Can You Really Spot a Great Company Before Everyone Else Does? In this episode of REady2Scale, Jeannette Friedrich sits down with Lee McCabe, Partner at Claymore Partners and former executive at Meta, Alibaba, and Expedia. With deep experience in both technology and private equity, Lee shares how to uncover high-potential companies, particularly those hiding in âboringâ sectors, by focusing on digital transformation, data-driven operations, and overlooked growth levers.
Whether you're an investor, operator, or advisor, you'll gain practical insights into how leading firms are building value not just through financial engineering but through smarter marketing, better tech stacks, and operational efficiency.
Key Takeaways:
- Why old-school industries hold untapped value:Digitally underserved sectors like B2B and consumer services are ripe for disruption and value creation.
- The power of a functional tech stack: Many businesses lack proper data infrastructure. Building a connected, insight-driven stack is step one to scaling sustainably.
- What digital value creation really looks like:Private equity must shift from passive ownership to active operational involvement, especially in marketing and data analytics.
- Lead generation is the real business: CEOs in services should view themselves as running lead generation engines. Conversion begins with optimised websites and media spend tracked to ROI.
- AI hype versus reality: AI is not yet the silver bullet for most companies. Without basic data systems in place, AI becomes a distraction rather than a solution.
- How to avoid data overload: Focus on the 10 to 15 KPIs that truly drive performance instead of drowning in dashboards and vanity metrics.
- The real role of marketing agencies: Good agencies tie marketing spend directly to revenue and profitability instead of reporting on clicks and impressions.
- Advising todayâs private equity investors:
Future-leading firms will use defined operational playbooks focused on digital execution from day one rather than relying on traditional financial levers.
- The compound effect of small steps:
Lee shares his philosophy for building an extraordinary life: take consistent action every day, even when the direction is unclear.
Recommended Resources:
Book: The Predatorâs Ball by Connie Bruck
Podcast: Pivot and All-In
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:46 Lee McCabe's Career Journey
03:07 Identifying Winning Companies
05:32 Digital Transformation in Business
09:27 The Impact of AI on Marketing
23:28 Lightning Round and Conclusion
Connect with Lee McCabe:
Find him on LinkedIn
Are you REady2Scale Your Multifamily Investments?
Learn more about growing your wealth, strengthening your portfolio, and scaling to the next level at www.bluelake-capital.com.
Credits
Producer: Blue Lake Capital
Strategist: Syed Mahmood
Editor: Emma Walker
Opening music: Pomplamoose
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