Investors & Operators

51 Labs
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Monthly

The M&A market can be boring, but everyone has a story. The Investors & Operators podcast is about discovering the stories people were holding back, didn’t know how to tell, or forgot about. The goal is simple: fresh, authentic storytelling to bring people together in the M&A community. With over 1M organic views and counting on LinkedIn, 51 Labs is disrupting the M&A market through the use of videography and content creation. In a market that longs for authenticity, 51 Labs helps strengthen your brand and tell your story. From concept to distribution, we strategize and produce thoughtful content to be used across a multitude of channels, to help you stand out in an otherwise traditionally boring market. New episodes every other Thursday at 6:00am Eastern.

  1. 1h ago

    Ep. 153: Chris Nicolini, Managing Director & Head of Value Creation at Brightstar Capital

    Before leading value creation at Brightstar Capital Partners, Chris Nicolini served as an Army officer, ran large-scale manufacturing operations, and led transformation efforts at General Electric. Today, he brings those lessons to founder-led businesses navigating growth, talent challenges, AI adoption, and operational change. Topics: AI Implementation at PE firmsBuilding a Repeatable Hiring PipelineIntegration Best PracticesStrategy as Alignment, Not Just a PlanRestructuring Frameworks ...and so much more. Top Takeaways Successful AI adoption starts with problems, not tools. At Brightstar, AI initiatives start with a business problem. During AI hackathons, teams identify a bottleneck, repetitive task, or inefficiency, then spend the day building a solution around it. The biggest AI wins come from eliminating friction and repetitive work, rather than accumulating more tools. Build a hiring flywheel, not a hiring process. Chris grew a maintenance team from 2 to 25 people by building a hiring system that consistently recruited electrical and mechanical engineers from the Naval Power Training Unit. The lesson: scalable hiring comes from building a repeatable talent pipeline, not filling roles one at a time. Strategy only works when the team is aligned. Many leaders mistake strategy for a plan. The real test is whether the team understands where the company is going, why it matters, and what role they play in getting there. A brilliant plan without buy-in is just a document. Understand the cause before cutting the cost. When performance declines, many companies immediately look for expenses to cut. Chris argues the better approach is to first understand why those costs exist. Some expenses are inefficiencies. Others directly support revenue generation, customer retention, or growth. Cut the wrong one, and you can make the problem worse. About Brightstar Capital Partners Brightstar is a middle-market private equity firm that invests in founder-led businesses across business services, industrials, government services, and tech. The firm works closely with management teams on growth, talent, operational transformation, and AI adoption, combining hands-on operational expertise with emerging technologies to create value across the portfolio. Investors & Operators is brought to you by 51 Labs 51 Labs is a marketing agency for the lower middle market. We offer full-service digital marketing for PE, portfolio companies, IB, VC, hedge funds. AGM Support, Video, Marketing Strategy, Brand Identity, Web Design & Development, LinkedIn Strategy & Execution & more400+ videos100+ projects#1 content creator on LinkedIn in the lower middle market

    1h 5m

  2. Jun 4

    Ep. 152: Alex Russ, Head of Americas & Hilary LaBrash, Managing Director, Evercore PFG

    Alex Russ is the Head of Americas for Evercore’s Private Funds Group. He advises PE sponsors on fundraising strategy, LP positioning, and market navigation, with a focus on helping managers differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive capital environment. Hilary LaBrash is a Managing Director in Evercore’s Private Funds Group, where she works closely with emerging and established managers on fundraising preparation, messaging, and investor strategy. Topics: Fundraising Environment in 2026First Close Strategy & Fund Sizing360 Feedback & LP Pre-WiringWhat Differentiates a GPEmerging Manager Playbook ...and so much more. Top Takeaways You only get one first impression with LPs. Alex and Hilary emphasized that many Emerging Managers rush into market before the story, team, or positioning is fully ready. In a crowded fundraising environment, LPs rarely “reset” their perception later. If you show up to that first meeting half-prepared, LPs may start questioning readiness, infrastructure, and execution. LPs care about organizational health more than most GPs realize. Alex and Hilary talked about how the best firms create long-term alignment by promoting talent internally, evolving economics as the firm grows, and giving younger partners real opportunity over time. When firms fail to do that, spinouts often follow. For LPs, team stability and incentive alignment are strong indicators of whether a manager can execute consistently across multiple fund cycles. “Founder-friendly” is no longer a differentiator. Many firms use the same buzzwords — proprietary sourcing, operational value-add, founder relationships — making it harder for LPs to tell managers apart. What stands out today is a repeatable process: why you win deals, when you deploy operational resources, how you make decisions, and what specifically makes a company a fit for your strategy. About Evercore Evercore is one of the world's leading independent investment banking advisory firms, with $5+ trillion in announced transactions since founding. Their Private Funds Group works with PE, infrastructure, real estate, and private credit managers on fundraising strategy, positioning, and LP engagement—across institutional investors worldwide. Investors & Operators is brought to you by 51 Labs 51 Labs is a marketing agency for the lower middle market. We offer full-service digital marketing for PE, portfolio companies, IB, VC, hedge funds. Brand Identity, Marketing Strategy, Marketing & AGM Video, LinkedIn Strategy & Execution, Web Design & Development, CRM Support & more400+ videos100+ projects#1 content creator on LinkedIn in the lower middle market

    1h 31m

  3. May 21

    Ep. 151: Andrew Nelson, Chief of Staff to the CEO at Waste Eliminator

    Andrew Nelson is Chief of Staff to the CEO at Waste Eliminator, where he helps drive strategic initiatives, operational execution, and growth across the company’s expanding footprint in the Southeast. Before entering the private sector, Andrew spent six years in the U.S. Army with 3rd Ranger Battalion, completing five deployments across Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He transitioned from the military in 2022 and later earned his MBA from Emory University. Topics: Why Portcos Need a Chief of Staff Military Speed as a PE AdvantageThe Military-to-Civilian ShiftTranslating Military Skills Into Business ...and so much more. Top Takeaways A Chief of Staff can become a force multiplier for a PE-backed CEO. Andrew described the role as part project manager, part operator, and part accountability driver. In lean portfolio companies where leadership teams are stretched thin, a Chief of Staff can help move strategic initiatives forward across operations, finance, systems, and growth projects simultaneously. Clear ownership prevents projects from stalling. Andrew shared a military execution principle he still uses in business today: every task needs a clear owner, a standard, and a “time hack” — the agreed-upon deadline for completion. Many fast-growing companies struggle because ownership and timelines are vague. As projects pile up inside PE-backed businesses, unclear accountability often becomes the bottleneck that slows execution. Military operators fit portfolio companies better than Fortune 500s. Andrew made the point that large corporations can feel slow and highly segmented, while lower middle market businesses offer more ownership, faster decision-making, and clearer impact. For many veterans, that environment feels much closer to the pace and accountability they were used to in the military. The right network changes the trajectory of a transition. Andrew’s path to Waste Eliminator didn’t come through LinkedIn or a recruiter. It came through a direct introduction from a 51 Vets member who had already made a similar move. One of Andrew’s biggest takeaways was how valuable it is to have people a few years ahead of you who understand both the military background and the PE/portfolio company world. 51 Vets is that network, with 500+ members from the special operations and aviation communities and mentors across IB, PE, consulting, and operating roles. About Waste Eliminator Waste Eliminator is a waste and recycling platform focused on sustainable waste solutions and landfill diversion. The company handles a broad range of waste streams, serving customers from households to large commercial and industrial facilities. Backed by Allied Industrial Partners, Waste Eliminator has expanded through acquisitions and now operates across multiple locations throughout Georgia and the broader Southeast. Investors & Operators is brought to you by 51 Labs 51 Labs is a marketing agency for the lower middle market. We offer full-service digital marketing for PE, portfolio companies, IB, VC, hedge funds. Brand Identity, Marketing Strategy, Marketing & AGM Video, LinkedIn Strategy & Execution, Web Design & Development, CRM Support & more400+ videos100+ projects#1 content creator on LinkedIn in the lower middle market

    44 min

  4. May 14

    Ep. 150: Miguel Silva, Investment Manager, CalPERS

    Mike Silva is an Investment Manager at CalPERS, where he has spent more than a decade leading the institution’s Emerging Manager Program across private equity, private debt, and real estate. He focuses on sourcing, evaluating, and advocating for emerging managers internally while helping shape CalPERS’ broader approach to middle-market and venture investing. Topics: Where Emerging Managers Should Focus FirstNailing the 30-Minute First MeetingTimeline from First Meeting to CommitmentSeeding vs. Staking vs. Direct Investment ...and so much more. Top Takeaways If you can’t explain your firm in 2 minutes, LPs will move on. Emerging Managers need to quickly distill their team, strategy, and differentiator into a narrative that sticks. LPs like Mike are meeting hundreds of managers a year. Long-winded explanations don't just waste time but signal a lack of clarity. The managers who cut through can clearly explain four things: who they are, what they invest in, why they're differentiated, and why it matters to that LP specifically. LPs value predictability as much as performance. Mike made the point that trust starts forming well before capital is committed. LPs are watching whether managers actually execute what they said they would do: hiring the right people, closing the deals they discussed, and staying consistent with the strategy they pitched. Every update becomes proof of credibility. Your IC dynamics matter more than you think. Mike shared that when evaluating Emerging Managers, he spends significant time understanding team dynamics: how long the partners have worked together, how investment committee decisions are made, whether there’s healthy debate, and how disagreement is handled. Strong track records matter, but LPs are also underwriting the decision-making culture that produced them. About CalPERS CalPERS is one of the largest public pension funds in the world, managing retirement and health benefits for California public employees, retirees, and their families. Through its Emerging Manager Program, CalPERS invests across private equity, private debt, and real estate, backing smaller and differentiated managers it believes can generate long-term outperformance and expand access to overlooked areas of the market.

    46 min

  5. Apr 23

    Ep. 149: Jarrett Turner, Founder & Managing Partner at Soundcore Capital Partners

    Topics: Why Fewer, Better Theses WinIntegration Lessons from 100+ AcquisitionsWhat LPs Look for in the First MeetingHow to Win Trust in Controlled Deals ...and so much more. Top Takeaways Avoid overpaying, overlevering, and overconcentrating. Because Jarrett has seen firsthand how getting this wrong—even on a “good” business—can take down an entire fund. His rule: only buy what already makes sense — disciplined price, manageable leverage, no oversized bets. If the return depends on fixing everything post-close, you’re exposed. Slow down idea generation to improve deal quality. The Soundcore team moved from ~500 loosely formed ideas a year to about one per week, each built on a required template, reviewed in advance, and pressure-tested as a team. The result is a tighter, higher-quality pipeline (~40 ideas annually, ~30 advancing to qualification) and far fewer wasted cycles on weak or unvetted theses. Start slightly bigger, so you can scale faster. Soundcore found that sub-$1M EBITDA deals often lack the infrastructure to grow, making them harder to double. $2M+ businesses already have systems, teams, and customer density in place. That’s why they shifted upmarket: not for size, but for execution. Cheap doesn’t always matter if it can’t scale. Lead with trust and a clear angle. Or you won’t get a second meeting. In Jarrett’s experience, fundraising comes down to two things—credibility and a differentiated strategy. That’s why the first few minutes of LP meetings matter most. If you can’t clearly answer why you, why this strategy, and why now, they won’t get to the rest. About Jarrett Turner Jarrett Turner is the Founder and Managing Partner of Soundcore Capital Partners. He has led 100+ acquisitions, building the firm from an Independent Sponsor into a $450M+ platform focused on buy-and-build investments in fragmented, recession-resistant industries. Jarrett’s approach is shaped by his blue-collar upbringing: growing up around his father’s business, he saw firsthand the inefficiencies in founder-led companies. About Soundcore Capital Partners A New York–based private equity firm focused on building companies through buy-and-build strategies in fragmented, lower middle-market industries. Since its founding in 2015, the firm has completed 100+ acquisitions and has grown to $700M+ in AUM. They invest in mission-critical, recession-resistant sectors, partnering with founder-led businesses to create scalable platforms through disciplined sourcing and operational improvements.

    1h 10m

  6. Mar 19

    Ep. 148: Chris Nikic, First IRONMAN Athlete with Down Syndrome

    Chris Nikic is the first person with Down Syndrome to complete an Ironman. He has also ran all SIX Global Marathon Majors, Won TWO ESPY's, and become a global Ambassador for the Special Olympics. He’s an Adidas-sponsored athlete, an author, and a public speaker. Topics: From Overweight to IronmanInclusion Through SportThe 1% Better PhilosophyLimiting Parenting Beliefs ...and so much more. Top Takeaways Reset limiting beliefs at the top. In Chris’s story, the biggest constraint wasn’t physical, it was what parents were told their child couldn’t do. Once those protection-driven beliefs shifted, everything else followed: training, discipline, results. The same applies in business. What leaders believe about their team or growth potential sets the ceiling. If leadership operates with constraint, that mindset spreads fast. But when leaders expand what’s possible, behavior follows—teams take bigger swings, operators push further, and performance changes. Commit to 1% better, every day. The biggest transformations don’t come from massive leaps, they’re built through small, consistent improvements. Over time, those incremental gains compound into outsized results. For Chris, that meant stacking daily progress until an “overweight beginner” became an Ironman and global athlete. Speakers like Chris Nikic break the pattern of predictable AGMs. An external speaker helps break up a full day of presentations and makes the event more memorable—something you’d actually want to talk about afterward. Chris brings a real, human example of what consistency and long-term effort look like, making ideas like compounding and execution easier to connect with. About 1% Better Chris Nikic Foundation The 1% Better Foundation is a nonprofit initiative that supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by expanding access to fitness, training, and inclusive opportunities. It helps them build confidence, independence, and a path to reach their full potential.

    47 min

  7. Mar 5

    Ep. 147: Brian Bank, PE Strategy, IR & BD Executive at Kirkland & Ellis

    Topics: Venue Do’s & Don’tsAgendas for Emerging ManagersPanels vs. Single PresentersPublic LP ConstraintsAGMs as a Brand Opportunity ...and so much more. Brian Bank shares what actually makes AGMs stand out from an LP’s perspective—from venue and agenda to networking, speakers, and swag. It offers clear, experience-driven takeaways for GPs and emerging managers who want their AGM to feel differentiated and worth the trip. Top Takeaways Choose a venue LPs will remember. The AGMs that stand out don’t stay in hotel ballrooms. They bring LPs to portco sites, operating assets, sporting venues, museums, or distinctly local experiences. The right venue either reinforces the investment strategy or creates a memorable experience that LPs will still recall long after AGM season ends. Never assume LPs remember who you are. AGMs often include new faces. Always reintroduce the team, restate strategy, and provide context for roles and investments. Clear speaker handoffs and background reminders prevent confusion and disengagement. Reinforce the firm you’re becoming, not just the fund you raised. An AGM is both a branding and promotional moment. Speaker selection, team visibility, and agenda structure should signal institutional depth, succession, and where the firm is headed next. Highlight rising leaders, repeat portfolio CEOs, and functional expertise to show LPs what Fund II or Fund III will look like. Build differentiation into every detail. Templates, venues, speakers, and formats repeated year after year erode impact. The most effective AGMs ask one question throughout planning: What will make this one distinct from the other 20 meetings LPs attend this year? About Brian Bank Brian Bank is a seasoned strategy and client relations executive in the Investment Funds Group at Kirkland & Ellis. With 25+ years of experience as both an institutional LP and a placement agent, he’s committed capital across asset classes, served on multiple LPACs, and attended hundreds of AGMs. This gives him a firsthand view of what LPs actually value in investor relations and annual meetings. About Kirkland & Ellis Kirkland & Ellis is a global law firm known for its strength in corporate, litigation, and client advisory work across industries including private equity, M&A, and finance. The firm regularly advises leading investors and funds on complex transactions, strategy, and governance, and has built a reputation for deep legal expertise paired with practical, business-focused guidance.

    31 min

  8. Feb 12

    Ep. 146: Liz Weindruch, Managing Director at Barings

    Liz Weindruch breaks down what makes an AGM work from an LP’s perspective. The result is a practical, no-fluff guide for emerging managers planning their first or next AGM. Topics: Comms Best PracticesUse of Panels & PresentersAI & Technology DiscussionSwag StrategyWhat Makes an AGM Memorable ...and so much more. Top Takeaways Design the AGM experience around LP value, not GP convenience. The meetings that stand out offer insights LPs can’t get from quarterly reports and meaningful face time with people they rarely interact with, such as operating partners, VPs on the deal teams, or former CEOs who’ve exited a business and want to do it again with the firm. Easy-to-reach locations matter, and portfolio “field trips” are a bonus when feasible. The best structure for AGM materials and portfolio updates. The strongest AGMs follow a clear arc: a concise firm update, current macro and sector context, and a disciplined walk-through of the portfolio. Macro commentary should always be tied to company-level impact. Portfolio deep dives should restate the original thesis, show what has changed since acquisition, and explain how capital structure, timelines, and return expectations have evolved. Swag: What LPs keep vs. what they toss. If you’re giving out clothing, assume it might end up at Goodwill. Fit is hard, branding is risky, and most items won’t get worn. Consumables almost always are a safe bet: high-quality, portable, and waste-free. The best swag ties back to a portfolio company or the firm’s ethos in a thoughtful way. If it feels generic, it probably is. About Liz Weindruch Liz Weindruch is a Managing Director on the Diversified Alternative Equity team at Barings, where she serves on the investment committee and leads global fund, co-investment, and secondary origination and underwriting. With 20+ years in private markets, Liz has reviewed and attended hundreds of AGMs across funds, vintages, and strategies, giving her a front-row view into what actually works from an LP perspective. About Barings Barings is a global investment management firm headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The firm manages $480B+ across public and private markets—including fixed income, real assets, and alternatives—for institutional, insurance, and intermediary clients across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

    24 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The M&A market can be boring, but everyone has a story. The Investors & Operators podcast is about discovering the stories people were holding back, didn’t know how to tell, or forgot about. The goal is simple: fresh, authentic storytelling to bring people together in the M&A community. With over 1M organic views and counting on LinkedIn, 51 Labs is disrupting the M&A market through the use of videography and content creation. In a market that longs for authenticity, 51 Labs helps strengthen your brand and tell your story. From concept to distribution, we strategize and produce thoughtful content to be used across a multitude of channels, to help you stand out in an otherwise traditionally boring market. New episodes every other Thursday at 6:00am Eastern.

Information

  • Creator
    51 Labs
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    153
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 51 Labs
  • Show Website
    Investors & Operators

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