Home Podcasts Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business
Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business

Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business

BluWave 149 Episodes Oct 7, 2026

Private Equity Podcast: Karma School of Business, hosted by BluWave founder and CEO Sean Mooney, offers insights into private equity for business builders, investors, operators, and executives. The show explores business best practices, real-world industry trends, and behind-the-scenes aspects of the PE world. Listeners learn from leading professionals and visionary business executives to enhance their approach at PE firms, portfolio companies, or other businesses. BluWave is described as the business builders' network for private equity-grade due diligence and value creation.

Episodes

Private Equity Software Investing with Adi Filipovic
Private Equity Software Investing with Adi Filipovic Oct 7, 2026 42:23 Adi Filipovic, Managing Director at Resurgens Technology Partners, joins Sean Mooney to discuss his path from Bosnia to Georgia, football to finance, and ultimately into private equity software investing. He shares how mentorship, resilience, and a commitment to operational excellence shaped his career and the way Resurgens partners with software companies. Adi also explains why the software deal
BluWave at 10: A Private Equity Founder's Origin Story
BluWave at 10: A Private Equity Founder's Origin Story Sep 23, 2026 33:38 In a rare introspective episode, Sean Mooney, Founder and CEO of BluWave, marks the company's 10th anniversary with the full origin story — from Austin and 120-hour investment-banking weeks, into private equity, to the Ratatouille moment that convinced him to walk away from a partner's seat and build something new. He tells how BluWave nearly died in its first year, how asking friends and customer
Building Better Leaders in Private Equity with Ann McCloskey
Building Better Leaders in Private Equity with Ann McCloskey Sep 16, 2026 41:16 Ann McCloskey, Managing Director at Accel-KKR, joins Sean Mooney for the human side of private equity value creation — the part no amount of AI replaces. From accounting and organizational development into one of PE's founding operations teams at Vista, Ann breaks down the leadership traits she screens for (self-awareness first), why acting on talent faster is every CEO's biggest regret, and how A
Private Equity's People-and-Growth Playbook with Carr Preston
Private Equity's People-and-Growth Playbook with Carr Preston Sep 2, 2026 42:54 Carr Preston, Managing Director at Akoya Capital, joins Sean Mooney to discuss how leadership, partnership, and commercial discipline shape successful private equity investments. He shares how Akoya evaluates founder- and family-owned businesses, including the importance of a strong CEO, a clear economic model, scalable sales motion, and the right cultural fit. Carr also explains how Akoya's thesi
Private Equity Value Creation with Clarion's Jon Haas
Private Equity Value Creation with Clarion's Jon Haas Aug 19, 2026 44:24 Jon Haas, Managing Director of Portfolio Transformation at Clarion Capital, joins Sean Mooney to discuss how private equity value creation has evolved from a differentiator into the core of the business. He shares Clarion's approach to founder-led companies, operational improvement, digital transformation, AI, and the balance between standardized playbooks and customized support. Jon also explains
Private Equity Deal Sourcing with Audax's Dave Santoni
Private Equity Deal Sourcing with Audax's Dave Santoni Aug 5, 2026 45:23 Episode Description Dave Santoni, Managing Director at Audax Private Equity, joins Sean Mooney to discuss how decades in investment banking shaped his approach to sponsor coverage, business development, and private equity. He shares what Audax looks for in niche market leaders, how the firm uses industry mapping and add-on acquisitions to build stronger businesses, and why preparation before a pro
Private Equity in Q2 2026: Deals Stall as Value Creation Peaks
Private Equity in Q2 2026: Deals Stall as Value Creation Peaks Jul 22, 2026 28:05 Sean Mooney, Founder and CEO of BluWave, breaks down BluWave's Q2 2026 Private Equity Insights Report and what it signals for the second half of the year. He explains why renewed geopolitical volatility stalled due diligence to an all-time low, how PE firms responded by pushing value creation to a record 84% of activity, and why AI advisory demand continues to surge across the industry. Sean also
Private Equity Growth Levers for Founder-Led Businesses with Tim Billings
Private Equity Growth Levers for Founder-Led Businesses with Tim Billings Jul 1, 2026 37:34 Tim Billings, Senior Partner at Quad-C, joins Sean Mooney to discuss how the firm evaluates founder-led businesses and partners with "mountain climber" CEOs who want more than capital. He breaks down the traits Quad-C looks for, including superior service, sticky customers, pricing power, multiple growth levers, and leadership teams ready to scale. Tim also explains how value creation comes to lif
Private Equity and AI Execution in the Portfolio
Private Equity and AI Execution in the Portfolio Jun 17, 2026 57:21 In this Karma School of Business crossover episode, Sean Mooney is joined by Lloyd Metz, Managing Partner of ICV Partners; Doug McCormick, Managing Partner of Oridian Capital Partners; James Aylward, Chief Product and Technology Officer at BluWave; and Nathan Plummer, Co-Executive Director of Venture Café Global Institute. The group explains how AI moved from long-running concept to practical busi
Private Equity Transformation Through Partnership and AI with Bob Root
Private Equity Transformation Through Partnership and AI with Bob Root Jun 3, 2026 44:06 Bob Root, Transformation Partner at Southfield Capital, joins Sean Mooney to discuss how hands-on operating experience, curiosity, and genuine partnership shape lower middle market value creation. He shares how Southfield works alongside founder-led businesses during the first 100 days, getting close to the work before refining the growth plan. Bob also explains why AI, data moats, and purpose-bui
Private Equity Growth Strategy in Vertical Software Markets with Bobby Ocampo
Private Equity Growth Strategy in Vertical Software Markets with Bobby Ocampo May 20, 2026 45:08 Bobby Ocampo, Managing Partner at Blueprint Equity, shares how his firm approaches early growth-stage investing within private equity. He explains Blueprint's focus on capital-efficient, founder-led vertical software businesses and how they build scalable go-to-market engines post-investment. The conversation also explores how AI, rising competition, and shifting market dynamics are reshaping unde
Private Equity Business Development in a Crowded Market with Tyler Ashley
Private Equity Business Development in a Crowded Market with Tyler Ashley May 6, 2026 41:39  Tyler Ashley, Head of Business Development at McNally Capital, shares the unconventional path that shaped his approach to private equity. From early global experiences to building a career in deal sourcing and relationships. He explains how McNally's family-backed roots influence its focus on founder-led businesses, and how its "Atlas" framework drives disciplined value creation across the portf

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