Private Capital Insiders Podcasts &Webinars

Portfolio teams have more data than ever, yet often learn what is happening inside a company only after the moment to act has passed. In this episode, Frank Scarpelli talks with Owen Pagan, CEO and co-founder of Planr, about how his experience as an operator and operating partner exposed the limits of traditional portfolio reporting. Owen explains why data latency and inconsistency make it harder to spot risks early, how firms can build a reliable flow of information without imposing rigid reporting requirements, and where AI can surface meaningful signals—such as a sudden shift in sales pipeline activity—before they show up in results. He also makes the case that useful AI depends on strong data foundations and a systematic approach to turning insight into action.

Businesses have gotten remarkably sophisticated at measuring customer value, but the same discipline has rarely been applied to people. In this episode, Frank Scarpelli talks with Ben Stocken of Atherio, an AI leadership coach, about why employee lifetime value has sat on the "too difficult" pile for so long, and what closes that gap today.Ben walks through where value leaks between hiring and full productivity, how AI-enabled, real-time feedback is compressing development cycles that used to take a full performance-review cycle, and why operating partners should be thinking less about whether they have the right people and more about whether they are getting full return from the people they already have. He closes with a practical case for cross-pollinating talent best practices across a portfolio rather than treating every company as its own island.

In this episode of Private Capital Insiders, we sit down with Tim Reagan of Beecher Reagan to examine how AI is reshaping talent strategy inside PE backed portfolio companies. The discussion moves past the surface level conversation around copilots and sourcing tools to focus on a deeper shift: talent leaders having to define what capability actually means within a role before they hire for it. Tim shares how AI is compressing and eliminating tasks across functions, why the true AI operating partner remains a rare and highly specialized role, and where he sees firms consistently get it wrong, often by hiring an AI titled expert before doing the harder work of identifying where AI changes the economics of the business. The conversation closes with practical guidance for talent leaders on building a forward looking view of their roles eighteen months out, rather than reacting to today's org chart.

In this episode of Private Capital Insiders, we sit down with Jay Weiser to examine how the future of work is reshaping what “effective” board leadership actually looks like. Titled The Future Ready Board: What Traditional Board Selection Gets Wrong, the discussion challenges legacy board selection models that prioritize pedigree and past titles over the real capabilities needed in high-pressure, fast-changing environments. Jay explores how modern boards must be built around directors who can perform under ambiguity, maintain clarity under pressure, and actively support management teams through continuous transformation rather than episodic oversight. The conversation also digs into the emerging importance of cognitive agility, decision velocity, and behavioral resilience—traits that are becoming more critical than functional expertise alone in a world defined by AI acceleration, hybrid work structures, and constant disruption.

In this episode of Private Capital Insiders, host Frank Scarpelli sits down with Thomas Busby of Mirus Capital Advisors to unpack the evolving landscape of private equity investment in the medtech and life sciences sectors. Building on their prior discussion, the conversation explores the resurgence of deal activity heading into 2026, what’s truly driving momentum beyond market sentiment, and how competition for high-quality founder-led assets is reshaping valuations and deal structures.Thom shares insights on where buyers and sellers remain misaligned, how diligence priorities are shifting, and what separates companies that command premium outcomes from those that don’t. The discussion also dives into operational levers that directly impact valuation, as well as the growing importance of strategic go-to-market execution in value creation.

In this episode of Private Capital Insiders, host Frank Scarpelli, CEO of Private Capital Global, sits down with Siva Balakrishnan, CEO of VServe eBusiness Solutions, to unpack how private equity firms are transforming outsourcing from a cost-cutting tactic into a true operational value creation lever. The conversation tackles common outsourcing pitfalls—including communication breakdowns, internal resistance, and undefined KPIs—and outlines a pragmatic “crawl, walk, run” framework that helps operating partners prove value quickly and scale success across the portfolio. From AR cleanups generating immediate cash to building flexible offshore teams that scale fivefold during peak season, Siva explains how outsourcing, when done right, becomes a force multiplier rather than a disruption.

In this episode, Private Capital Global host Frank Scarpelli sits down with Joe Carbone, Founder & CEO of Eastward Partners, and Keri Laine, Founder & CEO of Keri Laine Executive Solutions and Board Member at Eastward Partners, to examine why leadership is becoming one of the most decisive variables in private equity performance. Operational execution now drives returns, forcing investors to confront a long-standing imbalance: the rigor applied to deal underwriting versus the rigor applied to leadership decisions. The discussion explores how private equity firms are shifting from transactional executive search toward embedded, portfolio-wide talent partnerships focused on value creation, succession planning, and execution under pressure. The conversation introduces several frameworks shaping this evolution, including directional diligence, operational scar tissue, and post-hire value creation.

In this episode we discuss the evolving MedTech landscape with deal activity increasingly shaped by regulatory shifts, complex tax structures, and the accelerating pace of innovation. At the intersection of these forces is Dave Kall, Managing Member of McDonald Hopkins’ Cleveland office and Chair of multiple practice groups within the firm — including Tax and Benefits, Multistate Tax, and Capital Markets. With more than three decades advising middle-market and growth-stage companies, Kall brings a rare perspective that blends legal rigor with practical business insight. In a recent conversation with our host Frank Scarpelli, Mr. Kall shared his views on how founders, management teams, and investors can navigate the unique challenges of MedTech transactions — from early structuring decisions to strategic exits.

In this edition of The Private Capital Insiders Podcast, host Frank Scarpelli sits down with Tony Ko, Founding Member of Qurrent, to explore how artificial intelligence and technology are reshaping portfolio value creation. Tony dispels common myths about AI’s business impact, breaks down the difference between empowering employees with AI tools versus embedding AI in operations, and shares where portfolio companies can find the fastest ROI. The conversation also covers change management, measuring success beyond cost savings, and balancing innovation with stability—all while looking ahead to emerging technologies that will redefine private equity in the next three to five years.

In the latest episode of The Private Capital Insiders Podcast, host Frank Scarpelli sits down with seasoned investment banker Thomas Busby for a candid and insightful discussion on the state of private equity investing in 2025. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in the life sciences sector, Mr. Busby unpacks the influence of global macroeconomic forces on dealmaking, shares his expectations for Q4 and beyond, and offers strategic guidance on navigating successful exits. The conversation takes a close look at the medtech landscape, providing listeners with practical perspectives on where opportunities lie and how investors can position themselves for success. This timely dialogue sets the stage for deeper engagement at our upcoming Medtech Capital Connect Dealmaker Summit this October.

In the latest edition of Private Capital Insiders hosted by Frank Scarpelli, we sit down with Dr. Ben Herndon, Chief Strategy Officer at Kungfu.AI, former Chief Analytics Officer at the IRS, and ex-Head of AI Strategy at Vista Equity Partners, we unpacked what separates high-impact AI programs from costly, one-off experiments. Drawing on his deep experience across the public sector, private equity, and enterprise AI, Dr. Herndon shares a pragmatic and strategic perspective on how to operationalize AI as a sustained source of competitive advantage.

In this episode, we sit down with Tina Shah Paikeday from Findem to explore human capital as a critical strategic lever for value creation in private capital. Tina shares her perspective on the evolution of talent strategy over the past decade and reveals the most overlooked opportunities that operating and talent partners miss when building world-class leadership teams.