Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business

Geoff Faux, Partner at Clearview Capital, shares the principles that shape his approach to private equity investing, from evaluating management teams and industry dynamics to navigating adversity when deals go sideways. He reflects on lessons forged through competitive athletics, a career built inside one firm, and a defining portfolio company crisis that tested every assumption about value creation. Geoff also explains Clearview's first-in institutional playbook and how focus, prioritization, and people decisions drive durable outcomes. This is a grounded, hard-earned perspective on what it really takes to build winning businesses—hit play.

Episode Highlights

• 1:01 – How elite swimming shaped Geoff's discipline, focus, and investing mindset

• 4:17 – Growing up around lower middle market deals and choosing private equity early

• 13:02 – The four variables that matter most in private equity investment decisions

• 19:55 – Why industry stability and baseline management strength are non-negotiables

• 24:21 – A first deal gone wrong—and the crisis that nearly broke the investment

• 28:35 – Rebuilding through COVID and turning a near-zero into a top portfolio performer

• 47:29 – Advice to Geoff's 22-year-old self on teams, people judgment, and resilience

For more information on Clearview Capital go to https://www.clearviewcap.com/

For more information on Geoffrey Faux, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-faux-27826518/

Sean Mooney curates the 2025 reading list recommended by private equity investors, operating partners, and portfolio company CEOs featured on Karma School of Business this year. The episode spans business strategy, capital allocation, leadership, happiness, mindset, and life design—through the lens of people actively building and scaling companies. From The Outsiders to Traction to unexpected personal favorites, the list reflects what serious operators are actually reading and rereading. If you're building for the long term, this one earns a spot in your queue.

Episode Highlights

• 1:12 – Casey Myers on shifting from achievement to fulfillment with From Strength to Strength

• 2:53 – Steve Hunter reframes money, time, and health through Die With Zero

• 4:04 – Jonathan Metrick on compounding time, skills, and careers via The Algebra of Wealth

• 7:35 – Ran Ding explains why great CEOs are elite capital allocators in The Outsiders

• 11:11 – Chris Scullin on dynamic competition and adaptation from The Innovator's Dilemma

• 14:01 – Micah Dawson on focus, ambition, and escaping the hedonic treadmill with The One Thing

• 18:20 – Dan Gaspar on operational discipline and change using Traction and Who Moved My Cheese?

Rob Turano, Operating Partner at Bloom Equity Partners, breaks down the playbook he uses to transform lower middle-market software companies—from sharpening product focus to elevating talent and building repeatable go-to-market engines. He shares how Bloom integrates operating partners early in diligence, accelerates transformation in the first 12–18 months, and instills a performance culture rooted in data, speed, and ownership. Rob also gets personal, from his love of cooking to the practices he uses to think more clearly as a leader. It's a sharp, candid look at what real value creation in private equity demands today—hit play and take notes.

Episode Highlights

• 1:31 – Growing up in New Jersey, Villanova roots, and the consulting-to-private-equity path

• 5:56 – Why food matters in Rob's life and how he became Bloom's unofficial in-house chef

• 9:22 – The three traits Bloom looks for: focus, management strength, and GTM maturity

• 14:38 – Selling value vs. selling features—and why every salesperson must think like a CFO

• 20:49 – How Bloom's deal, BD, and operating teams collaborate from diligence through execution

• 27:45 – The urgency of the first 6–12 months and the sequencing of transformation in PE

• 36:18 – Rob's top advice to PortCos today: talent first, disciplined KPIs, and repeatable GTM engines

• 40:25 – The book shift that made Rob more creative—and the life hack that helps him think clearly

For more information on Bloom Equity Partners, go to https://www.bloomequitypartners.com/

For more information on Robert Turano, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-turano

Eliot Kerlin, Founder and Managing Partner of Broadwing Capital, shares the unconventional path that took him from pre-med to private equity and the principles that now guide his firm's approach to building durable, high-performing companies. He unpacks Broadwing's value-creation playbook, the importance of forecasting NTM cash flow, and why culture, people analytics, and in-person leadership sit at the center of long-term success.

Eliot also reflects on the tenacity required to launch a firm—and the clarity needed to focus on what truly matters. It's a grounded, thoughtful conversation that sharpens anyone building or leading in today's private equity landscape.

Episode Highlights:

• 1:04 – Growing up in Texas, early influences, and the winding path from pre-med to finance

• 3:44 – Breaking into Wall Street from a non-target school and the power of persistence

• 10:51 – Lessons from hands-on jobs and how service work shapes leadership instincts

• 17:54 – What makes a "good business" vs. a "good investment" and why NTM cash flow matters most

• 26:55 – The tenacity and structure behind launching Broadwing Capital in a tough fundraising market

• 33:42 – How Broadwing builds culture, trust, and alignment inside portfolio companies

• 48:35 – Eliot's most influential books and the thinking frameworks he uses to lead and invest

For more information on Broadwing Capital, go to https://broadwingcap.com/

For more information on Eliot Kerlin, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliot-kerlin-89432b/

Renn Iaboni, Managing Director at Monomoy Capital Partners, joins Sean to discuss how disciplined sourcing, cultural alignment, and a 15-year proprietary data engine shape Monomoy's approach to private equity. He shares how engineering training, relationship-driven BD, and resilience forged through career adversity inform the way he builds high-trust deal pipelines. Renn also details how Monomoy's Beacon platform connects BD, investment, and credit teams to operate as one cohesive firm. It's a candid look at what modern private equity excellence really requires — and why Monomoy's model stands apart.

Episode Highlights

• 1:19 – Growing up in New York, engineering ambitions, and the winding path into private equity

• 3:04 – How engineering training equips professionals for ambiguity and problem-solving in PE

• 9:40 – Renn's pivotal career setback at Macquarie and how building a new practice became an inflection point

• 14:46 – Why Monomoy's integrated model works and how cross-functional collaboration is reinforced

• 17:53 – Inside "Beacon," Monomoy's proprietary CRM and sourcing engine

• 20:58 – A real case study: tracking Wapac for years and how long-term data compounds sourcing advantages

• 23:54 – Renn's advice to his 22-year-old self and how energy, not passion alone, should guide career choices

In this episode of Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney interviews Drew Meyers, Partner at Seaport Capital. Drew shares how his unconventional path—from off-track betting to M&A integration—shaped his approach to lower middle-market private equity. He breaks down Seaport's focused strategy on founder-led businesses, where they invest early in professionalization across strategy, sales, and finance. The conversation covers everything from the importance of relationships and never burning bridges to how BluWave helps Seaport access cost-effective resources tailored to smaller portfolio companies.

Episode Highlights:

• 2:00 - Drew's winding path into PE, including bartending and selling industrial insulation

• 6:00 - Why M&A integration experience is valuable training for private equity

• 13:00 - Working with founder-led businesses and understanding the founder mindset

• 19:00 - Seaport's three-part value creation playbook: strategy, sales, and finance

• 29:00 - How to professionalize early-stage companies without overspending

• 32:00 - Finding cost-compatible resources for $3M EBITDA businesses

• 35:00 - Career advice: never burn bridges and do things the right way

For more information on Seaport Capital, go to https://www.seaportcapital.com/

For more information on Drew Meyers, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-j-meyers/

In this special edition of the Karma School of Business , Sean Mooney , Founder and CEO of BluWave , breaks down key findings from BluWave's Q3 2025 Private Equity Insights Report . Drawing parallels between his son's fencing lessons and today's economic climate, Sean explains how the best investors are shifting from a defensive stance to an offensive one. Seeing through the noise, leaning forward, and playing to win. He shares fresh data showing that deal activity, due diligence spending, and AI investment are all surging—signs of an industry on the offense. From the manufacturing renaissance to the rise of flatter, AI-enabled organizations, Sean offers a grounded, data-backed view of where private equity and the broader economy are heading next.

Episode Highlights

• 1:07 – The Sport of Fencing and PE: what private equity can learn from shifting from defense to offense

• 4:40 – Why the U.S. economy is "good enough" and accelerating despite the noise

• 11:45 – Deal data shows confidence returning: due diligence projects up 43% year-over-year

• 14:33 – PE firms' AI and analytics demand surges 300% and 1,600% for AI/ML advisory

• 18:39 – Manufacturing reshoring, venture collaboration, and the next wave of innovation

• 21:06 – The coming of flatter, AI-enabled organizations and what it means for talent

• 25:39 – Sticky inflation, rate cuts, and why the next economic cycle is already underway

For more on BluWave, visit: https://www.bluwave.net/ To request the full Q3 2025 Insights Report, visit: https://www.bluwave.net/insights-report/

In this episode of Karma School of Business, Sean Mooney interviews

Laurens Goff, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Stone Goff Partners. Laurens shares insights from his path to private equity, the founding story of his firm, and how leveraging focus and visibility transforms lower-middle-market companies.

Key points include:

• 1:05 - Laurens' journey: From early life in Providence to successfully navigating investment banking and private equity.

• 9:52 - Lessons learned as an independent sponsor and the foundation of a committed capital fund.

• 19:41 - The scorecard for success: Why visibility, recurring revenue, and vertical ecosystem focus create winning business models.

• 25:57 - Enabling value creation: The TEOS framework (Talent, Experts, Outsourced Resources, Support) and collaborative growth strategies.

• 34:52 - Supporting portfolio companies: Stone Goff's management summits and thought leadership tools to foster executive collaboration.

For more information on Stone Goff, go to https://www.stonegoff.com/

For more information on Laurens Goff, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurens-goff-ba47714

For more information on BluWave and this podcast, go to https://www.bluwave.net/podcasts

Jared Stein, Co-founder and Partner at Monogram Capital Partners, shares his expert approach to scaling consumer businesses, fostering customer loyalty, and driving sustainable growth. From partnering with family-owned companies to identifying sectors with lasting demand, Jared provides actionable insights for excelling in fragmented markets and navigating today's rapid disruption cycles. A must-listen for private equity professionals and business builders looking to sharpen their playbook.

Episode Highlights:

• 00:33 - Jared's family business origins and lessons learned from hard jobs

• 06:04 - Why "growth mindset" and passion are critical for business builders 13:23 - Scaling consumer brands: leadership, customer focus, and profitability

• 19:46 - Identifying winning brands: consumer loyalty and market potential

• 24:37 - Partnering with family businesses: trust, talent, and transformation

• 27:27 - Inside the Western Smokehouse case study: 5x EBITDA growth

• 30:51 - Building anti-fragility: Preparing businesses for rapid disruptions

For more on Jared Stein's firm, visit: www.monogramcapital.com Connect with Jared Stein on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-stein-5a347820

Sean Mooney speaks with Bob Morse, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Strattam Capital, about the changing playbook in private equity, especially in tech. Morse traces his path from Morgan Stanley and Oak Hill to founding Strattam, then lays out a no-surprises model: turn cards face-up pre-signing, align on a founder-written five-point plan, and opt-in support with real accountability. He explains why AI threatens seat-based SaaS economics, where outcome pricing wins, and how PE firms should push portfolios to experiment while keeping the founder's innovative spark alive. Clear-eyed and practical, this conversation arms business builders with a framework to act now.

Episode highlights

• 1:26 – An engineer's path into private equity

• 7:15 – Why tech needed a dedicated, specialized PE fund and the genesis of Strattam

• 13:03 – Solving the "first board-meeting surprise"

• 19:45 – The founder persona Strattam backs: industry operators with proven product-market fit

• 27:15 – AI as invention vs. innovation and the early business models that actually work

• 32:27 – The SaaS shake-up: from seat licenses to outcome-based pricing and financing impact

• 41:54 – "Aliens landed": a mantra for leading through uncertainty and running smart experiments

For more on Bob Morse's firm, visit: https://strattam.com/

Connect with Bob Morse on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-morse-3567595/

Explore more episodes: www.bluwave.net/podcasts