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.

Shiv interviews Hilary Gosher, Managing Director at Insight Partners.

In this episode, Shiv and Hilary discuss how Insight’s 120-person Onsite team gives the firm a competitive edge across its portfolio. Learn how having an in-house operations team can be a force multiplier for portfolio companies by bringing deep functional expertise and strategic support at every stage from sourcing and due diligence to scaling and exits. Hear about how AI and operational innovation are reshaping PE as well as Hilary’s approach to AI transformation and embedding AI workflows for portcos.

Shiv interviews Richard Erickson, Co-Founder and Managing Director, and Stan Bikulege, Principal, at Lightview Capital.

 In this episode, Richard and Stan discuss how they invest in and scale founder-led B2B services-based businesses. Learn about the benefits of recurring and reoccurring revenue, their value creation strategy, and how to align with founders through collaborative planning. Hear about the firm’s operating advisor model and the areas where there is the most opportunity for growth.

Shiv interviews Raj Bakhru, CEO and Co-Founder at BlueFlame AI.

In this episode, Shiv and Raj discuss how generative AI is transforming private equity operations. Learn how AI agents are already reshaping workflows across sourcing, diligence, and portfolio value creation. Hear how PE firms can leverage proprietary data and build internal AI committees to capture smarter, faster outcomes across the firm.

Shiv interviews John Stewart, Founder and Managing Partner at MiddleGround Capital.

In this episode, John shares his expertise in investing in the industrial B2B manufacturing space — from his two decades at Toyota, to moving to the investment side of the equation. Learn about underwriting the value creation plan and creating enterprise value for industrial portcos, as well as investing in and optimizing manufacturing companies in the current landscape and how this can translate into quick returns for the fund and LPs.

Shiv interviews Alex Russ, Senior Managing Director & Head of North America at Evercore’s Private Funds Group.

 In this episode, Alex shares his experience helping private equity GPs raise funds from LPs. Learn how to approach fundraising in the current market, the characteristics that successful fundraisers have in common, and the importance of a strong narrative, sector specialization, and/or operational expertise to make you stand out from other PE firms.

Shiv interviews Chris Sznewajs, Founder and Managing Partner at Pacific Avenue Capital.

In this episode, Chris and Shiv discuss carve-outs, buyouts, and the non-traditional types of investment deals available for “unnatural” owners – founders and investors who are ready for a transition. Learn how to underwrite these types of deals, and what benchmarks Chris’s team looks for in potential portcos. Hear about how Pacific Avenue Capital leverages their internal ops team during diligence and how they execute value creation plans post-close, as well as the balancing act of deploying more capital in order to generate higher returns from portcos. 

On this episode of the Private Equity Value Creation podcast, Shiv speaks with Amanda Kim, Principal at Avante Capital Partners.

As a majority women- and minority-owned private credit and structured equity fund, the team at Avante Capital Partners uses their unique insights and network to win deals, generate better returns and help women advance in the private equity world.

Learn how focusing on a positive social mission can be a value-add rather than a cost, why it’s vital to find a competitive edge in the current investment market, how to build a supportive and productive community, and the advantages of having a diverse investment team.

Shiv interviews Mason Myers, Founder and CEO at Greybull Stewardship. 

In this episode, Mason explains why Greybull Stewardship focuses on pre-middle-market companies and the steps they take to set these companies up to be true middle-market companies primed for PE backing. Learn how they take companies under $5M in EBITDA and grow them organically, first by building foundational work, like adding the right software and building the team, before they can begin to see the value creation payoff.