KARMA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS PODCAST 

In this Karma School of Business crossover episode, Sean Mooney is joined by Lloyd Metz, Managing Partner of ICV Partners; Doug McCormick, Managing Partner of Oridian Capital Partners; James Aylward, Chief Product and Technology Officer at BluWave; and Nathan Plummer, Co-Executive Director of Venture Café Global Institute. The group explains how AI moved from long-running concept to practical business tool, and what that means for private equity firms and portfolio company leaders right now. They cover agentic AI, data readiness, applied AI use cases, internal tooling, security concerns, and the leadership challenge of getting teams to adopt new ways of working. This is a practical conversation for business builders who want to move past AI hype and start creating real value—hit play.Episode Highlights

• 2:13 - James Aylward’s path from Fidelity’s AI incubator to BluWave’s technology strategy
• 5:08 - Nathan Plummer on Venture Café’s role in connecting startups, investors, and...

Bob Root, Transformation Partner at Southfield Capital, joins Sean Mooney to discuss how hands-on operating experience, curiosity, and genuine partnership shape lower middle market value creation. He shares how Southfield works alongside founder-led businesses during the first 100 days, getting close to the work before refining the growth plan. Bob also explains why AI, data moats, and purpose-built technology can help small and mid-sized businesses leapfrog larger competitors. It’s a thoughtful conversation on building better companies with humility, speed, and trust—hit play.Episode Highlights:

• 1:18 - Growing up in Canada with an educator’s curiosity and engineer’s problem-solving mindset
• 3:16 - Lessons from Procter & Gamble, Microsoft, and learning through constant role changes
• 10:35 - Why Bob’s garage reveals his love of building, tinkering, and continuous learning
• 12:38 - Navigating personal loss while starting a new role and building deeper trust
• 21:46 - Southfield’s “first...

Bobby Ocampo, Managing Partner at Blueprint Equity, shares how his firm approaches early growth-stage investing within private equity. He explains Blueprint’s focus on capital-efficient, founder-led vertical software businesses and how they build scalable go-to-market engines post-investment. The conversation also explores how AI, rising competition, and shifting market dynamics are reshaping underwriting and value creation. A practical look at where private equity is heading—and how to win in it.Episode Highlights:

• 2:05 - From physics major to private equity via investment banking and venture capital
• 7:20 - Why Blueprint Equity was built to avoid “asset gathering” and mediocre return
• 14:10 - Breaking down growth equity vs. venture capital and traditional private equity
• 16:05 - Key investment criteria: capital efficiency, retention, and vertical focus
• 26:10 - Turning “successful in spite of themselves” companies into scalable platforms
• 30:45 - How AI is reshaping underwriting,...

Tyler Ashley, Head of Business Development at McNally Capital, shares the unconventional path that shaped his approach to private equity. From early global experiences to building a career in deal sourcing and relationships. He explains how McNally’s family-backed roots influence its focus on founder-led businesses, and how its “Atlas” framework drives disciplined value creation across the portfolio. Tyler also breaks down the growing importance of business development in an increasingly crowded market, where strategy, specialization, and authentic relationships win deals. This is a practical conversation on sourcing, differentiation, and building durable networks in modern private equity—press play. 

Episode Highlights

• 2:20 - From Wyoming ranch to Argentina: a nontraditional start that shaped his career
• 7:09 - Why unique life experiences create an edge in private equity relationships
• 11:58 - A serious ski accident and the perspective it brought to work and life
• 17:07 - McNally...

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
• ...

Jeff Drazan, Managing Partner at Bertram Capital and BluWave’s 2026 Private Equity Innovator of the Year, explains how a technology-first operating model reshaped his transition from venture capital to private equity and became a durable competitive advantage. He details how Bertram Labs embeds software, data, and digital execution directly into diligence and value creation—well before the deal closes. Jeff also shares the investment principles that matter most today: large markets, strong margins, and customer trust. This episode lays out what modern private equity innovation actually looks like—hit play.Episode Highlights: 1:18 – From Princeton engineering and Bell Labs to venture capital on the West Coast6:05 – Treating early career roles as paid fellowships, not permanent destinations14:37 – Why technology was the missing link in traditional private equity models16:25 – Founding Bertram Capital to bring digital transformation to lower-tech businesses21:06 – Inside Bertram Labs:...

Mark Langer, Managing Director at CenterOak Partners, reflects on the experiences that shaped his approach to private equity—from early grit and middle-market investing to deploying capital in Africa and building enduring CEO partnerships. He explains why servant leadership, trust, and long-term thinking matter more than control in lower middle-market value creation. Mark also shares candid lessons on risk-taking, mistakes, and navigating the non-linear reality of business building. This is a grounded, hard-earned perspective from someone who has seen the full arc of private equity—hit play.Episode Highlights2:01 – Early lessons in grit, work ethic, and “figure it out” resilience6:02 – Breaking into middle-market investing after 9/11 and choosing the hard path12:05 – Being sent to deploy capital in Africa—and learning fast under pressure17:26 – Why CEO trust and long-term relationships matter more than control19:32 – Reining in chaos in the lower middle market without killing momentum

Emily Bomberger, Vice President at Penn Spring Capital, shares her nontraditional path into private equity and the operating mindset she brings to evaluating founder-led businesses. She explains how early experiences in marketing, accounting, and PE-backed advisory work shaped her approach to judgment, value creation, and partnership with entrepreneurs. Emily also outlines what Penn Spring looks for in markets, founders, and focus—and why discipline matters more in tighter environments. This is a grounded conversation on learning fast, building trust, and making better investment decisions—worth your time.Episode Highlights1:41 – Growing up in a small town and seeing firsthand how businesses shape communities4:26 – Early operating exposure and learning how decisions flow through a business7:35 – Working with first-time PE-backed companies during the critical first 100 days10:57 – Why Penn Spring prioritizes focus, speed, and small deal teams16:52 – Emily’s scorecard for evaluating...