What makes a what are the elements of value for a company? Its people? Definitely. Its products? Absolutely. Its patents? Very likely. But these are the obvious, high-level answers for anyone with a rudimentary understanding of how business (and the economy) works. But it’s the more nuanced elements of value that can make or break […]
Private Equity Interview with MiddleGround Capital founder Lauren Mulholland
What happens when a former New York investment banker and mother of two young children (with a third not far behind) decides to take a “measured risk?” First, she teams up with long-time colleagues John Stewart (no, not this one, this one) and Scot Duncan in Lexington, Kentucky; next, together they decide to build a franchise focused squarely on the middle […]
The 5 Key Ingredients To Building A Thriving Business
During my 20 years in private equity in New York, I learned quite a few lessons about what makes a thriving business and its people tick — for better or for worse. Some are driven by dollars and cents; some are motivated by a people-first philosophy that puts human beings at the center of decision-making. […]
Kyle Johnson joins BluWave as Head of Growth Marketing
This week, we announced the addition of Kyle Johnson to our leadership team as head of growth marketing. This key hire is a vital move for our company, as we continue to expand during Covid-19 while supporting business agility and economic recovery. Johnson, who is known in industry circles as a “marketing operations game-changer,” spent […]
One of the silver linings of 2020 was my increased focus on (and confidence in) protecting my time. Spare moments were few and far between, as I, like so many parents in similar circumstances, attempted to walk the fine virtual line between my personal and professional life. A few weeks ago, BluWave spoke with a […]
Tools and techniques to love this February and beyond
Where would we be as solutions-focused experts without a few favorite tools and techniques we can depend on, even during the most challenging engagements and ever-shifting workplace environments? With the lightning speed of innovation these days, not to mention skill sets required to stay on course, this month I wanted to share a few ideas—in […]
How We Did It: Healthcare Turnaround and Performance Improvement Case Study
A multi-site healthcare provider portco was in need of turnaround expertise to help improve their growth-stalled performance. Moving quickly, we worked to thoroughly understand the client’s specific turnaround needs. Tapping into our Intelligent Network, we were able to match the client with a resource who fit their exact requirements (including geographic location) and was able to efficiently start moving […]
How we did it: Digital marketing due diligence case study
Our PE fund client needed a resource to perform digital due diligence for an e-commerce-enabled aftermarket products business. They needed a full overview of the digital landscape, including SEM, SEO, UX, conversion path analysis, Google Analytics, and digital GTM strategy. We used our extensive experience in digital marketing due diligence to immediately connect our client […]
The year of specialized work and continued recalibration
What better way to kick off 2021 than with some age-old wisdom from the most outstanding figure in medicine, Hippocrates: “Persons in whom a crisis takes place pass the night preceding the paroxysm (spasm) uncomfortably, but the succeeding night generally more comfortably.” In other words, if last year was the “uncomfortable paroxysm” then this year should […]
REDIRECTED How will people’s behavior change post-pandemic?
If someone asked who do you depend on to drive your business, how would you answer? The sales team? Marketers? R&D? Customer service? Contractors? In a mid-Covid world—as businesses continue to adjust to changing work environments, behaviors, and expectations—it is more critical than ever to pause and assess key drivers for future success. In other words: what actually matters. According […]
In 2021 Focus on Healthy Communication, Collaboration, and Inclusivity
Despite all the uncertainty and disruption still lingering from last year, 2021 offers ample opportunities for companies to refocus on what matters most: healthy communication and collaboration, an inclusive workplace culture, and ultimately greater productivity. While companies need to understand what will be different in the post-COVID era, they should also remember what will stay […]
As we roll up our sleeves and move full steam ahead into 2021, it is clear that many of the challenges of last year linger. In fact, many companies—particularly in the travel and hospitality sectors—still face unprecedented circumstances and continue to scramble from one problem to the next. This can often mean losing sight of […]
Interim CEO services are highly coveted in transitionary economies, such as those experienced during the 2008 housing crisis, the COVID-19 recession and the 2023 bank failures. What works for a chief executive officer under normal circumstances doesn’t cut it when times are especially tough. That’s why private equity firms, their portcos, and private and public […]
Fractional CFOs: What They Do, Why You Might Need an Interim CFO Instead
The chief financial officer is crucial role. But not all businesses can afford – or are ready – for one. One alternative to committing to a full-time (and expensive) C-suite financial executive is a fractional CFO. “The biggest role of a fractional CFO is going to be high-level overview. The business is typically not going […]
Identifying an interim chief financial officer can be tedious, if not expensive. Companies that don’t know what they’re looking for when they begin their search could spend large sums of money on headhunters and recruiting firms. They can also lose valuable time interviewing unqualified candidates. When hiring an interim CFO instead of a permanent replacement, […]
