In this episode of the Leadership Quotient Podcast, Rupal Patel, Operating Partner at Benford Capital, shares how her journey from CPA and Deloitte consultant to founder and CEO of a 100-employee advisory firm shaped her perspective on leadership in private equity. Rupal reveals how building a company from the ground up taught her the value of empathy, gap analysis, and culture-first hiring. She explains why understanding founder dynamics, supporting first-time CEOs, and putting the right people in the right seats—with resources to succeed—are essential to scaling portfolio companies and driving sustainable growth.