Leading and Scaling with Talent

Hunt Scanlon Media will gather hundreds of operating partners, chief talent officers, and executive recruiters at the Harvard Club in New York on May 15, 2025. The event will explore the critical role of talent professionals in creating value, focusing on their contributions to investment strategies, operational initiatives, leadership development, and organizational growth.

January 21, 2025 – Talent has become the cornerstone of value creation in private equity, shaping the success of portfolio companies and driving superior returns. As traditional levers like financial engineering and cost optimization face diminishing returns, private equity firms are increasingly focused on leadership and operational excellence to unlock growth. The role of talent leaders has never been more critical—they are the architects of transformative strategies, aligning people and processes to maximize organizational potential and achieve sustainable scalability.

Hunt Scanlon Media is convening hundreds of operating partners, chief talent officers, and executive recruiters at the Harvard Club in New York on May 15, 2025. We will examine the vital role talent professionals play in driving value creation—from shaping investment strategies and operational initiatives to fostering leadership excellence and organizational growth.

Talent strategy in the six-week post-acquisition period is a powerful predictor of a portfolio company’s trajectory. Success oftentimes hinges on leadership that not only adapts but accelerates business outcomes. In this insightful presentation, CEO Andy Miller and chief strategy officer Jon Levitt of Brainworks, will be joined by private equity board chairman Rich Krause, who take a deep dive into how to identify and secure game-changing executive talent to drive growth. With the right talent strategy in place, they predict that within 75 days companies can drive 3-5x returns. They offer actionable strategies to minimize downtime, fast-track performance, and recruit leaders who consistently deliver exceptional results.

Growing Successful Investors into Enterprise Leader

In the dynamic world of private markets, developing top-performing investors into enterprise-wide leaders requires a deliberate and forward-thinking approach. With responsibilities that extend beyond deal execution to strategic leadership, today’s investors must cultivate a diverse skill set to drive organizational success. In this session, moderated by Mike Quigley, group vice president, U.S. medium enterprise – Workday, Francisco Prat, global head of talent management at Apollo, will explore how to identify and nurture these high-potential individuals, equipping them to lead at an enterprise level. He will share insights into the evolving definition of leadership in alternatives and the key drivers for building a robust talent pipeline for the future.

The Evolving Role of Talent in Scaling and Leading Successful Private Equity Firms

As private equity firms grow and transform, the role of talent strategy is evolving to meet new demands. From developing leadership pipelines to aligning human capital with business objectives, talent leaders face increasing complexity in driving operational success. In this panel discussion, experts will explore key trends shaping talent acquisition and development in the PE space.

Related: Opportunities and Challenges in Private Equity Recruiting

Topics will include leadership development strategies for scaling portfolio companies, insights into changing recruitment practices, and the importance of cultural alignment to enhance performance. Panelists will share how innovative talent approaches are driving value creation and enabling firms to scale successfully in today’s competitive landscape. Panelists include: Jessica George, head of talent at Atlantic Street Capital Advisors; Lauren Gambardella, director, talent and development strategy at Arsenal Capital Partners; Abby Babski, global head of talent acquisition with General Atlantic; Mar Hernandez, partner and co-founder at NU Advisory Partners; and Christine Sobhani, senior partner with Kingsley Gate.

De-Risking Candidates for Leadership Roles in Private Equity-Backed Portfolio Companies

De-risking leadership candidates to achieve high levels of success within private equity-backed portfolio companies is becoming a big focus of talent leaders. In this informative session, moderated by Renée Motley, associate partner at The Talent Studios, the firm’s co-founder and CEO Jeremy Cohen will examine typical gaps between idealized leadership profiles and practical realities, the balance between observable success attributes and subjective assessments, and the potential downsides of over-delivering candidates with extensive private equity experience. They will also highlight how search partners help clients navigate trade-offs to ensure strategic and effective hiring decisions.

Related: A Look at Key Trends in Executive Recruiting for Private Equity-Backed Companies.

From Purpose to Performance – Ensuring Leaders Can Thrive Not Just Survive

For many leaders, the two most important decisions they make are “how we make money” and “how we run the place”. With decades of management consulting, executive search, and leadership coaching Bill Schaninger, senior partner at Modern Executive Solutions, believes the challenge for a modern leader is to ensure that their why, what, and who decisions are fully and completely integrated- leading to a cadre of leaders chosen and developed to thrive not just survive. His session at Hunt Scanlon Media’s upcoming conference explores these topics.

Agility and Resilience: Private Equity’s Response to Economic Challenges

As market conditions grow increasingly complex, private equity firms must balance adaptability with strategic foresight to build resilient, high-performing teams. A panel will join Hunt Scanlon Media to explore how PE firms are evolving their talent and leadership strategies to manage disruptions, inflation, talent shortages, and geopolitical risks.

Discussion topics will include identifying crisis-ready leaders, retaining top talent during uncertainty, and adapting recruitment and development practices to shifting market dynamics. Panelists will also share global insights on managing cross-border teams and balancing short-term agility with long-term stability. This session examines how innovative talent approaches are helping firms navigate volatility and drive sustained growth. Panelists include: James Cherubim, head of talent acquisition with The Carlyle Group; Michael Meehan, operating partner at ARCHIMED; and Tal Lee Anderman, chief talent officer of Alpine Investors.

Scaling Smart: Precision Strategies for PE Talent Acquisition

Scaling talent acquisition in private equity-backed firms demands more than speed – it requires precision, efficiency, and staying power. As portfolio companies grow, recruiting strategies must balance high-volume needs, all while maintaining quality and retention. In this session, Nigel Williams, global head of talent acquisition at BlackRock, offers a blueprint for building systems that thrive under pressure.

The discussion, which is moderated by Matt Hamlin, managing partner with PierceGray, will cover how to design streamlined processes, enhance employer branding to attract top talent, and integrate technologies to boost efficiency. Mr. Williams will also explore strategies for reducing turnover, improving employee engagement, and leveraging global mobility programs to widen the talent pool. With a focus on practical, metrics-driven solutions, this session will provide a clear roadmap for creating talent acquisition functions that meet the demands of growth and transformation in PE-backed environments.

To sign up please click here!

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media

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