Shiv interviews Michael Wilkins, Partner at Shamrock Capital, to explore the opportunities PE firms can unlock through deep expertise in sectors including media, entertainment and sports.

Michael explains how industry focus and long-term networks translate into proprietary deal flow, why value creation plans need to be tailored to each company rather than run from a single playbook, and how to balance partnership with hands-on support. He also shares how firms can approach AI in practical, incremental ways—turning it from a perceived threat into a tool for margin expansion and growth.

In this episode, Shiv Narayanan sits down with members of the How To SaaS client services team to talk about the most common marketing challenges inside PE-backed portfolio companies—and how to solve them.

Chief Client Officer Farhad Chikhliwala, VP of Marketing Taylor Moore and Director of Marketing Tatiana Morand discuss why poor tracking and misaligned spend can drain ROI, how to prioritize the right order of operations for go-to-market, the role of the CMO as a “custodian of investment” and how to align team structure with the investment thesis. Tune in to hear about overlooked growth levers like upsell and cross-sell, how to find 20–40% efficiency in existing spend and how to balance AI adoption with the marketing fundamentals that still drive enterprise value.

Shiv interviews Brian Boorstein, Co-Founder and Partner at Granite Creek Capital Partners. 

On this episode, Brian shares how to leverage flexible investment structures to unlock growth in lower middle market companies. Learn about the importance of aligning capital, talent and opportunity, and hear about how rigid investment mandates can cause PE firms to miss out on high-potential businesses. 

Shiv interviews Garrett Marsilio, Partner at Delta-v Capital. 

On this episode, Garrett dives deep into the evolving landscape of secondaries in private markets. Learn how secondary investments are creating new liquidity pathways for venture-backed companies and why this is becoming a preferred strategy. Hear about adding post-investment value through targeted operational support and Delta-v Capital’s unique ‘flight plan’ approach.

Shiv interviews Kade Thomas, Founder & CEO of Emory Oak Partners.

On this episode, Kade explains how his firm grows service businesses. Learn about a proven approach to building companies from the ground up, integrating acquisitions, using centralized teams to handle shared services and using data to guide marketing and cross-selling strategies.

Shiv interviews Amanda Good, Partner and Head of Value Creation at Searchlight Capital Partners. 

In this episode, Amanda shares practical strategies to transform good companies into great ones through operational excellence, team enhancements, and a disciplined planning process. Learn how to balance quick-win initiatives with longer-term strategic plays, the importance of linking value creation plans directly to EBITDA impact, and how to overcome resource constraints through talent planning and external partnerships. Plus, find out why smaller, highly experienced value creation teams can often outperform larger ones by staying close to the investment thesis and company leadership.

Shiv interviews Andrew Weinberg, Founder, CEO & Co-Chair at Brightstar Capital Partners.

On this episode, Andrew talks about transforming traditional private equity through an “invest and operate” or ”us and us” model. Learn how AI is becoming an integral value creation lever alongside traditional strategies and about practical examples of applying this technology to industries like auto auctions and roofing. Hear about the importance of preserving institutional memory, empowering teams, and balancing growth with operational discipline.

Shiv interviews Bradford Pilcher, Partner at Bonaccord Capital Partners.

In this episode, Brad unpacks the GP stakes strategy – what it is, how it works, and why it’s more than just a passive investment. Learn how mid-market private equity firms can grow through capital formation, thoughtful product diversification, and talent strategy. Learn what LPs should look for, why marketing and positioning matter, and what makes a PE firm truly stand out.

Shiv interviews Lloyd Metz, Managing Partner at ICV Partners. 

In this episode, Shiv and Lloyd discuss investing in legacy or family-owned businesses in sectors like consumer goods (CPG), food and beverage (F&B), and business services. Learn how to drive transformation in these companies by modernizing operations, embracing digital, and scaling go-to-market strategies. Hear about using EQ to drive leadership support and the importance of preserving founder legacies.

Shiv interviews Jon Nuger, Managing Director at Berkshire Partners.

Shiv and Jon discuss the importance Berkshire Partners places on culture within the firm and the impact this has on the way they invest and create value. Learn how a focus on culture can be a differentiating strategy, how it shapes your relationships and conversations (particularly in difficult circumstances), and how to avoid the challenges of over-indexing on culture.