About
In the world of private equity, it is increasingly evident that talent is paramount to unlocking value at organizations. Key to the talent equation is the Operating Partner, who works to maximize the full potential of an investment oftentimes through the strategic management of people. For many PE firms, it is the Operating Partner who will bring about operational improvements and develop the best systems for value creation by developing and executing ‘talent playbooks’ to optimize returns.
Agenda
A Special Thanks To Our Premier Sponsor
REGISTRATION & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
Sponsored by:
OPENING REMARKS
Rob Adams Moderator – Hunt Scanlon Media
Private Equity Needs a New Talent Strategy
Ted Bililies, Ph.D. Partner & Managing Director – AlixPartners‘Creating value through the strategic management of talent’ is something no one has ever said about private equity – until now. As the traditional levers of value creation (financial engineering, cost extraction, operational improvement) continue to be challenged, the new – and last – horizon for creating and unlocking value is people. In this keynote presentation, Ted Bililies, global head of transformative leadership at AlixPartners, discusses why leadership effectiveness is the No. 1 lever of value creation. The hurdle for PE: There is no reliable playbook that’s decades old to refer to.
AUDIENCE Q&A
Improving the Talent Process
Riz Chand Chief Talent Officer and Operating Partner – AEA Investors Moderator: MJ Scott Managing Partner, Consumer Practice Leader – JM SearchFor many PE Operating Partners and their talent leaders, improving the identification and onboarding of key hires – and enhancing their performance during volatile and changing economic environments – is a pressing challenge. In this fireside chat, Riz Chand, the chief talent officer and operating partner at AEA Investors, will discuss the complex interplay of recruiting and the competition for talent against the backdrop of a highly developed and advancing economy. Riz will discuss his thoughts on how to develop a more robust process for assessing executive performance and capabilities, including enhancing and implementing more stringent performance reviews to help create better prioritization and focus for success. Riz will also discuss the external partnerships his firm maintains with executive search and leadership assessment providers which he views as a critical “partnership” to help streamline the hiring process and increase the success rate of key hires.
AUDIENCE Q&A
Coffee & Networking Break
Creating Value and Growth for Funds and Portfolio Companies Through Talent
Moderator: Ruben Moreno Founder – Blue Rock Search Vikram Mahidhar Operating Partner – Apollo Global ManagementA 2019 survey by Heidrick & Struggles revealed that the private equity Operating Partner role “was the fastest-growing position within the industry.” Many experts agree that this is a direct response to the proliferation of PE firms and competition over the last decade. With the explosion of funds in the marketplace, investors are asking how firms are differentiating, mitigating risk and improving their operational efficiencies. Enter the Operating Partner, who can bring about operational improvements and develop systems for value creation. In this session, Vikram Mahidhar, Operating Partner at Apollo Global Management, will discuss how he has helped to create value at the intersection of data, AI and digital. Working closely with his firm’s deal team, portfolio company CEOs and their boards, as well as his talent counterparts, he takes a hands-on approach to help make each business successful. In his view, strategic hires can make the difference between mediocre results vs. achieving a stellar outcome. He will be joined by Ruben Moreno, founder of Blue Rock Search, who will serve as the session moderator.
AUDIENCE Q&A
How AI will Change Executive Search and its impact on PE Hiring
Nada Usina CEO & Co-Founder – NU Advisory PartnersAI technologies are developing rapidly but are still in their infancy and, today, executive search firms and talent acquisition organizations are grappling with how to leverage this emerging technology into their workflows and business models while not losing sight of their core value proposition. NU Advisory Partners’ co-founder and CEO, Nada Usina, will share her search firm’s insights and approach to making well-informed investments into AI and other technology platforms. She will discuss why these investments can be another impactful tool for value creation, particularly for the private equity sector. Nada will also provide NU Advisory’s view of core AI use-cases in executive search and give an overview of the emerging ecosystem of software tools and platforms that enable them.
AUDIENCE Q&A
Luncheon Reception
Sponsored by:
How to Achieve the Best Hiring Outcomes Through Talent Assessment
Nathaniel Schiffer Chief Executive Officer – The Christopher GroupThe goal of recruiting is to efficiently hire top talent for an organization. This is a straightforward objective that recruiters, hiring managers and executives can all get behind – but achieving it isn’t always easy. In this panel discussion, a former leading recruiter and now the founder of innovative assessment technology firm, System-3, will be joined by four seasoned executive recruiters and two PE talent leaders to discuss and debate the challenges of determining the most impactful assessment tools and strategies for hiring.
Elan Pratzer
CEO and Founder
System-3
Keith Giarman
Managing Partner, Global Private Equity Practice
DHR Global
Brad Isbell
Director, Talent Acquisition
BlackRock
John Knapp
Operating Director, Portfolio Talent
Berkshire Partners
Steven Berman
Executive Search Director
Accel-KKR
AUDIENCE Q&A
A Delicate Balance: How Recruiters and Operating Partners Work in a Demanding Environment
David Chun CEO and Founder – EquilarIdentifying the best talent is a team effort. At the heart of this sits the relationship between talent leaders and executive search consultants. This partnership has become a critical business relationship – one that aligns hiring with business objectives and culture, but also add value across all areas of a business. In the world of private equity, it is the Operating Partners who are charged with leading talent strategy for their portfolio companies and they can be demanding – they need top talent who can quickly assimilate and instantly drive results and performance. In this panel discussion, five professionals that are leading the effort from both sides of the aisle will discuss how they effectively work together to meet the key challenges of attracting the most skilled candidates under a tight timeframe that aligns with the PE firm’s business strategies and objectives.
Rich Herman
Managing Partner
ZRG Partners
Bryan Powell
Operating Partner
Insight Partners
Kate Jenkins
Managing Director, Head of Talent Acquisition
Ares Management
Leah Scanlan
Partner, Talent
Oak HC/FT
Debra Somers
Senior Vice President, Portfolio Talent
Warburg Pincus
AUDIENCE Q&A
Coffee & Networking Break
Creating a New Talent Playbook for Growth
Russell Findlay Senior Executive Director and Operating Partner, Private Equity – H.I.G. CapitalThe responsibility of a private equity Operating Partner is both exceptionally varied and, at times, highly complex. Balancing a range of responsibilities, the operating partner is dedicated to increasing the value of the portfolio companies they oversee – which spans the full investment cycle from due diligence to post-transaction integration through to a liquidity event or full exit. Oftentimes, these wide-ranging responsibilities include team building, a critical component that can create exceptional value for that portco. In the following presentation, Russell Findlay, Senior Executive Director and Operating Partner, Private Equity at H.I.G. Capital, will discuss how he has built and developed talented teams, creating a new playbook for growth along the way. He will detail how he sets and implements talent strategy.
AUDIENCE Q&A
Closing Remarks
Rob Adams Moderator – Hunt Scanlon Media
VIP Cocktail Reception
In the world of private equity, it is increasingly evident that talent is paramount to unlocking value at organizations. Key to the talent equation is the Operating Partner, who works to maximize the full potential of an investment oftentimes through the strategic management of people. For many PE firms, it is the Operating Partner who will bring about operational improvements and develop the best systems for value creation.
To address this, Hunt Scanlon Media is convening hundreds of operating partners, chief talent officers, and executive recruiters at the Harvard Club in New York on May 23, 2024. Join us as we explore the pivotal role that Operating Partners play in value creation – from investment decisions and operational strategizing to the development and execution of ‘talent playbooks’ to optimize returns.
‘Designing a New Talent Playbook for Growth’ will include leaders from across the field, including: Ted Bililies, Partner and Managing Director at AlixPartners; Riz Chand, Chief Talent Officer and Operating Partner at AEA Investors; Vikram Mahidhar, Operating Partner at Apollo Global Management; Bryan Powell, Operating Partner, Talent at Insight Partners; Russell Findlay, Senior Executive Director and Operating Partner, Private Equity at H.I.G. Capital; Rich Herman, Managing Partner, ZRG Partners; Nada Usina, CEO and Co-Founder at NU Advisory Partners; Elan Pratzer, CEO & Founder of System-3; Keith Giarman, Managing Partner, Global Private Equity Practice at DHR Global; Steven Berman, Executive Search Director at Accel-KKR; John Knapp, Operating Director, Portfolio Talent at Berkshire Partners, Katherine Jenkins, Managing Director and Global Head of Talent at Ares Management, Leah Scanlan, Partner, Talent at Oak HC/FT, Debra Somers, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Talent at Warburg Pincus; Ruben Moreno, Founder of Blue Rock Search and others.
Join our exclusive network of hundreds of PE leaders, chief talent officers and executive recruiters in New York on May 23, 2024 at the Harvard Club. Our thought-provoking presentations and Q&A sessions exploring talent through operational partners is a must-attend event. Our formal sessions will include continental breakfast, a mid-morning networking break, and a delicious main course.
The Harvard Club of New York City
35 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
Tel: (212) 840-6600
(Cancellation notice: any passes canceled within 60 days of each conference will not be refunded. Sponsorships non-refundable.)
Speakers
Steven Berman, Executive Search Director – Accel-KKR
Steven Berman is an Executive Search Director for Accel-KKR. Prior to joining Accel-KKR, Steven served as a Director for a boutique search and investment firm, Aequitas Partners, focused on the healthcare technology space. While there, he led national searches for executive-level positions covering all business verticals and interviewed 1000’s of executives whose companies spanned the health-tech landscape.
Earlier in his career, he worked with a merchant and investment bank called Etico Capital, successfully placing over $100M in debt and equity funding for growth-stage medical device and life science companies. Additionally, he has served as an advisor for several health-tech businesses, called on by founders & CEOs for people operations and organizational design strategies. Steven earned his MS in Management from Indiana University at Bloomington.
Ted Bililies, Ph.D., Partner & Managing Director – AlixPartners
Ted Bililies is an internationally recognized expert on leadership and organization transformation. He founded AlixPartners’ global transformative leadership practice and advises private equity investors and CEOs on their most critical leadership and value-creating people decisions.
Working on Wall Street for more than three decades as a management consultant, psychologist, human resources executive, and master coach, Ted has held teaching appointments in four of Harvard’s graduate schools: Medical, Business, Arts & Sciences, and Extension.
Ted is a frequently invited speaker at leadership and investment conferences and has been featured in Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Chief Executive and CNBC’s Power and Money. He writes a regular column on leadership for Chief Executive magazine. He serves as exclusive advisor to the CEO of the Year Award committee, the oldest award institution in the US exclusively for CEOs. He is a Board Member of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution as well as the Trustees of Reservations. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and was designated a John Harvard Scholar.
Riz Chand, Chief Talent Officer and Operating Partner – AEA Investors
Riz Chand is Chief Talent Officer of AEA and an Operating Partner. In his role, he is primarily focused on working with portfolio companies to assess, acquire, organize, retain and develop talent, and to develop and maintain the optimal culture and organization structure. Together with the investment team, Riz assesses potential acquisitions and assists with the onboarding process for new investments. He also facilitates sharing of human resources best practices across the AEA portfolio. Riz is involved with AEA’s ESG Committee and leads the CHRO Advisory Council. Riz also serves on the boards of BMS Enterprises and Jack’s Family Restaurants.
Prior to joining AEA, Riz served as chief human resources officer for BNSF Railway, where he was responsible for human resources, leadership and organizational development, medical and environmental health and diversity & inclusion. Prior to BNSF, Riz served as executive vice president, human resources and administration at Energy Future Holdings Corp. (formerly TXU Corp.). Before TXU, he served as vice president, human resources and corporate affairs for Kennametal, Inc., a global industrial manufacturer based in Pennsylvania. Riz also served as head of human resources at Mary Kay Cosmetics and vice president human resources at Aetna International. Earlier in his career, Riz was with PepsiCo Foods International and with the Hay Group. Riz began his career as an engineer working for Schlumberger in offshore oil drilling.
Riz graduated from Southern Methodist University, where he earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering and an M.B.A.
David Chun, CEO and Founder – Equilar
David has led Equilar since its inception to become one of the most trusted names in the corporate governance community. David has been recognized as one of the “100 Most Influential Players in Corporate Governance” by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the Disruptor Award by 2020 Women on Boards and Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business. David speaks publicly on corporate governance and board diversity matters, including events hosted by The Conference Board, Deloitte, EY, HR Policy Association, KPMG, NACD, NASDAQ, NYSE, The Society for Corporate Governance and Stanford’s Directors’ College.
David serves on the boards of the Commonwealth Club of California, PGA Reach, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG). He is on Nasdaq’s Center for Board Excellence Advisory Board and Catalyst’s Women on Board Advisory Council. David is a member of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), Past Chair of the SF Bay Chapter, a founding member of the Council of Korean Americans (CKA) and a former board member of the Wharton Center for Entrepreneurship and the Asian Pacific Fund Community Foundation of San Francisco.
Before founding Equilar, David was a Vice President in the Investment Banking Division of Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette, a global investment bank that has since merged with Credit Suisse. Before DLJ, David was a management consultant with Bain & Company and also Kenan Systems, a telecom software developer acquired by Lucent Technologies.
David earned his M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia.
Russell Findlay, Senior Executive Director and Operating Partner, Private Equity – H.I.G. Capital
Russ Findlay is a sales and marketing executive currently serving as a Senior Executive Director and Operating Partner for H.I.G Capital. where he focuses on marketing due diligence, value creation planning and portfolio company operations. Russ is responsible for helping portfolio companies develop and implement comprehensive digital and marketing strategies.
Russ has over 30 years of experience in a broad range of industries including CPG, Food & Beverage, Sports & Entertainment and Financial Services. Prior to joining H.I.G., Russ was the Global Chief Marketing Officer of international specialist insurer Hiscox. Before Hiscox, he was the Head of Marketing for IHOP, the CMO of Major League Soccer, and a marketing executive for PepsiCo, where he launched the Sierra Mist and PepsiMax brands. Russ started his career at Unilever where he was the global expert in e-commerce prior to roles in brand management.
Russ earned his M.B.A. from Xavier University, a B.S. in Marketing from State University of New York, Oswego and a Financial Technology Certificate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Keith Giarman, Managing Partner, Global Private Equity Practice – DHR Global
Keith Giarman serves as Managing Partner of the Private Equity Practice at DHR Global, based out of the firm’s San Francisco and New York offices. He is also a member of the firm’s North American Executive Committee driving overall strategy for the organization.
Keith led the launch and successful expansion of the Private Equity Practice over the past 10 years. Under his leadership, the practice manages approximately 100 board, C-level and senior search assignments per year working with management teams and top-tier investors. He is also a core member of the Board & CEO and CFO practice groups.
Prior to joining DHR, Keith built the CEO practice for one of the premiere boutique executive recruiting firms in Silicon Valley serving the venture capital community. Previously he worked extensively with VC and PE investors, most recently as President and CEO of Clarus Systems. He was also Vice President of Sales, Service and Marketing at Citizens Communications. He was one of five executives on the senior leadership team responsible for 800 employees, $1 billion in revenue and $200 million in operating income.
Rich Herman, Managing Partner – ZRG Partners
Richard Herman brings a strong track record of successful senior-level search engagements to the Private Equity Practice at ZRG Partners. His focus is building world-class management teams and helping investors maximize returns by recruiting transformational senior leaders. He has worked across a variety of industries, including Industrial Manufacturing, Food and Ingredients, Consumer Goods, Professional and Consumer Services, as well as Healthcare and Life Sciences.
Richard focuses on supporting Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers to build best-in-class teams by recruiting for all senior-level finance positions. The core of his practice revolves around recruiting Chief Financial Officers, Chief Accounting Officers/Corporate Controllers, Treasurers, Internal Audit leaders, Tax management, and other division finance executives.
Prior to joining ZRG Partners, Richard led recruiting and portfolio talent management at American Capital, a premier middle-market private equity fund and alternative asset manager based in Bethesda, MD with over $24 billion in assets under management. In this role, he partnered with investment leaders and portfolio company executives to drive senior-level hiring and talent management for American Capital’s varied portfolio companies.
Richard got his start in executive search at Christian & Timbers (now CTPartners) working with Venture Capital and Private Equity funds to recruit senior-level talent. He began his career as a Marketing Associate at The Advisory Board Company, a strategic research firm focused on healthcare and hospital systems.
Kate Jenkins, Managing Director, Head of Talent Acquisition – Ares Management
Kate Jenkins is a Managing Director and Head of Talent Acquisition in the Ares Human Resources Department. Prior to joining Ares in 2022, Ms. Jenkins was the Global Head of Investments and Client Businesses Recruiting at BlackRock. Previously, Ms. Jenkins was an Executive Director at J.P. Morgan, where she oversaw global recruitment for investment management. In addition, she held various recruiting leadership roles at Morgan Stanley and Oak Hill Capital Management. Ms. Jenkins began her career in Human Resources at Penguin Putnam Publishing. She currently serves on the Board of Helpusadopt.org. Ms. Jenkins holds a B.A. from Gettysburg College in Sociology and Art History.
John Knapp, Operating Director, Portfolio Talent – Berkshire Partners
John Knapp joined Berkshire Partners in 2020 as an Operating Director and Talent Specialist in the Portfolio Support Group. Prior to joining Berkshire, John was a Partner with David Barrett Partners, a global executive search firm. Earlier in his career, he was a Principal with Egon Zehnder where he led the firm’s North American Asset Management practice and a Vice President of Institutional Wealth Services for Fidelity Investments. He began his career with Accenture in the firm’s Strategy and Business Architecture practice, and earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.
Vikram Mahidhar, Operating Partner – Apollo Global Management
Vikram Mahidhar is Data & Digital Transformation Operating Partner within the Apollo Portfolio Performance Solutions (APPS) group at Apollo, where he leads the Data, Analytics, and Digital team. Prior to joining, Vikram held leadership positions at Genpact, where he led global digital transformation business across industry verticals and created its Artificial Intelligence Business. Previously, Vikram was an entrepreneur, building AI solutions business at RAGE Frameworks that was acquired by Genpact. Before that, Vikram was with Deloitte in various leadership roles.
Vikram earned his degree in Engineering from University of Pune, India. He holds graduate degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston University. Vikram is currently an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at UMASS Amherst, College of Computer Science and has published in Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review.
Ruben Moreno, Founder – Blue Rock Search
As a Blue Rock co-founder with 25+ years of industry-relevant experience, Ruben is a recognized thought leader in executive search. He is a sought-after industry expert who regularly contributes to industry panels, podcasts, blogs, and articles on today’s hot topics.
Ruben and his private equity team partner with their clients to understand their value creation model and culture to ensure they successfully attract and hire the right transformative leaders. His clients consider him a trusted partner who takes the time to build relationships, collaborate, problem-solve, and add value beyond executive search.
Bryan Powell, Operating Partner – Insight Partners
Bryan Powell joined Insight in 2022 as an operating partner. Bryan focuses on helping portfolio companies effectively grow their business by hiring high-performing talent at scale, as well as optimizing their processes and practices to build more inclusive and engaged teams. He brings over 20 years of experience in the talent acquisition space, leveraging his expertise to assist organizations in accelerating marketing-driven talent acquisition strategies, talent management and people operations.
Prior to joining Insight, Bryan was senior vice president of talent acquisition at Twilio (TWLO), a data-driven customer engagement platform. Under his leadership, Twilio scaled its talent acquisition team from 20 to 350 individuals. He was also responsible for building out the global talent acquisition function resulting in a growth from 900 to 9000 employees in 4 years.
Before Twilio, Bryan was the vice president of talent acquisition at VMware (VMW), a leader in cloud-computing and virtualization technology. In this role he led all of global talent, scaling the team from 11,000 to over 20,000 employees during his tenure.
Bryan has also led talent acquisition efforts at WP Engine, Amazon (Consumer), Microsoft and Rackspace.
In addition to his role as operating partner, Bryan is currently an advisor at Findem, a talent acquisition platform powered by AI, where he assists in advising product road map and their go-to-market strategy.
Elan Pratzer, Founder & CEO – System-3
Elan Pratzer is the Founder of System-3, a predictive leadership solution that measures whether executives deploy the core leadership competencies required for success in today’s complex business environment. He is an entrepreneur having successfully founded four companies, including executive search businesses. He is the former Managing Partner of Caldwell Partners Canada, and Korn Ferry Canada.
Elan has spent 30 years assessing talent and advising business leadership at the most senior levels of corporations. Elan has acted as an advisor to private equity investors, shareholders, Boards and CEOs on matters related to strategic human capital decisions and organization transformation.
Leah Scanlan, Partner, Talent – Oak HC/FT
Leah Scanlan, a Partner at Oak HC/FT, joined the firm in 2019 and works closely with our portfolio companies on their talent strategy, executive recruiting, team building, and management initiatives.
As an Operating Partner at Khosla Ventures, Leah has worked with entrepreneurs advising them on executive search strategy, leadership and talent development. Prior to Khosla Ventures, Leah was a partner at Daversa Partners, a leading executive search firm for high-growth technology companies and worked with the firm’s consumer Internet, healthcare and enterprise software practices. Earlier in her career, she ran marketing and e-commerce for a children’s publishing company.
Leah received a Bachelor of Science degree from Boston University and a master’s degree in business administration from Fairfield University.
Nathaniel Schiffer, Chief Executive Officer – The Christopher Group
Nathaniel (Nat) Schiffer has held virtually every job at The Christopher Group. Today he is TCG’s Chief Executive Officer. Nat has played a key role in the rebranding of TCG as an Agile HR & Business Solutions company that includes the launch of the firm’s Interim HR Leader and Consulting Divisions. Among his many accomplishments at TCG, he is most proud of TCG being recognized in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 by Forbes as one of the nation’s top executive search firms.
With over 30 years of experience in Human Resources, Corporate Executive Services, and Executive Search. Nat has a keen understanding of business strategy and operations, organizational structure, and talent acquisition/assessment/development. This unique combination of experiences enables him to play a pivotal role in partnering with senior executives at Fortune 500 firms, start-ups, P/E Backed as well as private and closely held companies. Nathaniel specializes in all levels of HR search but frequently leads the firms most senior-level searches to Include CHRO, VP, and other levels with critical succession implications. He has recently completed searches across multiple industries and HR verticals with the likes of Phillips 66, Lamb Weston, Parker Hannifin, Air Products, Altria, SC Johnson, Delta Dental, VCA/ Mar’s Pet Care, Alcon/Novartis, Cal State Fullerton, and Acorn start-ups such as OYO Rooms.
MJ Scott, Managing Partner, Consumer Practice Leader – JM Search
MaryJeanne Scott is a Managing Partner at JM Search and Practice Leader for the Firm’s Consumer Practice. MaryJeanne works closely with clients to assemble teams across the C-Suite and their direct reports. Her practice specializes in private equity-backed clients but also includes both privately and publicly held companies across consumer products, retail, consumer digital and hospitality. MJ has extensive experience recruiting within the functional disciplines of marketing, merchandising, finance, sales, product development, e-commerce and global supply chain operations with a focus on CEO and Board roles.
MJ understands that a best-in-class search process is about high-performance leaders who have achieved undeniable success and possess the core values that her clients’ cultures are built upon. Her unique ability to seek individuals whose values innately align with her clients has set her apart in the industry.
MJ joined JM Search as a Partner in 2019 to lead the launching of a formal Consumer Practice on a national scale. She joined JM Search from the search firm she founded in 2003, MJ Scott Search Partners. She started her search career with the Kenzer Corporation, where she led its Chicago and Minneapolis offices.
MJ is a native New Yorker and attended the Fashion Institute of Technology for Fashion Merchandising and Business. While not serving her clients, MJ loves to travel and spend time with family and friends. She is passionate about alternative medicine and wellness and loves cooking, entertaining, and of course retail therapy.
Debra Somers, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Talent – Warburg Pincus
Debra Somers joined Warburg Pincus in 2019 and is focused on executive talent and recruiting best practices for U.S. based portfolio companies. Prior to joining Warburg Pincus, Debra was the Head of Career Development at the non-profit, Girls Who Invest, and the Program Director of Portfolio Recruiting at Vista Consulting Group, the operating arm of Vista Equity Partners, where she focused on building and scaling Vista’s portfolio recruiting function. She also spent several years in Equity Capital Markets at Credit Suisse before moving into a leadership role on the firm’s Recruiting team. Debra received a BS in Business Administration with a Finance major from Georgetown University.
Nada Usina, CEO & Co-Founder – NU Advisory Partners
Nada is CEO and Co-Founder of NU Advisory Partners, an executive search and advisory firm.
Prior to co-founding NU, Nada was a member of the Executive Committee of Russell Reynolds Associates, the Global Leader of Its Technology, Media, Entertainment, and Sports practices as well as a senior member of the CEO & Board Practice. She spent thirteen years leading high-level executive searches and advising leading private equity and VC firms across their portfolio companies. Nada had an extensive career as an executive at digital media and software companies, including as a member of the senior team at Broadcast.com leading its sports and marketing areas through its IPO and sale to Yahoo! for $5.7B, as President of Nokia Canada, as President of Comcast Venture-backed XOS Technologies which she successfully sold to publicly held JumpTV and then merged the company with NeuLion where she remained as President. Earlier roles in sports included the Florida Sports Foundation, Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games and Florida State University Athletics.
Sponsors
Premier Sponsor
AlixPartners is a results-driven global consulting firm that specializes in helping businesses respond quickly and decisively to their most critical challenges—from urgent performance improvement to complex restructuring, from risk mitigation to accelerated transformation. These are the moments when everything is on the line—a sudden shift in the market, an unexpected performance decline, a time-sensitive deal, a fork-in-the-road decision. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients until the job is done, and only measure our success in terms of the results we deliver. We partner with you to make the right decisions and take the right actions. And we are right by your side. When it really matters. For more information, visit https://www.alixpartners.com/.
Luncheon Sponsor
NU Advisory Partners is an AI- and technology-led executive search and advisory firm focused on senior executive, operating, and board positions. We help organizations solve their most complex leadership challenges, beginning with recruitment of exceptional individuals who can catalyze growth, and including assessments of mission-critical human capital issues.
The bedrock of our service is our deep expertise: we know the issues and trends that are driving change throughout the economy, and we’ve built considerable experience working with private equity, growth equity, and venture capital firms, on the unique challenges their portfolio companies face.
What sets us apart is not just what we do but also how we do it: we value inspiration, aspiration, drive, directness, empowerment, and agility. We welcome team members and clients alike who share our values, and believe in a NU way to strengthen the future of business.
Learn more about us at https://nuadvisorypartners.com.
Breakfast Sponsor
Blue Rock Search is an MBE Certified, 100% minority/female-owned executive search firm, an SRA Network member, a Hunt Scanlon Top 10 global recruiting firm, and a member of the Hunt Scanlon HR/Diversity Recruiting Power 65 and the Hunt Scanlon Private Equity Power 100. The firm specializes in the targeted identification, assessment, and placement of executives across five distinct practice areas: human resources, franchise, higher education, customer experience, and private equity.
Blue Rock’s partners are respected and trusted thought leaders with more than 50 years of combined experience in their respective practice areas. The firm’s systems, processes, and tools are designed to flex to fit its clients’ unique needs and reflect the philosophy of built-to-last relationships. For more information, visit www.bluerocksearch.com.
Silver Sponsors
Through award-winning, customized HR solutions, The Christopher Group delivers critical human capital solutions in executive HR search, interim HR leaders, and HR consulting. Since 1998, TCG has served clients across all industries, locations, company sizes, and verticals. Staffed by former HR professionals and highly trained search practitioners who have sat in the chairs, TCG, simply put, is one company with two operating divisions. The Recruiting Services Division (R.S.D.) and the Consulting Services Division (C.S.D.). The C.S.D. will be rebranded to HR Now. HR Now will incorporate HR contractors, fractional CHROs, RPO services, and consulting services. This newly branded division will be the major focus for growth in 2023 and beyond.
These divisions are bound together and serviced by a common corporate shared services platform that includes marketing, HR, finance, IT, and legal. Fast forward to today, TCG is one of the largest and most critically acclaimed pure HR solutions boutique in the U.S. For more information, visit www.tcgco.com.
Equilar is the leading provider of executive intelligence solutions. The company’s expertise in relationship intelligence drives state-of-the-art business development and CRM applications, board and executive recruitment, and compensation and governance strategies. Equilar integrates its extensive database of executive profiles with natural language processing and machine learning AI to enable real-time relationship analytics and targeted outreach for its global clients. Equilar’s commitment to excellence has made it the go-to solution for over 1,000 companies, including 75% of the Fortune 500, top PE/VC firms and leading professional services entities. Learn more at www.equilar.com.
JM Search is the leading retained executive search firm for private equity, and other growth-oriented private and public organizations.
With over 40 years of experience, our partners are immersed in your search every step of the way, supported by a passionate, cohesive team of recruiting experts. With deep sector and functional-specific expertise, our partners have built expansive professional networks from decades of firsthand experience to ensure the best possible outcomes for our clients and their businesses. For more information, visit https://jmsearch.com/.
PE Human Capital Sponsor
Through award-winning, customized HR solutions, The Christopher Group delivers critical human capital solutions in executive HR search, interim HR leaders, and HR consulting. Since 1998, TCG has served clients across all industries, locations, company sizes, and verticals. Staffed by former HR professionals and highly trained search practitioners who have sat in the chairs, TCG, simply put, is one company with two operating divisions. The Recruiting Services Division (R.S.D.) and the Consulting Services Division (C.S.D.). The C.S.D. will be rebranded to HR Now. HR Now will incorporate HR contractors, fractional CHROs, RPO services, and consulting services. This newly branded division will be the major focus for growth in 2023 and beyond.
These divisions are bound together and serviced by a common corporate shared services platform that includes marketing, HR, finance, IT, and legal. Fast forward to today, TCG is one of the largest and most critically acclaimed pure HR solutions boutique in the U.S. For more information, visit www.tcgco.com.
PE Consulting Sponsor
For corporations, investors and the legal, financial and talent advisors who need actionable facts to assess risks, protect reputations and win disputes, Mintz Group is the partner of choice for due diligence, investigations and background screening, anywhere in the world. Since 1994, Mintz Group has developed a uniquely transparent and practical approach to fact gathering before hires and transactions, during disputes and after allegations. We provide impartial facts that are comprehensively researched, properly sourced and stand up to the toughest scrutiny in the boardroom or the courtroom. Headquartered in New York City, Mintz Group has 12 offices in eight countries, with a team that has successfully conducted investigations in over 100 countries. For more information, visit https://mintzgroup.com/.
Gold Sponsors
System-3 is a SaaS-based solution that is fundamentally changing how organizations assess their leadership talent. Our predictive Leadership Simulation empowers organizations to make more accurate, objective, and informed evaluations and decisions on leadership talent. Enabling investors and executives to effectively align talent to the needs of the business.
System-3 partners with private equity investors, P/E-backed companies, and executive search firms for leadership talent solutions, including talent due diligence, succession planning, talent evaluation, team effectiveness, and high-potential talent identification to impact human capital decisions at critical junctures. For more information, visit https://www.system-3.com/.
Since 1999, ZRG’s data-driven approach to executive and professional search has been changing the way clients think about how to find top talent.
Today, ZRG is one of the fastest growing firms in the executive search and integrated talent solutions space, providing a full suite of executive, middle management, project, and interim search solutions globally through its offices in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. For more information, visit www.zrgpartners.com.
Always connected. DHR Global is one of the largest retained executive search firms in the world, spanning 22 countries.
For more than 30 years, DHR has been a leading provider of executive search, leadership consulting and emerging leader search solutions, with more than 50 wholly-owned locations around the globe. The firm’s renowned consultants deliver unparalleled senior-level executive search and talent advisory services tailored to the unique qualities and specifications of its select client base.
DHR’s executive talent expertise includes more than 20 industry and functional areas, including advanced technology, financial services, private equity, human resources, industrial, consumer & retail and sports.
To DHR, value is a simple proposition summed up in three words. Reach delivers talent solutions that are smart in your world. Resourcefulness brings creativity, flexibility and agility tailored to you. And lasting relationships are at the heart of all they do.
The firm’s emerging leader search services are delivered through Jobplex, a DHR company. For more information, visit www.dhrglobal.com.
Lanyard Sponsor
The Tolan Group is a full-service executive search firm recognized for their industry experience and performance driven placement services. Our talented team has a vast network of candidates in healthcare services, healthcare tech and behavioral health. We take pride in aligning the right talent with our private equity clients and their needs. In addition, we provide finance and accounting, across multiple vertical markets. We also offer interim talent solutions to our clients when there is a sudden need or an unplanned departure. We work with our client’s company management team to fill a void in portco leadership as soon as the need arises, regardless of the industry, since we are sector agnostic.
For more information visit https://www.thetolangroup.com/.
Exhibitor Sponsors
Invenias by Bullhorn is a leading software platform trusted by professionals responsible for executive search. More than 1,000 search firms, private equity companies and in-house executive search teams worldwide rely on the Invenias cloud-based platform to transform the productivity of their search operations. Customers range from single users, to boutique firms and large multinational organizations.
Invenias believes the ability to capture and leverage high value talent intelligence is central to building a successful strategic hiring capability. The firm drives productivity, best practice and compliance across assignment delivery, client relationship management and business operations.
Invenias was acquired by Bullhorn in July 2018 and operates within the Bullhorn family. Invenias serves thousands of users in over sixty countries across the globe. For more information, visit www.invenias.com.
Altrata leverages the combined data sets and innovative, customizable delivery channels available from our five dynamic products, some you are familiar with, and some that may be new to you:
- Enterprise solutions for enhancing your CRM data and fueling better business development and relationship mapping with RelSci
- Access to the world’s wealthiest individuals with insight into their interests, passions, investing, spending, and donation history with Wealth-X
- Advanced audience segmentation and modeling on wealthy individuals in the US with WealthEngine
- Highly detailed executive intelligence to close bigger deals faster with Boardroom Insiders
- Executive talent research solutions to help you find tomorrow’s leaders with BoardEx
This multitude of intelligence provides insight into the experience, interests, and networks of the people who will have the biggest impact on our clients’ success.
As the firm continues to grow, the Altrata team is focused on the future of its products and scaling the business. The firm is currently in the process of bringing together 5 separate data sets into a single Altrata data set, further enhancing the profiles of the people and companies maintained by its global team of 400 researchers.
Altrata has set an ambitious agenda to deliver a solution that offers customizable delivery and analytical options for clients. The firm will continue to grow to support these strategic initiatives and look forward to providing key updates along the way. For more information, visit www.altrata.com.
Through award-winning, customized HR solutions, The Christopher Group delivers critical human capital solutions in executive HR search, interim HR leaders, and HR consulting. Since 1998, TCG has served clients across all industries, locations, company sizes, and verticals. Staffed by former HR professionals and highly trained search practitioners who have sat in the chairs, TCG, simply put, is one company with two operating divisions. The Recruiting Services Division (R.S.D.) and the Consulting Services Division (C.S.D.). The C.S.D. will be rebranded to HR Now. HR Now will incorporate HR contractors, fractional CHROs, RPO services, and consulting services. This newly branded division will be the major focus for growth in 2023 and beyond.
These divisions are bound together and serviced by a common corporate shared services platform that includes marketing, HR, finance, IT, and legal. Fast forward to today, TCG is one of the largest and most critically acclaimed pure HR solutions boutique in the U.S. For more information, visit www.tcgco.com.
Networking Sponsors
Talent analytics are more important than ever – your people and your organization’s group dynamics are the most valuable levers available to drive performance and change. Nowhere is this more critical than in equity-backed organizations, where the realization of the investment thesis can come down to having the right person in the right role at the right time.
Caldwell Analytics helps equity-backed organizations gain the confidence that they have the right leadership team in place to deliver on expectations. They also partner with clients to manage unforeseen risks involving incumbent executives, as well as prospective appointments in both due diligence and existing portfolio companies.
Caldwell Analytics – the organizational effectiveness practice at global talent acquisition firm Caldwell – leverages highly respected, science-backed and results-driven assessments to align talent and business strategies, driving better results. By leveraging workforce analytics related to organizational design, leadership, team dynamics, communication, motivation, talent management, and strategic execution, the firm assists clients improve individual, team, and business-unit performance. For more information, visit www.caldwell.com/analytics.
At Odgers Berndtson, we support clients in making the most critical decisions. Our approach to executive search drives our consultants to develop a comprehensive understanding of our clients’ organization and the context of their business. This deep understanding allows us to provide continuous advice to clients to develop and support their talent management and acquisition program.
Working with organisations ranging from listed corporations to family-owned business, equity backed enterprises, associations and institutions, Odgers Berndtson collaborates with leading organisations to develop and strengthen their talent.
We call our approach Search Intelligence.
Search Intelligence is a proven process of rigorous analysis, creativity, logic, and judgement. Through our thorough understanding of a client’s needs, Search Intelligence allows our consultants to identify and nurture the right candidates from across the globe based on experience, personality, and potential. For more information, visit https://www.odgersberndtson.com/en-us/.
With our global reach, Ellig Group is dedicated to identifying the best executive talent for C-suite and boardroom roles, focusing on building diverse teams. We strive to ensure successful appointments for our corporate and nonprofit clients and an exceptional experience for our clients and candidates. We continue to deliver unsurpassed placements of women and underrepresented groups, 80% C-suite, 85% Boardrooms, for over a decade. For more information, visit https://www.elliggroup.com/.
BrainWorks is a prominent boutique executive search firm offering a 30-year track record of successfully sourcing and placing top talent. By harnessing proven strategies, collaborating with stakeholders and leveraging a diverse and talented candidate network, BrainWorks helps businesses find, attract, and ultimately hire talented professionals that create differentiated results. Their search services can be offered either on a retained or contingency basis depending on the level of commitment your unique search requires.
BrainWorks offers several distinct practice areas, each directed by a partner offering extensive search experience in their specific discipline. Their practice areas include Accounting & Finance, Accounting & Finance Interim, Analytics, Data Science & Data Governance, Commodities Technology & Trading, Consumer Products, CRM & Direct Marketing, Cybersecurity, Ecommerce & Digital Marketing, Human Resources, IT & Data Engineering, Market Research & Consumer Insights, Operations & Supply Chain, Private Equity & Portfolio Company Leadership, and Sales & Marketing. For more information, visit www.brainworksinc.com
The Forum Group is a top full-service staffing firm and your personalized career partner. Our expertise, specialized recruiters, and industry insight make us the preferred choice for permanent and contingency searches in various industries nationwide. We don’t just recruit; we partner closely with you, take the time to get to know you, and prioritize understanding your business goals and culture. This personalized approach ensures we find top talent that perfectly matches your company.
At The Forum Group, we always prioritize your experience, whether you’re a client, a candidate, or part of our team. Our core values –integrity, loyalty, transparency, and professionalism –are not just words but the guiding principles that shape our relationships with satisfied clients and talented candidates.
Think Forum First—with 50 years of success, thousands of partnerships, and a thriving talent pool, The Forum Group is the first choice for all your staffing needs. Explore more at https://www.forumgrp.com/.
Cancellation Policy
(Cancellation notice: any passes canceled within 60 days of each conference will not be refunded. Sponsorships non-refundable.)
Register
Thank you for your interest in attending our upcoming conference, ‘Designing a New Talent Playbook for Growth,’ to be held on May 23, 2024 at the Harvard Club of New York. The full-day event will begin at 7:30am with continental breakfast, a mid-day luncheon along with a full day of very exciting presentations by top professionals in the sector.
Hunt Scanlon Media is convening hundreds of operating partners, chief talent officers, and executive recruiters at the Harvard Club in New York on May 23, 2024. Join us as we explore the pivotal role that Operating Partners play in value creation – from investment decisions and operational strategizing to the development and execution of ‘talent playbooks’ to optimize returns.
Special Rate: $850
