In this episode of the Nice Business Podcast, Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard talk with Randy Murphy, serial entrepreneur and fractional CEO, about keeping company culture intact during private equity transitions. Randy shares his experience guiding businesses through growth, recapitalization, and turnarounds, emphasizing the role of transparency, trust, and communication at every level. They explore how private equity investments can create tension between financial goals and the human side of business, and how leaders can navigate that balance without losing the core of their culture. Randy explains how a positive attitude, open communication, and a focus on people can turn disruption into opportunities for growth. This episode is for business owners, executives, and managers who want to manage change effectively while keeping culture, trust, and engagement strong. Topics Covered: 00:00 – Introduction 01:24 – How to manage private equity without losing your corporate culture 04:22 – Private Equity: Boost or Bust for Culture 06:03 – Balancing culture and financial goals 16:15 – Using transparency to build trust during transitions 18:57 – Acceptance, attitude, and action 24:17 – PE mistake: ignoring frontline, only working with executives 27:05 – Staying human: Care for employees beyond metrics 30:03 – Poor communication creates stress 32:37 – Communicate non-negotiables early and prioritize clarity 34:49 – PE can be highly beneficial if culture and strategy are aligned About Our Guest: Randy Murphy is a Serial Entrepreneur and Business Operator, leading strategic growth and operational excellence as the head of Murphy Hiott Consulting. He helps businesses scale, improve profitability, and implement effective processes, drawing on decades of experience founding and growing companies across technology, SaaS, retail, restaurants, and delivery logistics. Connect with Randy Murphy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrandymurphy/About Your Hosts: Richard Train is a Vistage Chair, leadership coach, culture consultant, and the creator of the “Nice Business” Podcast. He has spent more than 30 years helping leaders uncover the real issues behind performance, often the hidden “drama problems” that do not always show up in the numbers. Connect with Richard Train: Web: https://www.richardltrainconsulting.biz FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578616461967 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-train-b39501349 Jim Bob Howard is a speaker, author, connector, and collaboration expert specializing in SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, and Microsoft 365. He helps teams and organizations communicate clearly, collaborate effectively, and connect ideas to solve real business challenges. From teaching basic tech skills to leading global events, speaking to large audiences, and coaching teams, Jim Bob is passionate about using technology to bring people and ideas together. Connect with Jim Bob Howard: Web: https://www.jimbobhoward.com X: https://x.com/jbhoward IG: https://www.instagram.com/jbhoward YT: https://www.youtube.com/user/jimbobhoward LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbhoward
