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 Aug 19, 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 Value Creation with Clarion’s Jon Haas
Private Equity Value Creation with Clarion’s Jon Haas Aug 19, 2026 2663 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 2722 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 process can create real
Private Equity in Q2 2026: Deals Stall as Value Creation Peaks
Private Equity in Q2 2026: Deals Stall as Value Creation Peaks Jul 27, 2026 1684 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 2253 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 li
Private Equity and AI Execution in the Portfolio
Private Equity and AI Execution in the Portfolio Jun 17, 2026 3440 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 2645 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 2707 Bobby Ocampo, Manxaging 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 und
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 2498 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 portfol
Private Equity in 2026: AI, Deal Slowdowns, and What Comes Next
Private Equity in 2026: AI, Deal Slowdowns, and What Comes Next Apr 22, 2026 1864 Sean Mooney, Founder and CEO of BluWave, breaks down the firm's Q1 2026 Private Equity Insights Report and what it signals for investors and operators navigating a volatile environment. He outlines how geopolitical shocks are once again stalling deal activity, why the economy remains surprisingly resilient, and how private equity firms are leaning harder into value creation. Sean also explains the
Private Equity Value Creation: Building Teams That Win with Jim Murphy
Private Equity Value Creation: Building Teams That Win with Jim Murphy Apr 8, 2026 2909 Jim Murphy, Senior Managing Director at LLR Partners, shares his path from CFO and COO roles into leading value creation across a lower middle market private equity portfolio. Drawing on decades of operating experience, he explains how firms identify scalable businesses, assess management teams, and execute disciplined growth plans. Jim also outlines LLR's functional approach to value creation, in
Private Equity, Alignment, and Durable Value Creation
Private Equity, Alignment, and Durable Value Creation Mar 25, 2026 3294 Brett Holcomb, Partner at Prospect Partners , shares the experiences that shaped his approach to lower middle-market private equity—from swimming-driven grit and early career missteps to navigating COVID with a portfolio company built on human trust. He explains Prospect's "better, not just bigger" philosophy, why foundation-building matters more than speed, and how servant leadership earns premiu
Top Private Equity Innovator of the Year 2026: Bertram Capital with Jeff Drazan
Top Private Equity Innovator of the Year 2026: Bertram Capital with Jeff Drazan Mar 14, 2026 3172 Jeff Drazan, Managing Partner at Bertram Capital and BluWave's 2026 Private Equity Innovator of the Year, explains how a technology-first operating model reshaped his transition from venture capital to private equity and became a durable competitive advantage. He details how Bertram Labs embeds software, data, and digital execution directly into diligence and value creation—well before the deal cl

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