KARMA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS PODCAST 

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 shift of AI from buzzword to real execution—and why data readiness is now a competitive imperative. This is a clear-eyed view of the current market and where private equity leaders should focus next—hit play.

Episode Highlights

• 1:15 - “Groundhog Day” returns as geopolitical shocks stall deal momentum
• 3:20 - Why sellers pause deals: the need for 4–6 months of visibility
• 5:30 - Economic resilience despite inflation, tariffs, and uncertainty
• 7:10 - PE firms increase focus on value creation during market slowdowns
• 10:30 - AI demand surges 280% as firms move from experimentation to execution
• ...

Jim Murphy, Senior Managing Director at LLR Partners, shares the operator-to-investor journey that shaped his approach to private equity value creation—from stepping into a public company CFO role at 29 to scaling businesses from $8M to $250M. He explains why the best CFOs think like operators, how LLR builds hands-on functional teams that go beyond advice to execution, and what truly drives outcomes in founder-led software companies. Jim also breaks down the critical role of management, product-market fit, and disciplined operational focus in turning growth into lasting enterprise value. This is a pragmatic conversation on leadership, accountability, and building better businesses—press play. 

Episode Highlights

• 1:45 - From public accounting to CFO: the early career pivot that set the foundation
• 7:10 - Why the best CFOs balance analytical rigor with operational leadership
• 10:21 - Becoming a public company CFO at 29—and learning in real time
• 16:30 - What private equity looks for:...

Brett Holcomb, Partner atProspect 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 premium outcomes. Brett also reflects on pricing strategy, data-driven decision-making, and the leap-of-faith judgment calls every investor must make. This is a candid conversation on resilience, alignment, and long-term value creation—press play.

Episode Highlights

• 1:18 – Growing up around global business and finding a non-linear path into private equity
• 6:29 – Why competitive swimming builds the grit and self-motivation PE demands
• 10:43 – The COVID shock at Wedgewood and setting a clear North Star under pressure
• 14:13 – Over-communicating with teams and customers when everything shuts down
• ...