In this episode of the Leadership Quotient Podcast, Dr. Phillip Meade, COO of Gallaher Edge, shares why the difference between a “good” culture and an effective culture can be the difference between success and catastrophe. Drawing from his experience leading the cultural transformation at NASA after the Columbia accident, Phillip unpacks the three pillars of an effective culture—driving employee engagement, improving people’s lives, and enabling mission or market success—and how the wrong psychological pressures can quietly distort decision-making, even in high-performing organizations. He discusses how defensiveness and “save the program” thinking show up in investor-backed environments, why leaders must intentionally design culture around strategy rather than perks, and how tools like normalizing dissent, restructuring decision rights, and building self-awareness can help private equity firms and their portfolio companies turn culture into a true driver of value creation.

In this episode of the Leadership Quotient Podcast, Dan Cremons, Founder of Accelera Partners and the Ascend PE Executive Accelerator, shares why the future of leadership in private equity depends less on experience and more on attributes. Drawing from his work developing operating executives and PE-backed leaders, Dan unpacks the three qualities that predict sustained success—EQ (emotional intelligence), AQ (adversity quotient), and GM (growth mindset)—and how firms can operationalize them across their portfolios. He discusses lessons from Alpine Investors’ leadership model, the value of “leading yourself before you lead others,” and why adaptability, empathy, and self-awareness will define the next generation of high-performing executives in private equity.

In this episode of the Leadership Quotient Podcast, Matt Young, Operating Executive at North Equity, shares how unconventional paths can create exceptional leaders in private equity. From journalist to documentary filmmaker to growth operator, Matt reflects on how his MFA taught him to read a room better than any MBA and why emotional intelligence, proactivity, and accountability often outperform pedigree. He unpacks lessons from scaling BrightRoll and Yahoo, leading integrations across global teams, and driving rapid value creation at Bain- and Blackstone-backed portfolio companies. Matt also discusses how AI is reshaping the leadership landscape and why adaptability, curiosity, and humility will define the next generation of investors and operators.

Private equity is often described in the language of numbers — returns, multiples, and margins. But as Mohamad Chahine, author of Private Equity Next and Operating Partner at Meritrium OmniVentures, reveals, true value creation depends on something far less quantifiable: people. In this episode, Mohamad joins host Lindsay Guzowski to trace his journey from engineer to operating partner to author, exploring how resilience, integrity, and emotional intelligence shape outcomes across deal teams, operating partners, and portfolio leadership. Together, they unpack why the learning curve may be more important than the J-curve, the behavioral blind spots holding back many PE firms, and what leadership will need to look like in the era of AI and global transformation.

In this episode of the Leadership Quotient Podcast, Jeff Tobin, Founder and Managing Partner of AscendX Group, shares how trust, alignment, and urgency shape leadership across Private Equity and Venture Capital. Drawing on two decades of experience spanning turnaround operations, microcap investing, and value creation, Jeff reveals why transparent communication and buy-in at every level are non-negotiable. He discusses balancing urgency with empathy, transitioning from hands-on operator to engaged coach, and how trust and curiosity underpin long-term success. Jeff also breaks down the critical shifts leaders face post-close—from preserving cash to driving growth—and the rising importance of in-person connection and thoughtful AI adoption in today’s investment landscape.

In this episode of the Leadership Quotient Podcast, Nick Moscaritolo, Managing Director of Portfolio Company Operations at Platte River Equity, shares how alignment, partnership, and accountability form the foundation of value creation in Private Equity. Drawing on his journey from CFO to Managing Director, Nick explains how empathy, intellectual curiosity, and execution discipline drive results across portfolio companies. He unpacks Platte River’s “pull, not push” philosophy for supporting management teams, why great leaders maintain a near-perfect say-do ratio, and how focusing on three core traits—grit, entrepreneurial spirit, and emotional intelligence—builds resilient, high-performing organizations.

In this episode of the Leadership Quotient Podcast, Max Salazar, Senior Vice President & Head of Executive Assessment at AlixPartners, shares how rigorous leadership assessment and cultural due diligence can transform talent from a risk factor into a value lever in private equity. Drawing on his background as a business psychologist and consultant to middle-market investors, Max explains why “quick, cheap, low-touch” approaches to leadership evaluation fail, how defensiveness and lack of agility derail even seasoned executives, and why human judgment must remain at the center of assessment despite advances in AI. He also breaks down how connecting culture and leadership to financial outcomes shortens hold periods, preserves value, and builds stronger management teams across the investment lifecycle.

In this episode of the Leadership Quotient Podcast, Keith Giarman, President of the Private Equity & Principal Investing Practice at DHR Global, shares how a context-first approach to talent selection drives value creation. Drawing on his experience as a CEO and executive recruiter, Keith explains why domain expertise alone can derail a hire, how psychometrics and critical-thinking assessments inform better decisions, and the two traits he screens for above all: courage and energy. He also unpacks his Talent Operating Flywheel, a pre-deal-to-exit framework for succession planning and leadership development that keeps portfolio companies ready for every stage of the investment cycle.

In this episode of the Leadership Quotient Podcast, Tracey Abbott—global operator turned executive coach, founder of Leadership Current—shares how focus, culture, and curiosity accelerate value creation. From Kodak and Adidas to Bain, PepsiCo, Foot Locker, and owning a Chick-fil-A, Tracey distills lessons from the boardroom and the break room: prioritize the few things that truly move the P&L, translate finance into frontline action, and put culture squarely on the CEO’s desk. She also unpacks stakeholder management with PE boards, why “fast follower” thinking fails on the AI curve, and how assessments can pre-empt team blow-ups and build high-trust execution.

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.