Private Equity
International
International
Operating Partners Human Capital Forum New York 2024
27 - 28 March 2024,
Convene, 117 W 46th St, New York
Driving human capital as a key value creation lever
Now in its third year, the Operating Partners Human Capital Forum brings together an elite crowd of human capital value creators and operating partner talent specialists. It is the place to meet key players in the PE community and get a firm grasp on initiatives designed to transform operations, deliver growth, and drive value creation strategies through talent.
At this critical time in the economic cycle, you’ll uncover how leading firms achieve value creation through the human capital function.
Save $650+ on your ticket when you register before December 1.
“Tremendous event. This is where we push forward value creation through human capital.”
Jimmy Holloran
Partner and Head of Talent, American Industrial Partners
Connect with the leading talent operating partner network:
2024 agenda highlights
Join discussions with leading PE operating specialists and learn key strategies to accelerate growth & transformation through human capital. The 2024 agenda will include:
- Think tank value creation war room: working with founder-led company CEOs
- AI’s impact on the talent function in PE and the future workforce
- Preparing human capital operating partners for the board
- New vs. old talent value creation levers: an inside look at the evolution of the role
- Comparing operating partner human capital models and team structures
- Compensation plans: tools, benchmarks, and data
- The modern C-suite: uncovering the right traits for current times
- Operating partner-CHRO dynamics
- And much more…
“As someone who is building out the talent function within my firm currently, I found valuable insights from the speakers and attendees. Being in a role that is fairly new to the private equity world makes events like this exceptionally helpful as we learn and grow the talent function together as a community.”
Kelie Morgan
Director of Talent Acquisition
Permanent Equity
2024 speakers
Agenda
Download the 2024 preliminary agenda covering human capital value creation challenges and opportunities for private equity and portfolio companies.
If you are interested in a speaking role please contact Marc Mele at marc.m@pei.group.
View agenda page
Agenda
2023 Agenda Day 1 - Wednesday 29th
Registration and breakfast
07:15 - 08:45
Registration and breakfast
07:45 - 08:45
Human capital operating partners think tank (for operating partners only)
Dana Allen,
Reid Terry,
Emily Azevedo,
Kelly Carlson
Invitation-only think tank for full-time PE and VC operating partners and talent partners. This closed-door room will allow you to learn and share best practices in human capital and talent management for PE portfolio operations. The think tank will also allow you to submit topics to be introduced by the facilitators and discussed in the room. Please select one of the rooms based on how long you have been in private equity:
Think Tank Room 1
Emerging Human Capital Operating Partners and Talent Partners (1-2 years in PE)
Facilitators:
Dana Allen, Managing Director, Talent, Gauge Capital
Reid Terry, Director, Talent, Trivest Partners
Think Tank Room 2
Advanced Human Capital Operating Partners and Talent Partners
Facilitators:
Emily Azevedo, Operating Partner and Head of Talent, Mainsail Partners
Kelly Carlson, Managing Director, Head of Talent, STG Partners
08:45 - 09:00
PEI’s welcome and chairman’s opening remarks
Tony Buffum
Chairman:
Tony Buffum, Vice President of HR Client Strategy, Upwork
Plenary sessions
09:00 - 09:40
Investor perspectives: discussing what your deal team wants and needs from you
Dan Hawkins,
Ting Gu,
Brian Michaud,
Church Moore
- What makes a successful talent partner/human capital operating partner in the eyes of the deal team? What do deal teams need from you?
- What do your investors value most in the human capital and talent role?
- How can PE heads of talent get a voice at the table and influence the investor decisions?
- Any tips on how talent operating partners can build their brand and their relationship with deal teams?
- What does a successful partnership look like?
- Talent partner-deal team dynamics: showcasing synergies and best practices across the investment cycle
- How does the current downturn affect the partnership and what talent partner traits are most important in the current environment?
Moderator:
Dan Hawkins, Founder and CEO, Summit Leadership Partners
Panelists:
Ting Gu, Principal, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe
Brian Michaud, Managing Director, Littlejohn & Co.
Church Moore, Investment Partner, Kelso
09:40 - 10:20
The evolution of the human capital function in PE: comparing successful models today and what will be required in the future
Rena Frackt Zimmerman,
Mara Edgar,
Jimmy Holloran,
Melissa Mounce,
Chris Trendler
- Uncovering typical roles and responsibilities of human capital operating partners & talent partners: what does “great” look like today and what will it look like in the future?
- Has the talent function/team grown at your firm? What does your internal team look like?
- What are the skills and capabilities to have ‘in-house’ and what are models for the external ecosystem to consider?
- The evolving talent function: what are you doing to “innovate” and scale the function and what are the implications for private equity?
- What sort of support are you providing to portfolio companies around talent management/optimization? How have you seen that evolve over the last few years?
Moderator:
Rena Frackt Zimmerman, Managing Director and Head of Client Coverage, BluWave
Panelists:
Mara Edgar, Managing Director, Human Capital, The Riverside Company
Jimmy Holloran, Partner – Talent, American Industrial Partners
Melissa Mounce, Managing Director, Leadership Talent and Diversity, GTCR
Chris Trendler, Managing Director, Head of Portfolio Talent, Madison Dearborn Partners
10:20 - 11:00
Operating partner human capital strategies across the entire investment lifecycle
Mugdha Narasimhan ,
Neel Bhatia ,
Courtney della Cava,
Coley Florance,
Karina Sobieski
- Playbooks in developing human capital strategies throughout the various stages
- When, how, and to what extent do talent partners get involved in the lifecycle
- Pre-deal best practices and talent due diligence: operating partner lessons learned
- Team alignment on strategic direction to execute the investment thesis
- How to think about creating value through human capital in the first 100 days
- Operating during the hold period in the current market
- Talent management best practices for the exit
- Comparing differences and approaches in sectors and industries
Moderator:
Mugdha Narasimhan, Managing Director, Entromy
Panelists:
Neel Bhatia, Operating Partner, Talent, Arcline Investment Management
Courtney della Cava, Senior Managing Director, Global Head of Portfolio Talent and Organizational Performance, Blackstone
Coley Florance, Head of Talent, Spectrum Equity
Karina Sobieski, Director, Portfolio Human Capital, Advent International
Courtney della Cava
Senior Managing Director, Global Head of Portfolio Talent and Organizational Performance, Blackstone
Read bio
11:00 - 11:40
The modern C-suite: uncovering the right leaders for turbulent economic times
Ted Bililies,
Amanda Baldwin,
Natalie Leone,
Steven Maxwell,
Norty Turner
- How has the profile of executives changed in this economy and what types of leaders are needed?
- Wartime CEOs: how do you lead in turbulent times? How are you dealing with headwinds?
- PE operating partners: what have you changed in terms of who you look for? How can CEOs meet expectations? What are the most critical CEO skills in times of disruption?
- How do you manage talent through this type of environment with current hold periods?
- PE-CEO dynamics: How do you work together efficiently? How have relationships evolved over the past 12 months?
- What are the unique tensions faced but rarely discussed? What are the primary challenges experienced when dealing with investors?
Moderator:
Ted Bililies, Partner and Managing Director, AlixPartners
Panelists:
Amanda Baldwin, CEO, Supergoop!
Natalie Leone, Managing Director, Portfolio Talent, Centerbridge Partners
Steven Maxwell, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Human Capital, Audax Private Equity
Norty Turner, CEO, RESA Power
Networking coffee break
11:40 - 12:10
Networking coffee break
INTERACTIVE WORKING GROUPS SERIES 1
12:10 - 12:50
Interactive Working Group 1 (for operating partners only) — Workforce compensation modern trends: operating partners share thoughts
Melissa Grim
This deep dive discussion designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators:
- Inflationary and recessionary pressures on compensation — how do you get the best talent in this market while staying within budget? How are you working with search firms? Any advice to your portfolio company CEOs?
- How are you motivating and incentivizing employees to retain them in this environment? Have you shifted bonus/incentive metrics, payment timing, or the ratio to base compensation?
- How are you thinking about rewards including work life balance?
- Impact of new pay transparency laws: how are you handling it? How are you advising your portfolio companies on it? What’s working and what’s not?
- How are PE firms thinking about pay equity nowadays: do you see that shifting?
- How are PE firms thinking about noncompetes and restrictive covenants, particularly after the FTC’s proposed ban?
- Have you seen any movement or push for equity participation or equity-like compensation by employees below the executive and c-suite level?
Facilitator:
Melissa Grim, Leader, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group, Honigman LLP
12:10 - 12:50
Interactive Working Group 2 (for operating partners only) — Culture as a driving force in the current talent market
Greg Harmeyer,
Laura Hoppa
This deep dive discussion designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators:
- Considering our current labor market, how does culture matter more now? Which culture initiatives should be prioritized?
- Sharing specific examples where great culture has mitigated labor market challenges
- Culture as part of your retention and compensation plans
- Culture in the due diligence phase: when you are evaluating a prospective portfolio company for the first time, what are some early indicators of cultural health?
- Describing culture’s role in executing on the investment thesis and value creation plan
- Can you share cultural transformation war stories and the challenges of misaligned culture you have faced?
- How do you maintain culture in a remote/hybrid world and across geographies? How do you ensure your culture resonates with the leaders?
- What effective tools, metrics, and information are you using to evaluate your portco’s culture on an ongoing basis?
Facilitators:
Greg Harmeyer, CEO and Co-Founder, TiER1 Performance
Laura Hoppa, Principal, TiER1 Performance
12:10 - 12:50
Interactive Working Group 3 (for operating partners only) — How to spot and develop high-potential talent in your organizations
Alan Foster
This deep dive discussion designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators:
- Succession planning: how to identify and develop your next-gen leaders
- Evaluate whether a management team will be able to scale successfully as the businesses grows
- Uncover models to predict leadership potential through measurable behaviors and traits
- Learn how to assess for Cognitive Quotient (CQ) in how they leverage their intellect, Drive Quotient (DQ) in what motivates them and how they apply their energy, Emotional Quotient (EQ) in how they interact with those around them
- Deploy the models with concrete and objective ways regardless of candidates’ depth of experience
Facilitator:
Alan Foster, Partner, ghSMART
Networking lunch
12:50 - 14:00
Networking lunch
BREAKOUTS I
14:00 - 14:40
Track 1 PE portco case study: a journey of organic growth through high-performance culture and committed leadership
Keith Giarman,
Steve Hill
Led by Steve Hill as CEO with two private equity sponsors over the course of 8 years, Thermacell is a journey of impressive organic growth where thoughtful capital allocation, strategic playmaking and, notably, human capital were instrumental in its success. Committed to a high-performance culture where collaboration and accountability were the mantra, Steve continued as CEO in the transition of ownership between PE firms. Many players were essential in the journey, but two stand out, the COO and CFO. This business case will elucidate the key issues faced by Steve and his team and how they navigated their way to success.
Presenters:
Keith Giarman, Managing Partner, Global Private Equity Practice, DHR Global
Steve Hill, Former CEO, Thermacell
14:00 - 14:40
Track 2 Workforce analytics: tools, technologies, and metrics for success
Paul Zeiter,
Emily Azevedo,
Angela Geffre,
Samantha Lassoff,
Ann Ruble
- What are the leading human capital indicators of performance and how have they changed?
- What tools and/or data sources are you using to select the best leaders for your portfolio companies? What performance indicators do you look for when identifying talent internally or externally?
- How are you measuring how management teams perform?
- AI, KPIs, metrics and data science for talent development and assessments: technologies used to build and assess teams
- What tools are you using when it comes to automation?
- To what extent are you using people analytics to understand your business, make strategic decisions, and drive business processes across the different phases of investment lifecycle?
- What tools are you using to help HR with the lower and mid-level talent execution plan?
- What technology do you utilize for org structure management: to report on standard roles, people costs, demographics, and opportunities to drive value or synergies and workforce planning?
- How do you view employee engagement as a metric? How do you measure this at an executive level?
- Do you see any shifts as it pertains to DE&I? Where does this sit in terms of priorities for your portfolio companies? Do you believe they have the tools to understand how they are performing in this area?
Moderator:
Paul Zeiter, Chief Revenue Officer, Hibob
Panelists:
Emily Azevedo, Operating Partner and Head of Talent, Mainsail Partners
Angela Geffre, Head of Human Capital, GrowthCurve Capital
Samantha Lassoff, Vice President, Portfolio Talent and Organizational Performance, Blackstone
Ann Ruble, Operating Partner, Two Sigma Impact
Samantha Lassoff
Vice President, Portfolio Talent and Organizational Performance, Blackstone
Read bio
BREAKOUTS II
14:40 - 15:20
Track 3 Sharing fractional and interim work models: how are you doing it?
Morgan McKeown,
Thom McLeod
- Sharing specific examples and portco case studies of how it’s done efficiently
- Understanding why interim and fractional roles are on the rise
- Best practices with interim executives: how to ensure it’s setup for success beyond the short term deliverables
- What roles should you not have as interim or fractional?
- PE firms compare models: what works and what doesn’t?
Presenters:
Morgan McKeown, Talent Operating Advisor, GS Value Accelerator, Goldman Sachs
Thom McLeod, Founder and Managing Director, Tenzing
14:40 - 15:20
Track 4 Human capital due diligence: uncovering the people side of the deal
Marc Prine,
Jon Davies,
Jimmy Holloran,
Michelle Nasir ,
Kim Powell
- Understanding how the operating team and investment team work together in looking at human capital due diligence
- Operational due diligence stories: pre-deal assessments of talent and the leadership team
- Due diligence’s importance in setting the stage for the first 100 days
- Key elements in looking at cultural assessments and integration
- Due diligence in the current market and economy
- In the diligence phase, what data are you collecting?
- Uncovering human capital risks and red flags during diligence
- Working with the right partners and resources in the diligence phase
Moderator:
Marc Prine, Senior Advisor, 29Bison
Panelists:
Jon Davies, Managing Director, Head of Talent, Lightyear Capital
Jimmy Holloran, Partner – Talent, American Industrial Partners
Michelle Nasir, Chief Talent Officer, Arsenal Capital Partners
Kim Powell, Operating Partner, Talent, Resolve Growth
BREAKOUTS III
15:20 - 16:00
Track 5 Accelerating value creation: 100-day human capital action plans for success
Chris Smith,
Nathan Fabian,
Danie Levy,
Kate Migliaro,
Kristin Schroeder
- What are your top 3 initiatives in the early months at your portfolio companies? How are you accelerating your plan?
- What’s most challenging and different in your 100-day talent action plans in the current environment?
- What to do and what not to do in the first 100 days post close
- How do you engage and provide support to your portfolio companies in the first 100 days?
- Understanding organizational culture as part of 100-day plans
Moderator:
Chris Smith, Partner, Leathwaite
Panelists:
Nathan Fabian, Head of Organization Scaling, WestCap
Danie Levy, Principal, The Carlyle Group
Kate Migliaro, Global Head of Portfolio Talent, Searchlight Capital Partners
Kristin Schroeder, Operating Partner, Talent, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe
15:20 - 16:00
Track 6 DE&I in Private Equity: where are we now?
Dannie Diego,
Sachi Blue-Smith,
Susan Edwards,
Robert Murray,
Nicole Strait
- How is the current economic environment affecting your DE&I initiatives? What has changed in the past 18 months?
- Has DE&I been a priority within your portfolio companies? Which DE&I initiatives have you focused on primarily? What is actionable?
- How do you identify, measure, and utilize your DE&I metrics?
- Sharing DE&I maps and strategies and how to execute it all
Moderator:
Dannie Diego, Private Capital Development Director, Insperity
Panelists:
Sachi Blue-Smith, Chief People Officer, Galvanize Climate Solutions
Susan Edwards, Operating Director, DEI and Impact, The Vistria Group
Robert Murray, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Human Capital, Audax Private Equity
Nicole Strait, Chief of Organization Strategy, Norwest Equity Partners
BREAKOUTS IV
16:00 - 16:40
Track 7 Winning the war for tech talent: leveling up tech know-how in today’s market
Anil Malhotra,
Katie Czerepak,
Brian Kasser,
Debra Somers
- How to find experienced and innovative tech leaders: identifying and accelerating individuals that have what it takes to deliver what is needed in tech from the top down and the bottom up
- What newly created digital roles have you created at your companies? What tech skill sets will be required in the digital future?
- Understanding how leaders must have a vision for where technology is headed to drive innovation, growth, and value
- Overcoming the challenges of scarcity in tech talent – how do you deal with it?
- Comparing models in how digital talent is built and then employed to deliver value
Moderator:
Anil Malhotra, Founder and CEO, Safebox
Panelists:
Katie Czerepak, Head of Talent, Portfolio Tech Opportunities, Bain Capital
Brian Kasser, Talent Partner, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe
Debra Somers, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Recruitment, Warburg Pincus
16:00 - 16:40
Track 8 - The modern CFO: recruitment, training, and development best practices
Rob Kjar,
Cordelia Dolan,
Kristin Brown Patrick,
Diana Martz
- Recruiting top CFO talent for PE-backed companies: what makes a good candidate as a CFO for a PE-backed company?
- What is your greatest challenge when it comes to recruiting brilliant portfolio CFOs?
- How to assess CFOs in looking at different stages of the investment lifecycle
- How can CFOs drive the value creation plan? What are major challenges for CFOs in looking at the current environment?
- CFO-PE dynamics: alignment and development best practices
Moderator:
Rob Kjar, Senior Managing Consultant, Vaya Group
Panelists:
Cordelia Dolan, Global Head of Portfolio Talent, Investindustrial
Kristin Patrick, Senior Operating Partner, Human Capital, New State Capital Partners
Diana Martz, Senior Vice President, Human Capital – Strategic Resource Group, TA Associates
Networking break
16:40 - 16:50
Networking coffee break
INTERACTIVE WORKING GROUPS SERIES 2
16:50 - 17:30
Interactive Working Group 4 (for operating partners only) — Playbooks in the current economy: impact of a downturn/recession on the human capital function
Scott Jacobs
This deep dive discussion designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators:
- How do you demonstrate and convince stakeholders about the value of human capital best practices and the function in this economy
- What is the effect of the recession on your role and how you are working with portfolio companies? How are you advising them? What do they need now? How are you changing your approach?
- In which areas can you be most impactful in such an environment to not allow the recession to affect you
- What are the lessons learned in looking at mistakes of previous recessions/downturns
- How do you grow in this environment from a talent point of view: how are you helping your portcos to optimize given the uncertainty?
- What do you foresee for the remainder of 2023?
Facilitator:
Scott Jacobs, Partner, Acertitude
16:50 - 17:30
Interactive Working Group 5 (for operating partners only) — What makes a great talent partner/human capital operating partner team?
Katie Kaiser,
Ruthanne Roth
This deep dive discussion designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators:
- Discussing the breadth of the role everyone plays and how your team’s work is intertwined or coordinated in delivery value creation
- Understanding the evolving role of the human capital function in PE: what is it today and what will it be? What does great look like? How do you drive faster execution?
- What are the right capabilities in looking at your model and teams: what works and what doesn’t?
- How does this role scale? How do you build teams to scale?
- Uncovering networks of human capital inside PE: how do you work with and manage internal and external partners
Facilitators:
Katie Kaiser, Executive Vice President, Human Capital, Serent Capital
Ruthanne Roth, Founder and Managing Partner, Aster Talent
End of day 1 and networking cocktail reception
17:30 - 18:30
Networking cocktail reception
Agenda
2023 Agenda Day 2 - Thursday 30th
Registration and breakfast
07:30 - 07:45
Registration and breakfast
07:45 - 08:30
Human capital deep dive breakfast discussion (for operating partners only) —Leadership development: coaching management teams effectively in the current economy
Ted Bililies,
Clark Perry,
Joanne Taylor
This deep dive discussion designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators:
- How do you think about building a management team to deal with a downturn and how that management team forms cohesion?
- How are you supporting new portco leaders as well as leaders new to PE? How do you educate PE CEOs to become PE fluent?
- What steps do you take in establishing productive relationships with leadership teams across the deal lifecycle to help them operate most effectively?
- What does the next generation CEO look like? What can be done to identify that next generation and coach them?
- Leadership training & development program stories: what do you prioritize? How do you track C suite performance? Can you share stories of what works and what doesn’t?
- Dealing with weaknesses of leadership teams: developing the current C suite vs. replacing the C suite
Facilitators:
Ted Bililies, Partner and Managing Director, AlixPartners
Clark Perry, Partner, AlixPartners
Joanne Taylor, Managing Director, AlixPartners
08:30 - 09:25
Think tanks for full-time operating partners — talent value creation war room (for operating partners only)
Ashley Day,
David Cohen,
Anish Batlaw,
Christopher Kim
This closed-door discussion will allow you to learn and share best practices of successful human capital and talent operational models. The think tank will also allow you to submit topics in advance to be covered in the room in looking at what the future holds for PE talent value creation models. Please select one of the two rooms based on portfolio company size:
Think Tank Room 1
Mid-Market
Facilitators:
David Cohen, Partner, Human Capital, Kelso
Ashley Day, Operating Partner – Human Capital, FFL Partners
Think Tank Room 2
Large Cap
Facilitators:
Anish Batlaw, Managing Director, General Atlantic
Christopher Kim, Principal, Head of Human Capital, Platinum Equity
09:25 - 09:30
Chairman's welcome
Tony Buffum
Chairman:
Tony Buffum, Vice President of HR Client Strategy, Upwork
Plenary sessions
09:30 - 10:10
Workforce transformations: how to build a digital culture at your companies
Nick Maglaris,
Katie Czerepak,
Amar Ghai,
Misha Logvinov,
Steve Schloss
• Operating partners share stories of innovation and how culture drives transformations
• What does a healthy and effective digital culture look like?
• How to digitize with human capital in accelerating the business: looking at the people you need in each of its functions
• Uncovering the skills and traits needed from your leaders in establishing effective digital cultures
Moderator:
Nick Maglaris,Vice President – Midmarket Strategic Initiatives, SAP
Panelists:
Katie Czerepak, Head of Talent, Portfolio Tech Opportunities, Bain Capital
Amar Ghai, Head of Digital Value Creation (Americas), KKR
Misha Logvinov, Managing Director, Head of Technology Strategy, EQT
Steve Schloss, Operating Partner, Edison Partners
10:10 - 10:50
CHRO perspectives: an inside look at PE operating partner-CHRO dynamics
Tony Buffum,
Scott Carroll,
Jeff Ostermann,
Randy Patterson
- With respect to your role as CHRO and the relationship with PE, what works best and what is most challenging? Why?
- In what ways do you have the greatest impact on providing strategic alignment and delivery of the value creation plan?
- Regardless of industry, economic/market conditions for the next year or two will be unpredictable and dynamic: how are you managing that now and preparing for it looking forward? What are you seeing already? In what ways is this impacting your talent strategies, compensation planning and engagement/retention strategies?
- Remote work has been a hot topic now for the last couple of years and is still top of mind for leaders. What is your current approach and how do you expect that to change over the next year or so?
- Company culture is always a critical component for driving value in companies – what are you leading now and through the next year related to culture?
- What are some creative and innovative initiatives you are driving or evaluating to address these key areas of talent, compensation, engagement and culture?
Moderator:
Tony Buffum, Vice President of HR Client Strategy, Upwork
Panelists:
Scott Carroll, Chief Human Resources Officer, GCT Global Container Terminals
Jeff Ostermann, Chief People Officer, Sweetwater
Randy Patterson, Managing Director, Human Capital, Portfolio Operations Group, Blackstone
10:50 - 11:30
Effective talent acquisition and retention strategies in the current environment
Dwight Cooper,
Steven Berman,
Wes Cole,
Jamie Jacobs,
John Knapp
- Developing efficiency/optimization in recruiting: advanced strategies in talent acquisition
- What is your greatest challenge when it comes to recruiting in this environment?
- How do you get searches done faster: working with search firms to get it done faster
- What are you doing at the lower, mid-level and senior level to attract talent? How do you confidently hire the right people that ensure alignment?
- How do you hire versatile people in this economy?
- How are you dealing with layoffs in the current market?
- Understanding the root causes of high turnover and what retention strategies improve turnover
- Looking at how workplace culture and employee value proposition go hand in hand with retention: understanding what your values are to retain people
- How has the remote mindset impacted your hiring plans?
- Sharing concrete examples of leveraging networks, tools, and technology for recruiting
Moderator:
Dwight Cooper, Founder and Executive Chairman, Hueman
Panelists:
Steven Berman, Executive Search Director, Accel-KKR
Wes Cole, Portfolio Talent Lead, GS Value Accelerator, Goldman Sachs
Jamie Jacobs, Chief Talent Officer, Oak Hill Capital
John Knapp, Operating Director, Portfolio Talent, Berkshire Partners
Networking break
11:30 - 11:50
Networking break
INTERACTIVE WORKING SERIES 3
11:50 - 12:30
Interactive Working Group 6 (for operating partners only) — Employee benefits: value creation in the benefits space: how to take control and keep control — myth buster approach
Todd Miller,
John Weaver
This deep dive discussion designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive roundtable discussion with designated facilitators:
- Saving money requires cost shifting and/or reducing benefits
- Private Equity firms should aggregate the benefits spend across the portfolio to achieve economies of scale
- PE firms/portfolio companies understand broker compensation and how my broker is different
- A claim is a claim is a claim
- We can’t afford all of the HR initiatives that we need
Facilitators:
Todd Miller, CEO, Risk International
John Weaver, Senior Director, Risk International
11:50 - 12:30
Interactive Working Group 7 (for operating partners only) — The future of work: where are we now?
Burton Francis,
Steven Maxwell
This deep dive discussion designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive roundtable discussion with designated facilitators:
- Operating partners share war stories of where we are now: what has been working and what hasn’t?
- Return to work: who is doing it and who is not? Is your workforce still productive?
- Sharing perspectives on hybrid work models and work/life balance for employees
- Understanding how the balance of power has shifted with the employees
- How is the future of work going to evolve: where are we headed? What is the next generation workforce looking for?
- What does workforce development in the age of digital look like now and in the future for you and your companies?
- How can companies maintain and grow company culture in a remote/hybrid world? How does it affect promotions tied to performance?
- Looking at top challenges and opportunities for HR teams
Facilitators:
Burton Francis, Managing Director, ECA
Steven Maxwell, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Human Capital, Audax Private Equity
11:50 - 12:30
Interactive Working Group 8 (for operating partners only) — The new differentiating capabilities of the future CHRO function in portfolio companies: what operating partners need to think about
Alexander Jakobson ,
Randi Moran
This deep dive discussion designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators:
- What expectations do deal professionals have for the portfolio CHROs of tomorrow?
- What challenges do portfolio CHROs face today?
- How can CHROs speak and enable the language of Private Equity to engage talent after close?
- What expectations exist of CHROs to enable a data-driven foundation of metrics to help drive decisions, from the strategic to the transactional?
- What levers matter most during the hold period (cost and availability of labor pools, leadership bench, speed of upskilling, recruitment, retention, engagement, DEI, technology, etc.) and how should they be tracked?
- What can CHROs do to drive up exit valuations?
Facilitator:
Alex Jakobson, Deals Partner, PwC Consulting – Private Equity, PwC
Randi Moran, Chief Performance Officer, Angeles Equity Partners
Networking lunch
12:30 - 13:30
Networking lunch
12:30 - 13:30
Women in PE & VC portfolio operations lunch (invitation-only for operating partners)
Helen Crossen,
Sandy Fiaschetti,
Alice Mann
This closed-door discussion will explore what it’s like being a woman in PE and VC portfolio operations:
- What are the issues causing a disparity in genders?
- Exploring career paths, development, and how to position yourself as female leaders
- Is your firm focused on women’s leadership at portfolio companies?
- Does your firm have any specific programs, leadership coaching and assessments geared towards promoting women’s leadership?
- Are there any changes in recruiting that will create a more equal playing field?
- Looking at trends and stats in gender in PE and VC
Facilitators:
Helen Crossen, Managing Director – Portfolio Talent, Onex
Sandy Fiaschetti, Founder and Managing Partner, Lodestone People Consulting
Alice Mann, Former Partner, Human Capital
BREAKOUTS V
13:30 - 14:10
Track 9 - Tactical elements of board composition and optimization
Diane McIntyre,
Tracey Abbott,
Kate Berkeley,
Merche Del Valle
- How do you think about how to structure boards? How do you use it to augment the management team and what is the secret to the best board/CEO relationship?
- Comparing board dynamics in looking at compensation, sizes of boards, and roles
- Board resiliency in the current environment
- Are operating partners on your boards? Should operating partners be on boards?
- Board diversity: practical examples of what needs to be built out
- What initiatives are you driving for women on boards across portcos? What can be done better?
Moderator:
Diane McIntyre, CEO, People Advisory, U.S., Teneo
Panelists:
Tracey Abbott, Director, Mubadala Performance Partners, Mubadala
Kate Berkeley, Managing Director, Talent, Gryphon Investors
Merche del Valle, Former Chief Talent Officer and Chief HR Officer
13:30 - 14:10
Track 10 - Why Ownership Works: Driving better outcomes for investors and workers through broad-based employee ownership programs
Anna-Lisa Miller,
Anne Arlinghaus,
Graham Thomas
- Learn how sharing equity participation and building a culture of ownership can align the interests of investors and workers and drive better financial outcomes for all
- Hear case studies from KKR of successful shared ownership programs that have helped companies improve employee engagement, reduce turnover, and drive operational improvements
- Learn how Ownership Works – a nonprofit organization partnered with 22 private equity firms – helps companies implement shared ownership programs and measure impact
Presenters:
Anne Arlinghaus, Managing Director – Co-Head of Americas, KKR Capstone
Anna-Lisa Miller, Executive Director, Ownership Works
Graham Thomas, Principal, KKR Capstone
Plenary mid-day sessions
14:10 - 14:50
Organizational design and effectiveness: operating partner perspectives
Andros Payne,
Peter Allen,
Damon Beyer,
Jen Golnick,
Geri House
- Designing environments that support the new strategy and promote high performance in people
- Are there trends that you see impacting the way you think about organizational design?
- At what point do you typically get involved in organizational design with your portfolio companies?
- How do you assess if the organizational design is delivering on its intended purpose? Are there specific KPIs that you utilize?
- What type of leadership is required to achieve the goals of the organizational structure?
- Understanding how organizational development and change can be accelerated
- What should you be looking at from an org design point of view when you are approaching exit?
- What are the common pitfalls and challenges? What have been the most important lessons you have learned?
Moderator:
Andros Payne, Founder, Humatica
Panelists:
Peter Allen, Chief People Officer and Managing Director, APL Group
Damon Beyer, Managing Director, Portfolio Talent, Warburg Pincus
Jen Golnick, Talent Lead, Point72 Hyperscale
Geri House, Chief People Officer, Platform Partners
14:50 - 15:30
Women in PE & VC portfolio operations panel: revealing key talking points from the event’s closed-door lunch discussion
Sandy Fiaschetti,
Helen Crossen,
Alice Mann
For the very first time, this insightful panel will reveal the key discussion points from the event’s closed-door women’s lunch discussion with the entire audience. Please join the main room to learn what matters most to the industry and how progress can be achieved.
Moderator:
Sandy Fiaschetti, Founder and Managing Partner, Lodestone People Consulting
Panelists:
Helen Crossen, Managing Director – Portfolio Talent, Onex
Alice Mann, Former Partner, Human Capital
Closing remarks and end of conference
15:30 - 15:40
Closing remarks and end of conference
Pre-Event Resources
2024 Speakers
For speaking opportunities, contact Marc Mele at marc.m@pei.group or call +1 646 581 9295.
Dana Allen
Managing Director, Talent, Gauge Capital
Dana is the Managing Director, Talent at Gauge Capital. He leads the firm’s human capital efforts, advising the firm and portfolio on building and enhancing leadership teams and boards to drive value-creation. Prior to joining Gauge, Dana was an exec… Read full bio
Emily Azevedo
Operating Partner and Head of Talent, Mainsail Partners
Emily is an Operating Partner and head of talent at Mainsail Partners, a growth equity firm that partners with founders of bootstrapped software companies to help them realize their potential. For nearly 20 years, Mainsail has been helping management… Read full bio
Kate Berkeley
Managing Director, Talent, Gryphon Investors
Kate joined Gryphon Investors in 2020 as a Managing Director to lead and scale the firm’s talent acquisition capabilities, both internally at Gryphon and externally with Gryphon portfolio companies. She is also Co-Head of Gryphon’s Diversity, Equity… Read full bio
Steven Berman
Executive Search Director, Accel-KKR
Steven Berman leads the Accel-KKR’s executive search function. Working with deal teams and portfolio companies to drive value by having the right people in the right seats. For over two decades, Accel-KKR has leveraged our vast pool of resources and… Read full bio
Tony Buffum
Vice President of HR Client Strategy, Upwork
Tony Buffum is VP of HR Client Strategy at Upwork. As a key member of the senior-level executive client strategy team, Buffum is responsible for accelerating growth of current and prospective Upwork enterprise clients, helping them solve HR challenge… Read full bio
Kelly Carlson
Managing Director, Head of Talent, STG Partners
Kelly Carlson is Managing Director, Head of Talent with STG, where she is leading the firm’s talent efforts, working across the portfolio to attract CEOs and executive leadership teams to drive results. Kelly’s mandate includes the curation of a CEO… Read full bio
David Cohen
Partner, Human Capital, Kelso
David joined Kelso in 2019. He is focused on applying talent and human capital best practices to enhancing the firm’s investment process, portfolio companies and Kelso Specialist Network. He spent the preceding nine years with American Securities in… Read full bio
Ashley Day
Operating Partner - Human Capital, FFL Partners
Ashley Day, PhD, joined FFL in 2021. Ashley works closely with FFL's portfolio companies advising them on all aspects of talent management including recruiting, compensation, succession planning, retention, team building, and performance management.… Read full bio
Camille DeLaite
Operating Partner, Talent, Charlesbank Capital Partners
Camille joined Charlesbank in 2018 as an Operating Partner focused on Talent. She partners with the Charlesbank portfolio companies to create value through people, focusing on organizational due diligence, building outstanding leadership teams, and d… Read full bio
Mara Edgar
Managing Director, Human Capital, The Riverside Company
Mara Lamoureux Edgar is the Managing Director, Human Capital at The Riverside Company where she leads portfolio talent strategy and company value creation on behalf of the Riverside Capital Appreciation Fund. Mara has lead HR and Talent functions for… Read full bio
Dan Hawkins
Founder and CEO, Summit Leadership Partners
Dan is the CEO and Founder of Summit Leadership Partners. He advises boards, CEO's, investors and business leaders on strategy execution and value creation through leadership and organizationperformance. After a successful corporate career, Dan found… Read full bio
Jimmy Holloran
Partner – Talent, American Industrial Partners
Jimmy joined American Industrial Partners in 2023. He most recently served as Operating Partner at ParkerGale Capital where he led the the firm's talent strategy. Previously, he spent time driving talent strategy at Home Chef, an L Catterton-backed m… Read full bio
Christopher Kim
Principal, Head of Human Capital, Platinum Equity
Chris Kim is a Principal and leads the Human Capital Management team, which is responsible for performing diligence on all Human Capital aspects of prospective additions to the Platinum Equity portfolio. Chris also has responsibilities in ensuring a… Read full bio
John Knapp
Operating Director, Talent, Berkshire Partners
John Knapp is an Operating Director and Talent Specialist in Berkshire Partners’ Portfolio Support Group, where he focuses on talent leadership and human capital best practices across the portfolio. Prior to joining Berkshire, John was a Partner with… Read full bio
Steven Maxwell
Senior Vice President, Portfolio Human Capital, Audax Private Equity
Steve is a Senior Vice President for Audax Private Equity where he leads Portfolio Human Capital. Previously, he was the Talent Partner at Kodiak Venture Partners. Steve also worked in the executive search industry at Korn Ferry and Russell Reynolds,… Read full bio
Morgan McKeown
Talent Operating Advisor, Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Since 2019, Morgan has served as a Talent Operating Advisor for the Goldman Sachs Value Accelerator, partnering with portfolio companies and investment professionals to create value through enhanced leadership performance. He supports a wide range of… Read full bio
Sean Mooney
Founder and CEO, BluWave
Sean is a former NY-based private equity partner turned entrepreneur, founder and CEO. While in private equity, Sean and his peers in the PE industry experienced significant and growing pressures to devise new ways to more effectively assess opportun… Read full bio
Melissa Mounce
Managing Director, Leadership Talent and Diversity, GTCR
Melissa joined GTCR in 2019 as a Managing Director, Leadership Talent ＆ Diversity. She advises GTCR portfolio companies on human resources initiatives and leads DEI initiatives across the portfolio companies, at the Board level and within the firm. M… Read full bio
Michelle Nasir
Chief Talent Officer, Arsenal Capital Partners
Michelle Nasir is Arsenal Capital Partners Chief Talent Officer (CTO), where she leads the firm’s Human Capital efforts (people, culture, organization, and performance). Michelle’s expertise includes M&A due diligence, executive coaching, success… Read full bio
Kristin Brown Patrick
Senior Operating Partner, Human Capital, New State Capital Partners
Kristin joined New State Capital Partners four years ago as Senior Operating Partner, Human Capital with more than 25 years of hands-on growth strategy, executive search, talent acquisition and talent development experience. New State takes a hands-o… Read full bio
Karina Sobieski
Co-head, Portfolio Human Capital Practice, Advent International
Karina Sobieski joined Advent in 2021 and focuses on Human Capital Management across Advent’s portfolio companies, including leadership assessment, and growing and cultivating network of top senior executives for CXO, Board and Operating Advisor role… Read full bio
Chris Trendler
Managing Director, Head of Portfolio Talent, Madison Dearborn Partners
Chris Trendler is a Managing Director and the Head of Portfolio Talent for the firm, responsible for leading the firm's talent strategy across the portfolio. Prior to joining MDP in 2021, Chris was a Partner at ghSMART and Company, where he advised i… Read full bio
Allison Walker
Partner and Chief Talent Officer, FTV Capital
As Partner & Chief Talent Officer, Ali leads internal talent initiatives at FTV Capital and provides comprehensive talent advisory services to the firm’s portfolio companies as part of FTV’s value creation platform, FTV Propel®. Prior to joining… Read full bio
Meet the largest community of talent operators
Private Equity International’s Operating Partners Forums are a unique blend of networking, collaboration, and thought leadership between private equity operating partners, portfolio operations teams, and sponsors.
Each event is custom designed to encourage conversation about value creation best practices, relationship building, and knowledge sharing across functional areas on the most pressing issues facing investment and portfolio companies. Access to the Forum is limited to value creation experts from private equity firms and sponsors.
For more information on ways to engage with PEI’s Operating Partners community, please contact Lawrence Dvorchik at lawrence.d@pei.group or call on +1 (646) 545-4429
Venue and hotel
Kimpton Muse Hotel
130 West 46th Street
New York, 10036
Explore our exclusive operating partner networking
Expand your relationships and build your network with our operating partner exclusive events taking place throughout the Forum.
Join our community of the brightest leaders in human capital value creation that will help you in your day-to-day operations.
Pre-conference networking
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Operating Partners Human Capital Forum Welcome Reception (invitation-only)
5:30 – 7:45 pm
Join the talent operating partners attending the Human Capital Forum in a relaxed setting to build your connections before the conference kicks off. Our annual reception is a great opportunity to gather together as a community for craft cocktails and gourmet fare.
Operating Partners Human Capital Forum Dinner (invitation-only)
7:45 – 9:00 pm
Join us as we welcome all the attending operating partners for a private sit-down dinner to facilitate networking before the conference. Increase your connections and exchange ideas with leaders in value creation.
Day 1 reception
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Operating Partners Human Capital Forum Day 1 Networking Reception
5:30-6:30 pm
Venue: Convene, 117 W 46th St
Our grand reception will allow you to chat and get to know your peers better at the end of the first day of the Forum. Hear what is on everyone’s mind after a full day of valuable insights.
Day 2 breakfast and lunch
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Human Capital Deep Dive Breakfast (operating partners only)
7:45-8:30am
Venue: Convene, 117 W 46th St
This breakfast deep dive discussion designed solely for operating partners will focus on the most important value creation issues affecting human capital operating partners.
Women in PE Portfolio Operations Lunch (invitation-only)
12:30-1:30 pm
Venue: Convene, 117 W 46th St
This closed-door lunch discussion will explore what it’s like being a woman in PE portfolio operations. Join this interactive session for an inside look at women’s leadership in PE: challenges and opportunities.
Featured interactive discussions & networking opportunities
Think Tank Sessions
The closed-door session led by human capital operating partners for operating partners only will allow you to engage in lively discussions with your peers. The thinks tanks will also allow you to submit topics to be covered in looking at the best value creation practices.
Interactive Working Groups
These exclusive deep dive discussions only available to operating partners allow you to participate in interactive roundtable discussions with designated facilitators.