Shape the future of talent value creation

At a critical time in the economic cycle, uncover how leading PE firms are driving value creation through human capital.
Join 250+ operating specialists at the Operating Partners Human Capital Forum to connect, collaborate, and empower your talent team for the future.

Save $710+ when you book before December 12


“It was such a great experience deepening relationships across such a collaborative community.”

Joe Schuster
SVP, Talent, Tide Rock

“Tremendous event. This is where we push forward value creation through human capital.”

Jimmy Holloran
Partner and Head of Talent, American Industrial Partners

“This was my first PEI Forum and it was a great event to build my network and learn from others in the OP role.”

Mike Rude
OP, Cressey & Company

Join discussions with leading PE operating specialists

Uncover key strategies to accelerate transformation through human capital, including:

  • Tactical sessions on managing CEO annual reviews
  • The impact of the macro climate on the talent function
  • Real world AI case studies for human capital specialists
  • The CEO perspective on the talent function
  • Examining the impact of tech on human capital
  • Heads of value creation insights into operating models
  • And more…

View the agenda

How does your compensation compare?

The Operating Partners Compensation Survey provides a temperature check of the market and aggregates the responses of 300+ operating partners across:

  • Team make-up
  • Compensation
  • Incentive packages
  • Portfolio company engagement
  • And more…

Meet the largest assembly of talent value creators

Accel-KKR
Advent International
American Industrial Partners
Arcline Investment Management
Argosy Capital Group
Arsenal Capital Partners
Ascend Partners
Aterian Investment Partners
Audax Group
Bain Capital
Berkshire Partners
Blackstone
The Carlyle Group
Centerbridge Partners
Crestview Partners
Dyal Capital
EQT Partners
FFL Partners
Frazier Healthcare Partners
Gauge Capital
General Atlantic
Generate Capital
Georgian Partners
Goldman Sachs
Great Hill Partners
Gryphon Investors
GTCR
HCI Equity Partners
HGGC
H.I.G. Capital
JLL Partners
JMI Equity
Kelso & Company
Keystone Capital Management
Leonard Green
Level Equity Management
LightBay Capital
Lightyear Capital
Madison Dearborn Partners
Mainsail Partners
MidOcean Partners
Mubadala
New State Capital Partners
Norwest Equity Partners
Oak Hill Capital
One Rock Capital
Onex
Paine Schwartz Partners
ParkerGale
Platform Partners
Platinum Equity
Prairie Capital
PSG
Resolve Growth
Rotunda Capital Partners
Searchlight Capital Partners
Serent Capital
Sheridan Capital Partners
Spectrum Equity
Summit Partners
Sycamore Partners
Ta Associates
Tailwind Capital
The Riverside Company
The Sterling Group
Thomas H Lee Partners
Thompson Street Capital
TJC
TowerBrook
Trivest Partners
Vector Capital
Vistria Group
Warburg Pincus
Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe
WestCap
Wind Point Partners

Speakers

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View all speakers

“This was an incredible opportunity to step away from the day to day hustle and devote time to my own professional development by connecting and learning from my peers in the industry. I truly forgot the value that can come from being in the room with those who are in a similar position – even if our firms are of different size & scale and industry focus.”

Angie Krtnick Complin
Talent Director, Granite Partners

The event agenda covers human capital value creation challenges and opportunities for private equity and portfolio companies.

If you are interested in a speaking role for next year, please contact Marc Mele at marc.m@pei.group.

 

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Day 1 Day 2
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Agenda

Day 1 - Wednesday 25th

07:30 - 09:15

Registration and breakfast

Think Tank Series I (for operating partners only)
07:50 - 08:30

Think Tank 1 - HR operations (for operating partners only)

Elizabeth Blake, Geri House

Led by your peers, this closed-door discussion will allow you to learn and share best practices of successful human capital and talent operating partners. 

Facilitators:
Elizabeth Blake, Operations Vice President, Human Capital, Trive Capital
Geri House, Chief People Officer, Platform Partners

A speaker photo for Elizabeth Blake

Elizabeth Blake

Operations Vice President, Human Capital, Trive Capital

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A speaker photo for Geri House

Geri House

Chief People Officer, Platform Partners

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07:50 - 08:30

Think Tank 2 - Comparing human capital operating partner models and functions (for operating partners only)

Kristin Brown Patrick, Emily Terry

Led by your peers, this closed-door discussion will allow you to learn and share best practices of successful human capital and talent operating partners.

Facilitators:
Kristin Brown Patrick, Senior Operating Partner, Human Capital, New State Capital Partners
Emily Terry, Vice President, Human Capital, Center of Excellence, Frazier Healthcare Partners

A speaker photo for Kristin Brown Patrick

Kristin Brown Patrick

Senior Operating Partner, Human Capital, New State Capital Partners

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A speaker photo for Emily Terry

Emily Terry

Vice President, Human Capital - Center of Excellence, Frazier Healthcare Partners

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07:50 - 08:30

Think Tank 3 - Training for new and emerging talent specialists (1-2 years in PE) (for operating partners only)

Dan Meyer, Chris Trendler

Led by your peers, this closed-door discussion will allow you to learn and share best practices of successful human capital and talent operating partners. 

Facilitators:
Dan Meyer, Talent Partner, Align Capital Partners
Chris Trendler, Managing Director, Head of Portfolio Talent, Madison Dearborn Partners

A speaker photo for Dan Meyer

Dan Meyer

Talent Partner, Align Capital Partners

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A speaker photo for Chris Trendler

Chris Trendler

Managing Director, Head of Portfolio Talent, Madison Dearborn Partners

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Breakfast Deep Dive Series I
08:30 - 09:10

Deep dive breakfast discussion 1 (for operating partners only): Alignment and execution in working with your CHROs

Luke Hermer , Alice Mann

This deep dive breakfast session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

  • Sharing practical examples of successful initiatives carried out through the CHRO: what are you mostly focused on?
  • How do you build relationships with CHROs, how do you engage and listen? What are the biggest challenges in working with CHROs?
  • What makes a successful CHRO today? What challenges do portfolio CHROs face today? What should CHROs not be doing?
  • How is the role of the CHRO changing/evolving? How are new work models affecting the role of the CHRO? What will the CHRO of the future look like?
  • How do you coach your CHROs to understand EBITDA? How do CHROs and PE firms align to address issues and transformations? In what ways can operating partners have the greatest impact on providing strategic alignment and delivery of the value creation plan?

Facilitators:
Luke Hermer, Principal Consultant, Mann Partners
Alice Mann, Founder and President, Mann Partners

A speaker photo for Luke Hermer

Luke Hermer

Principal Consultant, Mann Partners

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A speaker photo for Alice Mann

Alice Mann

Founder and President, Mann Partners

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08:30 - 09:10

Deep dive breakfast discussion 2 (for operating partners only): Effective human capital guidelines for navigating extended hold periods (for operating partners only)

Marc Jourlait

This deep dive breakfast session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

  • How have extended hold periods impacted your role as a talent partner at your firm? What have you done to address these challenges?
  • What levers for talent value creation are most important in an extended hold period?
  • How does engagement between the firm, management teams, the CEO etc. change in an
  • extended hold period and how do you play a part in it?
  • How are extended hold periods impacting your investment in transformation and how you think about human capital strategy within your portfolio companies?

Facilitator:
Marc Jourlait, Operating Partner, The Riverside Company

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Marc Jourlait

Senior Operating Partner, The Riverside Company

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08:30 - 09:10

Deep dive breakfast discussion 3 (for operating partners only): Exchanging notes on your CEO 360 processes

This deep dive breakfast session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

  • How to roll out a CEO 360 process effectively: lessons learned
  • How do you quickly spot the gaps in a CEO to determine if they’re still the right person for the job?
  • CEO360: How are you doing it? Where do you align on core competencies; how often do you do it? Annually? Or when needed? Proactively or reactively?
  • What are key action items and to dos post CEO 360s?
Plenary
09:15 - 09:30

PEI’s welcome and chairperson’s opening remarks

Marla Capozzi

Chairperson: Marla Capozzi, Partner, McKinsey & Company

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Marla Capozzi

Partner, McKinsey & Company

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09:30 - 10:10

Head of Value Creation-Talent Partner alignment and execution: what does great look like?

Laura Queen, Faye McDermid, Katie Solomon, Chris Trendler
  • Sharing lessons learned from building out the talent operating function at firms
  • Exploring the dynamic between heads of value creation and talent partners: how to create alignment and synergies for value creation
  • Understanding how talent partners align and work best with other functional specialists at their firms
  • Heads of Value Creation views: how important is the talent function in your VCP playbook? What does a great talent partner/function look like?
  • What does the talent function of the future look like?

Moderator:
Laura Queen, Founder and CEO, 29Bison

Panelists:
Faye McDermid, Senior Vice President, Private Equity, Business Operations, Brookfield Asset Management
Katie Solomon, Managing Director, Talent Management, Genstar Capital
Chris Trendler, Managing Director, Head of Portfolio Talent, Madison Dearborn Partners

A speaker photo for Laura Queen

Laura Queen

Founder and CEO, 29Bison

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A speaker photo for Faye McDermid

Faye McDermid

Senior Vice President, Private Equity, Business Operations, Brookfield Asset Management

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Katie Solomon, Genstar Capital

Katie Solomon

Managing Director, Talent Management, Genstar Capital

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A speaker photo for Chris Trendler

Chris Trendler

Managing Director, Head of Portfolio Talent, Madison Dearborn Partners

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10:10 - 10:50

AI use cases for the talent function today: showcasing real world implementations

Jeremy Lehman , Angela Geffre, Rony Kort
  • AI practical uses today: how do you identify core human capital value creation to dos with AI: scorecards, templates, interview guides, innovative projects
  • Where is AI less invasive/relevant in human capital?
  • Actual use cases of AI: what the result was, what works best and what doesn’t
  • A realistic view of where AI is—and isn’t—ready to drive value

 

Moderator:
Jeremy Lehman, Director, AlixPartners

Panelists:
Angela Geffre, Head of Human Capital, GrowthCurve Capital
Rony Kort, Chief Talent Officer, Leonard Green & Partners

A speaker photo for Jeremy Lehman

Jeremy Lehman

Director, AlixPartners

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A speaker photo for Angela Geffre

Angela Geffre

Head of Human Capital, GrowthCurve Capital

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A speaker photo for Rony Kort

Rony Kort

Chief Talent Officer

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10:50 - 11:20

Networking coffee break

11:20 - 12:00

Investment partner perspectives on the value of human capital operating partners

Dan Hawkins, Anthony D'Ambrosi, Nick Leopard, Ruth Sommers
  • How are you most effectively working with your talent partners? What are best practices in working together from diligence into year one
  • What makes a great talent partner? What are the biggest human capital operating partner dos and don’ts?
  • How can talent partners give deal teams the edge in the bidding process?
  • How can talent partners help investment teams maximize returns?
  • As a deal partner, what keeps you up at night and what can human capital operating partners do to help?

Moderator:
Dan Hawkins, Founder and CEO, Summit Leadership Partners

Panelists:
Anthony D’Ambrosi, CEO, Abacus Group
Nick Leopard, CEO, Accordion
Ruth Sommers, CEO, FoundRae

A speaker photo for Dan Hawkins

Dan Hawkins

Founder & CEO, Summit Leadership Partners

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A speaker photo for Anthony D'Ambrosi

Anthony D'Ambrosi

CEO, Abacus Group

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A speaker photo for Nick Leopard

Nick Leopard

CEO & Founder, Accordion

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A speaker photo for Ruth Sommers

Ruth Sommers

CEO, FoundRae

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12:00 - 12:40

Spotlight interview: What I learned as a human capital operating partner in 10+ years

This dynamic interview will allow our audience to hear key insights from an expert’s human capital value creation journey.  

  • Sharing genuine career advice from 10+ years to help talent partners on their journey
  • What are some unique war stories from your journey?
  • What would you do differently looking back?
  • What accomplishments/success stories are you mostly proud of?
  • How has the operating model/industry evolved in 10 years? How has the talent function evolved? Did its evolution match what you were expecting? What comes next?
Interactive Working Groups Series I
12:40 - 13:20

Interactive Working Group 1 (for operating partners only) — Progressive approaches in succession planning and development

Jen Golnick, Kristine Rea

This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

  • Succession planning and development at senior levels: what are the skills needed to be the CEO of the future and how will AI help in that planning process
  • A deeper dive on succession planning tools and support for operating companies now that hold times are longer
  • What advantages have you seen in investing in the development of high-potential talent rather than relying solely on star performers?

Facilitators:
Jen Golnick, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Hill Golnick Advisors
Kristine Rea, Chief Talent Officer, Energy Capital Partners

A speaker photo for Jen Golnick

Jen Golnick

Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Hill Golnick Advisors

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A speaker photo for Kristine Rea

Kristine Rea

Chief Talent Officer, ECP

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12:40 - 13:20

Interactive Working Group 2 (for operating partners only) — Leveraging AI for human capital due diligence: sharing examples beyond theory

Sandy Fiaschetti

This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

  • Understanding the advantages of AI-led DD vs. traditional DD approaches
  • Uncovering how AI enhances data analysis for better human capital risk assessment
  • Sharing practical stories of using AI in DD: how does AI enhance deal sourcing? How does AI in DD set you up for success throughout the lifecycle?
  • How are you looking at human capital processes across the board in DD? What can AI do in looking at the business model?
  • How is the role of the talent partner and deal partner evolving with the application of AI
  • in DD?
  • Future trends in human capital due diligence practices

Facilitator:
Sandy Fiaschetti, Founder and Managing Partner, Lodestone People Consulting

A speaker photo for Sandy Fiaschetti

Sandy Fiaschetti

Founder and Managing Partner, Lodestone People Consulting

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12:40 - 13:20

Interactive Working Group 3 (for operating partners only) — Building high-performance management teams: how are you thinking about it?

Dina DeMarco, Kelsey Kemp

This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

  • How do you leverage psychometrics to map team dynamics and create solutions that help teams form and thrive?
  • What are the biggest challenges and barriers when it comes to team effectiveness?
  • How do you approach leadership development within your portfolio companies? How do teams create alignment?
  • What does a high performing management team look like?

Facilitators:
Dina DeMarco, Division President – Private Equity Talent Solutions, Hueman
Kelsey Kemp, Director of Talent, CIVC Partners

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Dina DeMarco

Division President - Private Equity Talent Solutions, Hueman

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A speaker photo for Kelsey Kemp

Kelsey Kemp

Director of Talent, CIVC Partners

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12:40 - 13:20

Interactive Working Group 4 (for operating partners only) — Talent retention in the current market: how to keep your best talent

This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

Lunch
13:20 - 14:20

Networking lunch

13:20 - 13:40

Lunch deep dive discussion (invitation-only for operating partners)- An inside look into market dynamics: employee benefits program optimization

Todd Miller, John Weaver

This deep dive lunch session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

  • Marketplace dynamics from a buyer’s perspective
  • Industry Insights
  • Common misconceptions explained
  • Shifting control back to the buyer
  • Top 5 levers to save money while maintaining a “do-no-harm” approach
  • Maintaining control through plan governance

Facilitators:
Todd Miller, CEO, Risk International
John Weaver, Senior Director, Risk International 

A speaker photo for Todd Miller

Todd Miller

CEO, Risk International

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John Weaver

Senior Director, Risk International

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13:20 - 14:20

Lunch discussion 2 (for operating partners only): Recruiting AI talent for your companies: uncovering practical guidebooks

This deep dive lunch session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

  • What is the archetype of a Head of AI to hire?
  • What key AI roles are you focused on recruiting for your companies? What roles are new and expanding?
  • How are you looking at recruitment of Chief AI Officers vs AI-proficient functional leaders at your companies
  • How do you identify the right skillsets and traits needed for this new field?
  • field? How do you determine what great looks like?
  • How are you monitoring performance and building AI talent across companies and across functions in the portfolio
Breakouts I
14:20 - 15:00

Track 1 - Accelerating human capital excellence: key priorities for the first 100 days into year one

Ruthanne Roth , Hilda Lui, Natalia Schmidt-Chiari , Kristin Schroeder, Karina Sobieski
  • How do you prioritize your time in year one given the varying demands of the role? What should a human capital partner tackle first?
  • Can you share quick wins to aim for in the first 6 to 12 months?
  • What should you avoid doing to ensure you don’t get sidetracked by non-VCP activities?
  • How do you approach getting the C suite strategy right in the first year? Does the ELT align with the initial thesis?
  • How do you align investors, the CEO, and their team to execute the VCP plan in the first year?

Moderator:
Ruthanne Roth, Founder and CEO, Aster Talent

Panelists:
Hilda Lui, Head of Portfolio Human Capital, Advent International
Natalia Schmidt-Chiari, Head of Portfolio Talent, Portfolio Support Group, Percheron Capital
Kristin Schroeder, Operating Partner, Talent, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe
Karina Sobieski, Managing Director, Human Capital, Clearlake Capital Group

A speaker photo for Ruthanne Roth

Ruthanne Roth

Founder and CEO, Aster Talent

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A speaker photo for Hilda Lui

Hilda Lui

Head of Portfolio Human Capital, Advent International

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A speaker photo for Natalia Schmidt-Chiari

Natalia Schmidt-Chiari

Head of Portfolio Talent, Portfolio Support Group, Percheron Capital

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A speaker photo for Kristin Schroeder

Kristin Schroeder

Operating Partner, Talent, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe

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A speaker photo for Karina Sobieski

Karina Sobieski

Managing Director, Human Capital, Clearlake Capital Group

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14:20 - 15:00

Track 2 - Unlocking AI for talent acquisition and retention: how are you using it?

Robin Jones, Geri House, Randy Patterson, Adam Stein
  • What are your main concerns and challenges of using AI in recruitment?
  • Leveraging and comparing AI tools for recruiting, interviews, benchmarking and scorecards
  • Sharing practical use cases of what is working well today and what is not
  • How can AI reduce turnover and stabilize workforce variables?

Moderator:
Robin Jones, Principal – Human Capital, Deloitte

Panelists:
Geri House, Chief People Officer, Platform Partners
Randy Patterson, Managing Director of Human Capital, Portfolio Operations Group, Blackstone
Adam Stein, Principal, Head of Talent, Lead Edge Capital

A speaker photo for Robin Jones

Robin Jones

Principal, Human Capital, Deloitte

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A speaker photo for Geri House

Geri House

Chief People Officer, Platform Partners

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A speaker photo for Randy Patterson

Randy Patterson

Managing Director, Human Capital, Portfolio Operations Group, Blackstone

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A speaker photo for Adam Stein

Adam Stein

Head of Talent, Lead Edge Capital

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14:20 - 15:00

Track 3 Driving pre-exit value creation: a talent partner’s guidebook

  • Aligning human capital with exit timelines
  • Setting your companies up for success: talent partners share lessons learned from recent exits
  • Which initiatives and levers are you mainly focused on in preparing for exit 2 years out? Which levers work best to accelerate pre-sale value?
  • How are you working with management teams in preparation for exit: challenges and opportunities
  • How are you leveraging operational analytics for exit readiness
  • Sharing dos and don’ts you should understand as you prepare for exit
Breakouts II
15:00 - 15:40

Track 4 - The modern CFO: recruitment and assessment methodologies for current times

Zant Chapelo, Tanya Hayes, Jimmy Holloran, Jamie Jacobs, Katie Mackin
  • What are the biggest challenges in recruiting and selecting the right CFO today?
  • What does a great CFO look like in looking at their contribution to value creation?
  • What are you doing to retain and incentivize CFOs today? How have longer hold periods affected this?
  • What skills do modern CFOs need? How are you using assessment methodologies in your decision making?
  • Hiring a first time CFO vs an experienced CFO

Moderator:
Zant Chapelo, Senior Strategist and Executive Coach, Transcend

Panelists:
Tanya Hayes, Partner, Human Capital & ESG – Center of Excellence, Frazier Healthcare Partners
Jimmy Holloran, Partner and Head of Talent, American Industrial Partners
Jamie Jacobs, Chief Talent Officer, Oak Hill Capital
Katie Mackin, Vice President, Portfolio Talent, GS Value Accelerator, Goldman Sachs

A speaker photo for Zant  Chapelo

Zant Chapelo

Senior Strategist & Performance Consultant, Transcend

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A speaker photo for Tanya Hayes

Tanya Hayes

Partner, Human Capital – Center of Excellence, Frazier Healthcare Partners

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A speaker photo for Jimmy  Holloran

Jimmy Holloran

Partner, Head of Talent, American Industrial Partners

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Jamie Jacobs, American Securities

Jamie Jacobs

Chief Talent Officer, Oak Hill Capital

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A speaker photo for Katie Mackin

Katie Mackin

Vice President, Portfolio Talent, GS Value Accelerator, Goldman Sachs

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15:00 - 15:40

Track 5 - The evolution of the CHRO in the AI Revolution: dissecting past, present, and future

Sumeet Salwan, Patrick Allen, Katie Czerepak, James Down, Jess Weber
  • Understanding what human capital due diligence really is and how it impacts the VCP
  • What does your due diligence scorecard to assess talent at a company look like? What data do you gather?
  • How do you work with deal teams on talent due diligence? How do you influence the deal process?
  • Have your playbooks changed/evolved when it comes to due diligence?
  • What are the biggest challenges associated with due diligence and how do you de-risk human capital?

Moderator:
Sumeet Salwan, Co-Founder, CEO.works

Panelists:
Patrick Allen, Recruiting Practice Leader, Senior Operating Executive, Cerberus Capital Management
Katie Czerepak, Head of Talent, Portfolio Tech Opportunities, Bain Capital
James Down, Managing Director, Portfolio Value Creation, CPP Investments
Jess Weber, Head of Talent, Prelude Growth Partners

A speaker photo for Sumeet Salwan

Sumeet Salwan

Co-Founder, CEO.works

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A speaker photo for Patrick Allen

Patrick Allen

Recruiting Practice Leader, Senior Operating Executive, Cerberus Capital Management

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A speaker photo for Katie Czerepak

Katie Czerepak

Operating Partner and Head of Talent, Portfolio Tech Opportunities, Bain Capital

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A speaker photo for James Down

James Down

Managing Director, Portfolio Value Creation, CPP Investments

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A speaker photo for Jess Weber

Jess Weber

Head of Talent, Prelude Growth Partners

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15:00 - 15:40

Track 6 C level assessments: strategic notes on understanding when to make changes and when not to

  • How to manage executive transitions; and what are the most important components in assessments
  • When to swap out the whole team and when not to, when to make C-suite changes and when not to
  • Being more critical in C level assessments and making those changes more quickly: how do you have conviction about making a change for CROs, CFOs, etc.? How useful are psychometrics?
  • Once you have an assessment in hand, how do you translate that data into action? What steps do you take to support development and drive positive outcomes?
  • What is predictive and what is not? What should a good profile of an executive look like? How do you get better insight?
  • Individual and team assessments: looking at alignment and misalignment with the VCP
  • How are you utilizing AI for better assessments?
15:40 - 16:00

Networking coffee break

Breakouts III
16:00 - 16:40

Track 7 - Talent acquisition playbooks: recruiting modern CROs to unlock growth

Brian Dwyer, Sean Dougherty, John Knapp, Dan Meyer, Kristin Brown Patrick
  • What are the biggest challenges in recruiting and selecting the right CRO today?
  • What skills do modern CROs need? AI skills needed?
  • What does a great CRO look like when it comes to alignment and contribution to the VCP?
  • How are you developing and retaining commercial talent at your companies? How have longer hold periods affected this?

Moderator:
Brian Dwyer, Partner and Practice Leader, JM Search

Panelists:
Sean Dougherty, Principal, Talent and Operations, Inverness Graham Investments
John Knapp, Operating Director, Talent, Berkshire Partners
Dan Meyer, Talent Partner, Align Capital Partners
Kristin Brown Patrick, Senior Operating Partner, Human Capital, New State Capital Partners

A speaker photo for Brian Dwyer

Brian Dwyer

Partner and Practice Leader, JM Search

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A speaker photo for Sean Dougherty

Sean Dougherty

Principal, Talent and Operations, Inverness Graham Investments

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A speaker photo for John Knapp

John Knapp

Operating Director, Talent, Berkshire Partners

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A speaker photo for Dan Meyer

Dan Meyer

Talent Partner, Align Capital Partners

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A speaker photo for Kristin Brown Patrick

Kristin Brown Patrick

Senior Operating Partner, Human Capital, New State Capital Partners

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16:00 - 16:40

Track 8 - The latest on performance management and mechanisms in the age of AI

Najeeb Ahmad, Scott Willett, David Cohen, Jamie Jacobs, Hank Mannix
  • Where are there competency gaps and where can AI close that gap on C-level progression?
  • What are you doing with performance review technologies to assist with communication that is more digestible and actionable?
  • Unlocking new portco performance mechanisms individually and as teams: how are you measuring success?

Moderators:
Najeeb Ahmad, Founder and Principal, Pennington Human Dynamics
Scott Willett, Founder and Principal, Pennington Human Dynamics

Panelists:
David Cohen, Partner, Human Capital, Kelso & Company
Jamie Jacobs, Chief Talent Officer, Oak Hill Capital
Hank Mannix, Investment Partner, Kelso & Company

A speaker photo for Najeeb Ahmad

Najeeb Ahmad

Principal and Co-Founder, Pennington Human Dynamics

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A speaker photo for Scott Willett

Scott Willett

Principal and Co-Founder, Pennington Human Dynamics

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A speaker photo for David Cohen

David Cohen

Partner, Human Capital, Kelso & Company

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Jamie Jacobs, American Securities

Jamie Jacobs

Chief Talent Officer, Oak Hill Capital

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A speaker photo for Hank Mannix

Hank Mannix

Investment Partner, Kelso & Company

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16:00 - 16:40

Track 9 Beyond the C suite: getting it right when it comes to org design, culture, and workforce planning

Breakouts IV
16:40 - 17:20

Track 10 Optimizing your tech and product talent: recruitment and assessment methodologies

  • What are the right CTO skills needed in the AI world of today
  • What are the biggest challenges associated with recruiting tech and product talent today?
  • How do we find talent to enhance product: talent to help build into the products for your companies
  • Hiring data scientists: tech workforce planning in this environment
16:40 - 17:20

Track 11 Inside an ownership culture: lessons from talent partners and CHROs to drive value

  • Hear firsthand perspectives from Talent Partners and CHROs on what it takes to build a culture of ownership inside a portfolio company that ensures employees think, feel, and act like owners
  • Hear concrete examples of human capital, cultural, and operational gains generated by effective shared ownership programs
  • Learn how PortCos operationalize ownership culture, including what CHROs and management teams tried, what worked, what didn’t, and the practical lessons of building an ownership culture
  • Understand the role of Talent Partners in supporting an ownership program, including shaping the rollout, supporting leaders, removing barriers, tracking metrics, and ensuring accountability
16:40 - 17:20

Track 12 Human capital due diligence in the modern era: a driving force for value creation

  • How are you getting what you need to do the best human capital diligence?
  • What are the most important pre-deal factors? Track record of growth, PE experience, acquisitions experience, leadership experience? What other talent related factors are you looking at below the C suite?
  • How do human capital operating partners work with deal teams on talent due diligence? How do you influence the deal process?
  • What are the biggest challenges associated with human capital due diligence? How have you tackled these challenges?
  • How have your playbooks evolved in recent years when it comes to due diligence? What are you looking at in terms of scorecards and data for talent DD?
End of day 1
17:20 - 18:20

Networking cocktail reception

Agenda

Day 2 - Thursday 26th

07:30 - 09:25

Registration and breakfast

Think Tank Series II: Human capital operating partners think tanks (for operating partners only): talent value creation war rooms
08:00 - 08:45

Think Tank 1 - Working with third parties: comparing notes on resources and tools (for operating partners only)

Steven Berman

Invitation-only think tank for full-time PE/VC operating partners and talent partners. These closed-door discussions will allow you to learn and share best practices in human capital portfolio operations with your peers.

Facilitator:
Steven Berman, Operating Vice President, Accel-KKR

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Steven Berman

Operating Vice President, Accel-KKR

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08:00 - 08:45

Think Tank 2 - Unlocking value creation through new hire success (for operating partners only)

David Cohen, Nicole Weil

Facilitators:
David Cohen, Partner, Human Capital, Kelso & Company
Nicole Weil, Manager, Operational Effectiveness, Kelso & Company

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David Cohen

Partner, Human Capital, Kelso & Company

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Nicole Weil

Vice President, Portfolio Operations & Human Capital, Kelso & Company

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08:00 - 08:45

Think Tank 3 - How are you providing and showcasing value as a human capital operating partner? (for operating partners only)

Maggie van de Griend

Facilitator:
Maggie van de Griend, Managing Director, Portfolio Talent, Warburg Pincus

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Maggie van de Griend

Managing Director, Portfolio Talent, Warburg Pincus

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Breakfast Deep Dives Series II
08:45 - 09:25

Deep dive breakfast discussion 4 (for operating partners only): Executive compensation workshop: to refresh or not to refresh

Carol Henriques , Sherri Stewart

This deep dive breakfast session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators. Investment holds have been trending upward from 5 years to 7 years; the session will cover:

  • When should a company initiate a refresh strategy?
  • When doing a refresh does it make sense to do another large upfront grant or move into a cadence of smaller annual or biennial (every two years) grants?
  • What is the optimal mix of vehicles for a refresh grant?
  • How should refresh grants be treated within context of a potential IPO in near to mid-term?
  • How to prep the compensation transition from a private entity to a public entity?

 

Facilitator:
Carol Henriques, Principal, Leader, Organization Effectiveness and Talent Practice, TiER1 Performance
Sherri Stewart, Chief Talent Officer, Keystone Capital

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Carol Henriques

Principal, Leader, Organization Effectiveness and Talent Practice, TiER1 Performance

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Sherri Stewart

Chief Talent Officer, Keystone Capital

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08:45 - 09:25

Deep dive breakfast discussion 5 (for operating partners only): Optimizing your data and workforce analytics for human capital value creation

Ted Bililies, Madalyn Miller

This deep dive breakfast discussion designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

  • What does your data driven approach for the talent function look like? What do you focus on most?
  • What data-driven approaches are you using to enhance the VCP alignment process?
  • Unlocking data-driven approaches in talent acquisition: sharing how it sets the foundation to identify the dynamics of new hire success
  • How are you using AI to optimize your data?

Facilitators:
Ted Bililies, Partner and Managing Director, AlixPartners
Madalyn Miller, Partner, AlixPartners

Ted Bililies, AlixPartners

Ted Bililies

Partner and Managing Director, AlixPartners

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Madalyn Miller

Partner, AlixPartners

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08:45 - 09:25

Deep dive breakfast discussion 6 (for operating partners only): How will AI impact workforces and the PE talent function of the future? What comes next?

Carrie Duarte Steele, Karishma Ahuja, Ruchi Hazaray, Warren Valdmanis

This deep dive breakfast discussion designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

  • Sharing practical use cases in the AI revolution/evolution: what you should be thinking about today to drive AI adoption
  • Dissecting AI Adoption by functions (with insights by sector) at companies now and in the future
  • What does the future of the talent partner role look like as we think about value creation and the impact of disruption, including AI?
  • What are the greatest barriers to real-world deployment of AI?
  • What is the impact on workforce dynamics? What roles are projected to disappear; what roles are projected to grow? How does the human element come into play?
  • How is AI impacting and going to impact junior roles? How does this impact training and development of entry level roles?

Moderator:
Carrie Duarte Steele, Partner, Human Capital Value Creation Leader, PwC

Panelists:
Karishma Ahuja, VP of Responsible Investment, Madison Dearborn Partners
Ruchi Hazaray, Principal, Education and Impact Lead, Renovus Capital
Warren Valdmanis, Managing Partner, Future of Work Partners

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Carrie Duarte Steele

Partner, PwC

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A speaker photo for Karishma Ahuja

Karishma Ahuja

ESG Manager, Madison Dearborn Partners

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A speaker photo for Ruchi Hazaray

Ruchi Hazaray

Principal, Education and Impact Lead, Renovus Capital

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Warren Valdmanis

Managing Partner, Future of Work Partners

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Plenary
09:25 - 09:30

Chairperson’s welcome

Marla Capozzi

Chairperson: Marla Capozzi, Partner, McKinsey & Company

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Marla Capozzi

Partner, McKinsey & Company

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09:30 - 10:10

Leading forward: building AI-ready leadership teams across your portfolio — the people playbook

Heather Johnson, Andy Caine, Raj Kushwaha, Aaron Miller
  • How do you assess AI leadership readiness during diligence, and what red flags signal a PortCo will struggle with adoption? What strategies should you be using in diligence vs. in the value creation stage, for example?
  • What’s the right balance between hiring AI Architects (technical leaders) versus developing AI Shapers (business leaders who drive adoption)?
  • How are leading PE firms using the investment lifecycle to embed AI talent strategies, from deal thesis through value creation to exit? How can you build talent at scale across the portfolio?
  • What role should fund-level AI leaders play, and when do they add value versus distract from PortCo execution?
  • How do you coach portfolio CEOs to become AI Shapers when they have limited technical fluency, and what does “good enough” look like in a 3-5 year hold period? What’s coachable vs. non-coachable when it comes to the SHAPE-AI leadership behaviors?
  • What metrics and governance structures help boards accelerate (not constrain) AI velocity in portfolio companies?

Moderator:
Heather Johnson, Partner, Acertitude

Panelists:
Andy Caine, COO and Partner, Head of Center of Excellence Team, Frazier Healthcare Partners
Raj Kushwaha, Co-Head of Value Creation and Chief Digital Officer, Warburg Pincus
Aaron Miller, Head of Apollo Portfolio Performance Solutions, Apollo Global Management

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Heather Johnson

Partner, Acertitude

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Andy Caine

CoE, COO and Partner, Frazier Healthcare Partners

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A speaker photo for Raj Kushwaha

Raj Kushwaha

Co-Head of Value Creation and Chief Digital Officer, Warburg Pincus

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Aaron Miller

Head of Apollo Portfolio Performance Solutions, Apollo Global Management

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10:10 - 10:50

Utilizing human capital playbooks vs adaptability: what works best?

Megan Bosch, Neel Bhatia, Kelly Carlson, Trish Gilbert, Steven Maxwell
  • HC playbooks vs not having a HC playbook: how do you adapt and execute based on the situation
  • How have your practices/playbooks evolved over time? Do you have a secret weapon that we could all learn from?
  • Could you share some examples of human capital programs that drive measurable and consistent financial results across your portfolio companies?

Moderator:
Megan Bosch, VP, Private Equity and Partnerships, Entromy

Panelists:
Neel Bhatia, Senior Advisor, Arcline Investment Management
Kelly Carlson, Managing Director, Head of Talent, STG
Trish Gilbert, Chief Talent Officer, Wind Point Partners
Steven Maxwell, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Human Capital, Audax Private Equity

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Megan Bosch

VP, Private Equity and Partnerships, Entromy

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A speaker photo for Neel 	 Bhatia

Neel Bhatia

Senior Advisor, Arcline Investment Management

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A speaker photo for Kelly Carlson

Kelly Carlson

Managing Director, Head of Talent, STG

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A speaker photo for Trish Gilbert

Trish Gilbert

Chief Talent Officer, Wind Point Partners

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Steven Maxwell

Senior Vice President, Portfolio Human Capital, Audax Private Equity

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10:50 - 11:10

Networking break

Plenary
11:10 - 11:50

CEO views: dissecting dynamics, dos and don’ts for talent partners

BJ Wright, Emily Azevedo, Camille DeLaite, Wes Cole
  • What is the biggest challenge being a PE backed CEO? What is it like? What keeps you up at night as CEO?
  • When you think about the value creation plan, what talent challenges do you face?
  • How and where can your talent partners best support you and your company? How can they earn your trust?
  • What is the right level of governance vs support with your PE sponsor?
  • Can you share don’ts that talent partners should know?

Moderator:
BJ Wright, Partner, ghSMART

Panelists:
Emily Azevedo, Partner and Head of Talent, Mainsail Partners
Camille DeLaite, Operating Partner, Talent, Charlesbank Capital Partners
Wes Cole, Portfolio Talent Lead – GS Value Accelerator, Goldman Sachs

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BJ Wright

Partner, ghSMART

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A speaker photo for Emily  Azevedo

Emily Azevedo

Operating Partner and Head of Talent, Mainsail Partners

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Camille DeLaite

Operating Partner, Talent, Charlesbank Capital Partners

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Wes Cole

Vice President, Portfolio Talent Lead, Goldman Sachs

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11:50 - 12:30

Human capital high impact execution across all phases of the investment lifecycle

Albert Vazquez-Agusti
  • Breaking down the biggest human capital risks facing portfolio companies in each phase of the investment lifecycle: how are you tackling these risks?
  • What are you doing differently today throughout the various stages, and is there anything you used to focus on that you’ve now dialed back?
  • What’s at stake for companies that don’t prioritize talent strategy, and how can you tell if a portfolio company is falling behind in key phases?

Presented by:
Albert Vazquez-Agusti, Partner, Sway Capital

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Albert Vazquez-Agusti

Partner, Sway Ventures

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Interactive Working Groups Series III
12:30 - 13:10

Interactive Working Group 5 (for operating partners only) — Managing CEO annual reviews: key dynamics you need to know

Marla Capozzi, Lucia Darino

This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

  • What are you doing that is new when it comes to CEO annual reviews? What does your review process look like?
  • What works best in your annual CEO review process and what does not? What are you utilizing and focusing on most from your CEO360s that apply to the annual review?
  • How are you differentiating company performance vs. CEO performance?
  • How are you putting these reviews into action?

 

Facilitators:
Marla Capozzi, Partner, McKinsey & Company
Lucia Darino, Expert Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company

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Marla Capozzi

Partner, McKinsey & Company

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Lucia Darino

Expert Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company

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12:30 - 13:10

Interactive Working Group 6 (for operating partners only) — Board composition and performance optimization: what is new and how are you thinking about it?

Kate Griffin, Patrick Hayes

This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

  • Looking at the evolution of boards: what is new? composition, types of profiles, voting rights, and areas of focus
  • What does board effectiveness look like? Has your exec chair program been successful?
  • What has been least successful in terms of board dynamics?
  • How can human capital operating partners best contribute to board dynamics?
  • How do you evaluate if/when you need a new board member?
  • How are you managing and monitoring board performance management?

 

Facilitators:
Kate Griffin, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Talent, Bain Capital
Patrick Hayes, Founder and CEO, Mukala Partners

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Kate Griffin

Senior Vice President, Portfolio Talent, Bain Capital

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A speaker photo for Patrick  Hayes

Patrick Hayes

Founder & CEO, Mukala Partners

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12:30 - 13:10

Interactive Working Group 7 (for operating partners only) — Working with founder-led company CEOs: talent partner insights

Jose Cervantes, John Sander

This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

  • Tips and tricks of partnering with legacy leaders and implementing change with founder CEOs
  • How do you best leverage founder strengths to drive and accelerate the VCP? What does your engagement and support model look like?
  • Uncovering and assessing the strengths and weaknesses that set founders apart in working with PE
  • How are the challenges and playbooks different in working with founder led companies?
  • How do you best manage cultural and operational transitions at founder led companies?
  • How do you deal with pushback and founder CEO blind spots to ensure alignment?

Facilitators:
Jose Cervantes, Manager, Value Engineering, UKG
John Sander, Principal, Portfolio Solutions, Lightyear Capital

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Jose Cervantes

Manager, Value Engineering, UKG

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John Sander

Principal, Lightyear Capital

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Lunch
13:10 - 14:00

Networking lunch

13:10 - 14:00

Lunch discussion 3 (for operating partners only): Women in human capital value creation lunch

Marla Capozzi, Kate Migliaro

This closed-door lunch will explore how private equity firms are prioritizing the development of the next generation of private capital talent across portfolios including new CEOs, CXO leaders with high potential and extending to boards and operating partners with a lens of also building the next generation of women across their portfolio companies.  

Facilitators:
Marla Capozzi, Partner, McKinsey & Company
Kate Migliaro, Managing Director, Blackstone

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Marla Capozzi

Partner, McKinsey & Company

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Kate Migliaro

Managing Director, Talent and Organization Performance, Portfolio Operations, Blackstone

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13:10 - 14:00

Lunch discussion 4 (for operating partners only): Accelerating change management in the 3-5 year period: what talent partners need to know

This deep dive lunch session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive discussion with designated facilitators.

Plenary
14:00 - 14:40

The legends of human capital value creation: showcasing the most successful and innovative initiatives in their careers

Aalap Shah, Dana Allen, Mara Edgar, Pete Winningham , Grace Zuncic
  • Winning the war for tech talent in today’s market: how are you dealing with it?
  • Recruiting CTOs: what makes a good tech leader? How do you identify the right profiles for PE to deliver and accelerate digital value creation?
  • With the dawn of AI, how are labor force and tech skill set requirements changing? What does the future hold?
  • What newly created tech roles are you seeing at your companies?

Moderator:
Aalap Shah, Managing Director, Pearl Meyer

Panelists:
Dana Allen, Managing Director, Talent, Gauge Capital  
Mara Edgar, Managing Director, Human Capital, The Riverside Company
Pete Winningham, Practice Director, Recruiting, K1
Grace Zuncic, Managing Director, Human Talent, Manna Tree Partners

A speaker photo for Aalap Shah

Aalap Shah

Managing Director, Pearl Meyer

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A speaker photo for Dana Allen

Dana Allen

Managing Director, Talent, Gauge Capital

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A speaker photo for Mara Edgar

Mara Edgar

Managing Director, Human Capital, The Riverside Company

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A speaker photo for Pete Winningham

Pete Winningham

Practice Director, Recruiting, K1

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A speaker photo for Grace Zuncic

Grace Zuncic

Managing Director, Human Talent, Manna Tree Partners

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14:40 - 15:00

PEI presents the 1st annual Human Capital Value Creation Survey Results

End of conference
15:00 - 15:05

Chairman’s closing remarks

Marla Capozzi

Chairperson: Marla Capozzi, Partner, McKinsey & Company

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Marla Capozzi

Partner, McKinsey & Company

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Pre-Event Resources

 

For speaking opportunities at next year’s Forum, contact Marc Mele at marc.m@pei.group or call +1 646 581 9295.

Dana Allen

Managing Director, Talent, Emblem Investments

Emily Azevedo

Operating Partner and Head of Talent, Mainsail Partners

Elizabeth Blake

Operations Vice President, Human Capital, Trive Capital

Suzanna Butler

Principal, Strategic Portfolio Talent, FTV Capital

David Cohen

Partner, Human Capital, Kelso & Company

Camille DeLaite

Operating Partner, Talent, Charlesbank Capital Partners

Mara Edgar

Operating Partner, Talent, BayPine

Angela Geffre

Head of Human Capital, GrowthCurve Capital

Tanya Hayes

Partner, Human Capital – Center of Excellence, Frazier Healthcare Partners

Jamie Jacobs, American Securities

Jamie Jacobs

Chief Talent Officer, Oak Hill Capital

John Knapp

Operating Director, Talent, Berkshire Partners

Conor Leamy

Chief Talent Officer, Shore Capital Partners

Diana Martz

Principal, Human Capital - Strategic Resource Group, TA Associates

Steven Maxwell

Senior Vice President, Portfolio Human Capital, Audax Private Equity

Dan Meyer

Talent Partner, Align Capital Partners

Cara Nealon

Executive Vice President, Portfolio Talent, Bain Capital

John Sander

Principal, Lightyear Capital

Karina Sobieski

Managing Director, Human Capital, Clearlake Capital Group

Maggie van de Griend

Managing Director, Portfolio Talent, Warburg Pincus

Allison Walker

Partner and Chief Talent Officer, FTV Capital

Jess Weber

Head of Talent, Prelude Growth Partners

Grace Zuncic

Managing Director, Human Talent, Manna Tree Partners

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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

2024 sponsors

Convene
360 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10017

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Build your community of talent leaders

 

Cultivate a professional community that extends beyond the Forum in operating partner exclusive networking events.

Connect with the brightest leaders in human capital value creation to exchange ideas, solve challenges, and benchmark strategies to improve your day-to-day operations.

 

Find out who attended in 2025


Operating Partners Human Capital Forum Welcome Reception and Dinner (invitation-only)

Tuesday, March 24, 2026
5:30 – 9:00 pm
Venue: TBA

Begin building connections over craft cocktails and gourmet fare before the conference kicks off. A relaxed welcome reception ensures you’ll find familiar faces over the following two days. Then, meet other human capital operating partners in a private networking dinner to discuss the industry, share ideas, and develop Forum goals.

Operating Partners Human Capital Forum Day 1 Grand Reception

Wednesday, March 25, 2026
5:20 – 6:20 pm
Convene, 360 Madison Avenue

Have a drink on us as you debrief your day with other Forum attendees. Hear what’s on everyone’s mind after a full day of content, and compare goals for the following day.

Human Capital Deep Dive Breakfasts (operating partners only)

Wednesday and Thursday, March 25-26, 2026
Convene, 360 Madison Avenue


Examine specific human capital challenges in these casual breakfast discussions. Topics will be determined ahead of time and announced in our event agenda.

Women in Human Capital Value Creation Lunch (invitation-only)

Thursday, March 26, 2026
1:10 – 2:00pm
Convene, 360 Madison Avenue

Join this interactive session for an inside look at challenges and opportunities in women’s leadership. This is a closed-door lunch discussion intended for women in PE.

Sessions designed for collaboration

Think Tanks

Put your heads together with other operating partners to examine niche areas of human capital value creation. With crowd-sourced discussion topics, these peer-led sessions will provide personalized takeaways.

Interactive Working Groups

Hear how your peers are navigating specific facets of the talent function. These interactive discussions, facilitated by our expert speaking faculty, will provide a closer look at specific topics in human capital value creation.

“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

Assessment

Custom solutions for your business challenges

The Operating Partners Human Capital Forum offers portfolio operations teams a comprehensive analysis of talent value creation. As the demand for human capital rapidly increases, join industry names to network, collaborate, and determine the most effective ways to scale the talent function. Learn how other firms are driving growth through assessment, compensation, culture, DEI, leadership, organizational design, recruitment, technologies, and more.

Agenda highlight

Assessing CEOs and management teams across the lifecycle

  • Uncovering the best leadership assessments and tools to utilize with management teams
  • Predicting what makes executives successful in private equity
  • How do you assess management teams in the due diligence phase?
  • How do you approach the onboarding process?
  • How do you identify and understand when you need a new executive member?
  • How do you assess and engage with management teams while building and maintaining relationships both during the 100 days and beyond?
  • What do portco executives think is most important in the value creation plan across the lifecycle?

Led by functional experts:

Assessment

Solution providers for your business needs

Search & Recruitment

Custom solutions for your business challenges

The Operating Partners Human Capital Forum offers portfolio operations teams a comprehensive analysis of talent value creation. As the demand for human capital rapidly increases, join industry names to network, collaborate, and determine the most effective ways to scale the talent function. Learn how other firms are driving growth through assessment, compensation, culture, DEI, leadership, organizational design, recruitment, technologies, and more.

Agenda highlight - Day 1

Leveraging references as a tactical component in your human capital toolbox

  • Operating partners share lessons learned: what works best and what doesn’t when it comes to utilizing references?
  • Sharing strategic elements of forensic referencing to make the right decisions about candidates.
  • Discussing off sheet and back-channel referencing: how are you doing it and what resources and tools are you utilizing for it?
  • What are the long-term benefits and advantages of applying strategic methodologies to references? Do you outsource it or do it in house?
  • What tools and technologies are most effective to facilitate referencing and candidate tracking?
  • How do you protect the confidentiality in handling the process?

Agenda highlight - Day 2

Strategic talent acquisition across functional areas: sharing playbooks beyond C-suite level hiring

  • Recruiting and hiring top talent across finance, tech, HR, and sales from leadership to front-line.
  • How do you ensure your hires fit the value creation plan, investment strategy, nuances of the job, and company culture designed to succeed?
  • What are key similarities and differences across various industries/sectors of investment?
  • Sharing war stories, networks, and cost-effective methods that work
  • What is your greatest challenge when it comes to recruiting in this environment? How do you get searches done faster?

Featuring:

Dina DeMarco

Division President - Private Equity Talent Solutions, Hueman

Reid Terry

Director of Talent, Trivest Partners

Search & Recruitment

Solution providers for your business needs

Organizational Design

Custom solutions for your business challenges

The Operating Partners Human Capital Forum offers portfolio operations teams a comprehensive analysis of talent value creation. As the demand for human capital rapidly increases, join industry names to network, collaborate, and determine the most effective ways to scale the talent function. Learn how other firms are driving growth through assessment, compensation, culture, DEI, leadership, organizational design, recruitment, technologies, and more.

Agenda highlight

Workforce management as a driving force in human capital value creation

  • Understanding the most important nuances of broader workforce evaluation.
  • How to scale rapidly with change readiness at all levels within your organizations: uncovering how to fully activate talent and work together in new ways.
  • Looking at productivity deeper into the organization; KPIs across functions; looking at your top and bottom performers across functions.
  • Setting up a data driven process to make decisions when it comes to labor.
  • Getting your broader workforce aligned on the value creation plan.
  • How to empower and enable middle managers to align the workforce.
  • How are you strategically allocating people and resources and empowering your top talent to maximize impact?

Agenda highlight

Organizational design and effectiveness to scale for long term growth

  • What are the latest trends in org design and how do you think about it?
  • What are key indicators of org health? What are the most common indicators that a new org set-up is needed and how do you go about doing it?
  • Who do you involve in the org design and strategy process? How do you ensure clarity in its purpose? What is required from a leadership standpoint to achieve your org design goals?
  • What are the biggest risks and challenges in the implementation process? How do you deal with resistance and disruptive factors?
  • How do you assess if the organizational design is delivering on its intended purpose? Are there specific KPIs that you utilize?
  • What are the long-term implications of org design: how does it allow you to scale over 3-4 years? How do you align it to the value creation plan and investment thesis?
  • Sharing lessons learned and what is needed in different stages of the investment lifecycle.

Agenda highlights

Led by industry specialists:

Organizational Design

Solution providers for your business needs

Leadership & Coaching

Custom solutions for your business challenges

The Operating Partners Human Capital Forum offers portfolio operations teams a comprehensive analysis of talent value creation. As the demand for human capital rapidly increases, join industry names to network, collaborate, and determine the most effective ways to scale the talent function. Learn how other firms are driving growth through assessment, compensation, culture, DEI, leadership, organizational design, recruitment, technologies, and more.

Agenda highlights

Succession planning: how to develop the next generation of leaders

  • What is the role of CEOs and founders in looking at succession plans?
  • How are founders and CEOs thinking about the next generation internally? What should they be doing to teach and mentor for future success?
  • What practices should organizations implement to develop the next generation into leaders?
  • What are innovative approaches to how companies are governed with an eye to the future and getting the most out of your top talent?

 

Influencing and motivating portfolio company CEOs: what makes executives successful in current times

  • Comparison of traits that make up great portfolio CEOs: high performing vs. low performing.
  • How do you approach composition and motivation of high-performing management teams to drive long-term success for your company?
  • How do you generate alignment with the leadership team on the value creation plan – distilling it down to key action, accountability and then tracking progress/productivity?
  • How do you help CEOs and deal teams work together most effectively? How can human capital operating partners help?
  • How do you motivate the leadership team to be at their best together?

Human capital operating partners think tank: Working with founder-led company CEOs

Led by your peers, this closed-door discussion will allow you to learn and share best practices of successful human capital and talent operating partners.

Agenda highlights

Led by industry players

Leadership & Coaching

Solution providers for your business needs

DE&I

Custom solutions for your business challenges

The Operating Partners Human Capital Forum offers portfolio operations teams a comprehensive analysis of talent value creation. As the demand for human capital rapidly increases, join industry names to network, collaborate, and determine the most effective ways to scale the talent function. Learn how other firms are driving growth through assessment, compensation, culture, DEI, leadership, organizational design, recruitment, technologies, and more.

Agenda highlight - Day 1

Pushing DE&I higher up in the value creation agenda

  • Current state vs future state; how do you think, define, and map out DE&I.
  • How is the current economic environment affecting your DE&I initiatives? What has changed in the past 12 months?
  • What initiatives are you taking to increase diverse representation at your portfolio companies? What recommendation do you give your companies on DE&I?
  • Board diversity: sharing practical examples of what needs to be built out.
  • How do you identify and utilize your DE&I metrics? How do you measure diversity across the portfolio to make sure you’re held accountable?
  • How do you work with CHROs on DE&I initiatives? What is actionable?

Agenda highlight - Day 2

Women in PE portfolio operations lunch

This closed-door discussion will explore what it’s like being a woman in PE and VC portfolio operations:

  • Exploring career paths, development, and how to position yourself as female leaders.
  • What are the biggest challenges and missed opportunities when it comes to women’s leadership in PE?
  • What traits and qualities do you search for and value most in women leaders at your companies?
  • What initiatives are you driving for women on boards across portcos? What can be done better?
  • How to best support incoming women leaders at portfolio companies, especially if they are new to being in a male dominated industry.

Featuring:

Jamie Jacobs, American Securities

Jamie Jacobs

Chief Talent Officer, Oak Hill Capital

Melissa Mounce

PE Insider, Advisor & Board Director, Right Arm Advisors

DE&I

Solution providers for your business needs

Compensation & Benefits

Custom solutions for your business challenges

The Operating Partners Human Capital Forum offers portfolio operations teams a comprehensive analysis of talent value creation. As the demand for human capital rapidly increases, join industry names to network, collaborate, and determine the most effective ways to scale the talent function. Learn how other firms are driving growth through assessment, compensation, culture, DEI, leadership, organizational design, recruitment, technologies, and more.

Agenda highlight - Day 1

Strategic integration of human resources in value creation through employee benefit program optimization and cost savings

  • How can Human Resources establish a strategic role in driving measurable cost savings aligned with the value-creation strategy goals of the private equity firm?
  • What creative solutions can be identified within employee benefit programs to ensure cost savings while maintaining fiduciary responsibility?
  • In the pursuit of achieving savings, how can a “do no harm” approach be implemented to avoid negative impacts on jobs and employee satisfaction?
  • What strategies can be employed to develop metrics that effectively measure material returns resulting from Human Resources led cost-saving initiatives, and how can Human Resources stay adaptable to market dynamics during this process?

Featuring:

Agenda highlight - Day 2

Workforce compensation: uncovering modern trends, models, and metrics

  • As PE becomes more of a mature industry, how do you best deal with executive compensation, negotiations, and requests?
  • How effectively are you doing comp benchmarking up and down the ranks?
  • What are the latest and most creative compensation packages you are seeing? What types of equity/compensation packages is your workforce asking for?
  • How are you motivating and incentivizing employees across the different levels to retain them in this environment?
  • Equity vs. non equity in lower levels.
  • Inflationary and economic pressures on compensation — how do you get the best talent in this market while staying within budget?
  • Large cap vs. mid vs. small: sharing key differences and similarities in comp models across companies.

Compensation & Benefits

Solution providers for your business needs

Culture

Custom solutions for your business challenges

The Operating Partners Human Capital Forum offers portfolio operations teams a comprehensive analysis of talent value creation. As the demand for human capital rapidly increases, join industry names to network, collaborate, and determine the most effective ways to scale the talent function. Learn how other firms are driving growth through assessment, compensation, culture, DEI, leadership, organizational design, recruitment, technologies, and more.

Agenda highlight - Day 1

Portfolio case study: establishing a new culture with a new executive team to drive value and create One Company growth

  • Hear a case study from a Cloud Services portfolio company on how the ELT led a rebranding and culture change program to excite the employee base and drive value.
  • Learn how to conduct a culture change program from diagnostic to defining the new culture to launching the new culture to reinforcing the values and measuring success.
  • Learn how data and people analytics, a campaign, leadership actions, culture champion network, and refreshing talent practices drove adoption of the new culture.

Agenda highlight - Day 2

Transforming culture at your companies: what does good look like?

  • 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?
  • Looking at key elements of culture in the due diligence and post deal phase.
  • What does a healthy culture look like at your companies?
  • How do you align culture to the value creation plan? What are the biggest challenges in this area?
  • How do you maintain a healthy culture in a remote/hybrid world and across geographies?

Featuring functional specialists:

Culture

Solution providers for your business needs

Technologies

Custom solutions for your business challenges

The Operating Partners Human Capital Forum offers portfolio operations teams a comprehensive analysis of talent value creation. As the demand for human capital rapidly increases, join industry names to network, collaborate, and determine the most effective ways to scale the talent function. Learn how other firms are driving growth through assessment, compensation, culture, DEI, leadership, organizational design, recruitment, technologies, and more.

Agenda highlight - Day 1

Accelerating decision making through data and analytics for the human capital functional: tracking done right

  • How do you develop KPIs and what are your leading human capital indicators of performance? What macro and labor data trends are you paying close attention to?
  • AI, KPIs, metrics and data science for talent development and assessments: technologies used to build and assess teams.
  • What key metrics are you using for HR diligence and the onboarding process? What are you doing to enrich your firm and your investment partners with data and analytics?
  • What metrics are you using throughout the different phases of the investment lifecycle?
  • What tools are you using to automate talent processes?
  • Sharing data driven insights to improve your operations cross functionally
  • Efficiency metrics: how do you track your own talent team’s ROI and performance?
  • Uncovering key differences in metrics and tracking across sectors of investment.

Agenda highlight - Day 2

AI’s impact on the talent function in PE and the future workforce

  • How will AI change the talent function in PE? What is innovative from an AI perspective in talent? Will AI become more prominent within the talent function?
  • Sharing practical use cases: how are you using it? What should talent operating partners be using and doing now for impact?
  • How have you or your portfolio companies been leveraging generative AI on the recruiting/interviewing, assessment, or professional development front? How do you best use data with AI?
  • How are you looking at AI across job functions and the different levels within companies: how will workforces and headcount be impacted by it in future?
  • How do you create better workforce alignment around AI? How can CHROs help their workforces better grasp and work with AI?

Featuring:

Albert Vazquez-Agusti

Partner, Sway Ventures

Technologies

Solution providers for your business needs

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

Thanks for your interest

Thank you for your interest in the Operating Partners Human Capital Forum.

Your requested resource will be sent to the email address you provided.

Explore our event website to learn more about the Forum.

We hope to see you in New York City at next year’s event.

What is the Operating Partners Human Capital Forum?

The Operating Partners Human Capital Forum is the only conference focused entirely on the talent function in private equity. It brings together 300+ operating partners to share practical strategies for driving results through leadership, team design, organizational effectiveness, and talent strategy across the portfolio.

When and where is the Forum held?

The Forum takes place March 25-26, 2026 at Convene, located at 360 Madison Avenue in New York City (45th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue).

The pre-event Welcome Reception and Dinner (for operating partners only) takes place on March 24, 2026 from 5:30-9:00pm.

Who should attend the Operating Partners Human Capital Forum?

This event is built exclusively for private equity operating partners and value creation teams, especially those involved in human capital, talent strategy, organizational design, or value creation planning. In addition, if you are a generalist value creator, are building or coaching teams and leadership within your portfolio companies, or scaling talent teams across the portfolio, this is the event for you.

How can I register for the Forum?

You can book online here. To access the best rates and secure your place at the operating partner-only Welcome Reception and Dinner, we recommend registering as early as possible as space fills up fast.

What is the cost to attend?

Pricing varies based on registration date and your firm type. Discounted rates are available for early registrants. Full pricing information is available on the booking page.

What is the dress code?

We recommend business attire for this event.

What topics and sessions will be covered?

The agenda focuses on the people side of value creation. Key themes include:

  • CEO assessment and leadership performance metrics
  • AI use cases across executive search, onboarding, and culture
  • Scaling internal talent teams to meet portfolio demands
  • Organizational design and workforce planning
  • CHRO collaboration and HR integration
  • Human capital operating model best practices

What are the networking opportunities?

The Forum includes multiple structured and informal networking touchpoints, including an invitation-only pre-event reception for operating partners, small-group think tanks, topic-based roundtables, and peer-led working sessions designed to help you benchmark in a confidential setting. See the agenda for more.

How can I sponsor the Forum?

PEI’s Value Creation Partner programs provide an all-inclusive platform for organizations to engage with private equity operating partners and value creation teams in high level problem solving conversations and explore opportunities for collaboration. To learn more, contact Lawrence Dvorchik at Lawrence.d@pei.group or visit the sponsorship page.

How can I apply to speak or join the agenda?

If you’re a PE or VC operating partner with hands-on experience in talent strategy, organizational design, or leadership execution, reach out to Marc Mele at marc.m@pei.group to learn more about speaking opportunities.

Are there any exclusive or invitation-only sessions?

Yes. Certain sessions, including the pre-event networking reception, are exclusive to operating partners and by invitation. These are clearly marked on the agenda.

Can I attend only part of the event?

We currently only offer a two-day pass for the forum, as we recommend attending both days to create the most value for you and your firm from attending the forum.

Is this event suitable for international attendees?

Yes, international operating partners and value creation professionals are encouraged to attend. All content is delivered in English, but the Forum regularly hosts attendees from North America, Europe, and beyond.

Will session recordings or materials be shared afterward?

Some session materials may be made available to attendees after the event. However, many discussions are held under Chatham House rule and are not recorded to encourage candid exchange among peers.

Is there a refund or cancellation policy?

Our cancellation policy does not provide a refund. It grants you a credit to be applied to attend a future PEI Forum, valid for 12 months from the date of issuance. The credit can be used by the attendee cancelling or anyone from your firm. Alternatively, in the event of a cancellation, your attendee pass can be transferred to a colleague to attend the current event.