tariffs, and uncertainty 7:10 - PE firms increase focus on value creation during market slowdowns 10:30 - AI demand surges 280% as firms move from experimentation to execution 16:10 - Data readiness becomes the defining advantage in AI adoption 23:20 - Why deal activity must rebound: liquidity pressure and dry powder For more on BluWave, visit: https://www.bluwave.net/ To request the full Q4 2025 Insights Report, visit: https://www.bluwave.net/insights-report/

    Private Equity in 2026: AI, Deal Slowdowns, and What Comes Next

  7. Apr 8

    Private Equity Value Creation: Building Teams That Win with Jim Murphy

    Jim Murphy, Senior Managing Director at LLR Partners, shares his path from CFO and COO roles into leading value creation across a lower middle market private equity portfolio. Drawing on decades of operating experience, he explains how firms identify scalable businesses, assess management teams, and execute disciplined growth plans. Jim also outlines LLR's functional approach to value creation, including operational excellence, ideal customer targeting, and retention strategies that drive outcomes. This is a practical look at what separates good companies from great ones in private equity—hit play. Episode Highlights 2:15 - Starting in public accounting and the path into a CFO career 11:10 - Becoming a public company CFO at 29 and learning in real time 18:45 - What private equity looks for: market size, product fit, and team 21:30 - Why management quality is the single biggest driver of outcomes 27:40 - Building a functional value creation team with real operators 33:10 - Operational excellence: uncovering hidden cost and margin opportunities 37:45 - Ideal customer profiles and retention as drivers of durable growth For more on LLR Partners, visit: https://www.llrpartners.com/ For more information on Jim Murphy, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-murphy-59097b5/

    Private Equity Value Creation: Building Teams That Win with Jim Murphy

  8. Mar 25

    Private Equity, Alignment, and Durable Value Creation

    Brett Holcomb, Partner at Prospect Partners, shares the experiences that shaped his approach to lower middle-market private equity—from swimming-driven grit and early career missteps to navigating COVID with a portfolio company built on human trust. He explains Prospect's "better, not just bigger" philosophy, why foundation-building matters more than speed, and how servant leadership earns premium outcomes. Brett also reflects on pricing strategy, data-driven decision-making, and the leap-of-faith judgment calls every investor must make. This is a candid conversation on resilience, alignment, and long-term value creation—press play. Episode Highlights 1:18 – Growing up around global business and finding a non-linear path into private equity 6:29 – Why competitive swimming builds the grit and self-motivation PE demands 10:43 – The COVID shock at Wedgewood and setting a clear North Star under pressure 14:13 – Over-communicating with teams and customers when everything shuts down 18:29 – Breaking massive problems into solvable components during crisis 30:31 – "Better, not just bigger": Prospect's foundation-first value creation model 37:46 – Pricing strategy as an offensive weapon in volatile markets 46:49 – The leap-of-faith decisions that define private equity careers For more on Prospect Partners, visit: https://prospect-partners.com/ For more information on Brett Holcomb, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-holcomb-885ba31/

    Private Equity, Alignment, and Durable Value Creation
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About

Private equity insights for and with top business builders, including investors, operators, executives and industry thought leaders. The Karma School of Business Podcast goes behind the scenes of PE, talking about business best practices and real-time industry trends. You'll learn from leading professionals and visionary business executives who will help you take action and enhance your life, whether you're at a PE firm, a portco or a private or public company. BluWave Founder & CEO Sean Mooney hosts the Private Equity Karma School of Business Podcast. BluWave is the business builders' network for private equity grade due diligence and value creation needs. To learn more, visit: https://bit.ly/3oPBjs8

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