Welcome to The Private Equity Podcast! In this episode, we’re diving deep into the world of investments with a focus on sub $5M EBITDA companies. Our guest is Mason Myers, Founder and Managing Partner of Greybull Stewardship. Mason’s expertise lies in navigating and scaling smaller, often overlooked businesses, and he’s here to share valuable insights on how to unlock potential and drive growth in this niche market.

[00:00] Alex Rawlings introduces the podcast and today's focus on investing in sub $5M EBITDA companies with guest Mason Myers.

[00:13] Discussion on Grable Stewardship’s Gravel Strategy, targeting pre-middle market businesses with less than $5M in profit.

[00:24] Alex welcomes Mason Myers, Founder and Managing Partner of Greybull Stewardship, to the podcast.

[00:48] Alex invites listeners to connect on LinkedIn before diving into the conversation with Mason.

[01:13] Mason shares his background from journalism to founding Greybull Stewardship, his experience with startups, acquisitions, and his shift to private equity.

[02:34] Mason highlights common mistakes by private equity firms and portfolio companies, stressing the need to listen to founders and choose intermediaries carefully.

[04:27] Mason explains Greybull Stewardship’s focus on pre-middle market businesses, the firm’s mission, and its commitment to this underserved space.

[06:44] Mason addresses unique risks in sub $5M EBITDA investments and how Greybull manages these risks, focusing on sustainable business models.

[09:08] Mason discusses strategies for scaling businesses post-investment, improving operational fundamentals, and expanding management teams.

[10:12] Mason details Greybull's diligence process and collaboration with management teams to enhance business value.

[12:29] Mason emphasizes the role of operating partners in creating value over financial engineering, noting Greybull's focus on operating experts.

[16:12] Mason advises businesses on increasing value before engaging with private equity, covering accounting practices, revenue predictability, and growth initiatives.

[19:29] Mason shares strategies for maintaining deal flow in a slow market and how Greybull uses referrals and intermediaries to find opportunities.

[20:27] Mason offers tips on selecting the right intermediary and invites a 20-minute brainstorming session to assist business owners.

[21:26] Mason discusses his influences, including Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger, and his interest in biographies and historical figures.

[24:17] Alex concludes the podcast.

You can connect with Mason Myers on LinkedIn by visiting his profile here.

Thank you for tuning in!

To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.

Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com.

Welcome to the Private Equity Podcast! In this episode, we explore "Private Equity and Technology Transformation" with Alan Williamson. Alan, a seasoned CTO and operating partner, shares insights from his journey—from embedded engineering to navigating Enterprise Java and PE due diligence. He emphasizes crucial operational details affecting portfolio companies, such as cybersecurity and data ownership, and discusses the evolving role of technology in PE.

[00:10] Social engineering is still the number one way to hack a company.

[00:17] Introduction of guest Alan Williamson, CTO, operating partner, and author.

[00:46] Discussion on technology transformation, pitfalls in private equity, and opportunities pre and post-deal.

[01:13] Shares background from embedded engineer to Java development and entry into private equity.

[02:08] Discusses common mistake in portfolio companies: neglecting operational details like domain ownership and software subscriptions.

[03:30] Anecdote on operational oversight challenges in companies due to misplaced responsibilities.

[04:29] Highlights key red flags in due diligence, emphasizing over-reliance on individual technical knowledge within companies.

[05:53] Discussion on technology enablement in private equity and the evolving role of specialized operating partners.

[08:17] Contrasts in-house technical expertise with external consultancy services in private equity firms.

[09:44] Pre-deal considerations including data ownership and regulatory compliance.

[10:37] Security concerns in acquisitions, emphasizing cybersecurity diligence and compliance across different states.

[14:37] Discusses social engineering as a primary hacking method in corporate security breaches.

[15:00] Post-deal implementation strategies including securing operations and aligning with PE firm objectives.

[18:58] Maximizing data value through machine learning and leveraging historical data for business insights.

[21:23] Personal influences and recommendations, highlighting interests in movies and older business literature.

[23:46] Alex Rawlings wraps up the podcast.

You can connect with Alan Williamson on LinkedIn by visiting his profile here.

Thank you for tuning in!

To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.

Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com.

Welcome to the Private Equity Podcast! In this episode, join us as we delve into intentional business growth strategies with Tim O'Reilly. Learn key insights for success.

[00:11] Tim discusses the influence of certain books on shaping strategies.

[01:19] Introduction to Tim O'Reilly and focus on intentional business growth strategy.

[02:17] Reflections on Frontier Service Partners' successful exit and the importance of strategy.

[03:17] Tim elaborates on the intentional strategy at Guild Garage Group.

[04:11] Key elements of successful business strategy, including leadership alignment.

[05:03] Analogies are drawn from crew dynamics to highlight clear leadership importance.

[06:00] Success story from Frontier Service Partners, emphasizing leadership impact.

[07:48] Discussion on transferring successful strategies to future endeavors.

[09:14] Importance of culture and consistency in delivering exceptional service.

[10:07] Utilizing weekly leadership meetings for consistency and accountability.

[11:07] Reference to "Atomic Habits" by James Clear and daily habits' significance.

[12:59] Transitioning to intentional strategy at Guild Garage Group, emphasis on leadership development.

[14:25] Focus on sustainable business strategy beyond financial goals.

[15:21] Prioritizing leadership development and employee training.

[16:47] Investing in leadership training and development programs.

[18:15] Discussion on employee experience and its impact on customer satisfaction.

[19:39] Creating career paths and supporting employees' growth.

[20:38] Driving brand loyalty through consistent, high-quality customer experiences.

[21:58] Anticipating referrals and exponential business growth through service excellence.

[22:58] Balancing cost optimization with growth strategies.

[23:27] Mention of partnership with Grata for data-driven deal flow enhancement.

[23:55] Focus on leadership development plans and training initiatives.

[24:22] Basic principles of leadership development.

[24:50] Understanding personal goals of leaders and aligning them with work objectives.

[26:16] Insights on time management and personal well-being for effective leadership.

[27:42] Tools for assessing strengths and consistent leadership training importance.

[29:07] Importance of documenting personal and work goals.

[29:34] Aligning leadership training with business needs.

[31:54] Evolving leadership training programs to address business challenges.

[33:20] Commitment to strength-based leadership.

[34:45] Regular reassessment of strengths for alignment.

[37:35] Tim's advice on transitioning from CFO to CEO.

[42:42] Encouragement for aspiring leaders to seek growth opportunities.

[43:36] Tim shares his contact information for further assistance.

[44:06] Conclusion and invitation to subscribe to the Private Equity Podcast.

You can connect with Tim O'Reilly on LinkedIn by visiting his profile here.

Thank you for tuning in!

To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.

Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com.