Getting Hired by a PE-Owned Portco: Why Building Your Practice with BlackmoreConnects Is Key to Landing the Role
Written By: Gerald O’Dwyer IIThe PE Guru — Blackmore Partners, Inc | December 12th, 2024
Introduction: A New Game with New Rules
Landing a role with a private equity (PE)-owned portfolio company (portco) is unlike any other career opportunity. While traditional hiring practices in the public and private sectors may emphasize experience and general fit, PE hiring demands that you demonstrate your ability to execute on the financial and operational levers that drive transformative change.
This is where building your practice on the court with BlackmoreConnects comes into play. Just as athletes test and refine their skills in real-game scenarios, BlackmoreConnects offers executives a dynamic platform to engage, test strategies, and learn in real-time. In this article, we’ll dive into why BlackmoreConnects is the ultimate training ground for aligning yourself with the PE hiring process, how to map your experience to the PE life cycle, and why practice and testing are critical for success.
PE Hiring: More Than a Job—A Strategic Lever
The Financial Levers That Drive PE Hiring
PE firms acquire companies with a singular focus: to drive value creation and ultimately sell the company for a high return. Every hiring decision is geared toward ensuring that the right executive can execute on key levers such as:
- EBITDA Growth: Streamlining operations, reducing costs, or boosting revenues.
- Operational Improvements: Increasing efficiency and scalability.
- Exit Readiness: Preparing the company to attract buyers.
BlackmoreConnects helps you refine your ability to navigate these levers by providing access to PE-focused workshops, networking events, and case studies where you can test your ideas, sharpen your skills, and demonstrate your ability to drive change.
The PE Life Cycle: Key Hiring Insights
Understanding the PE life cycle is critical to positioning yourself for a role with a portco. Every stage of the life cycle requires different skill sets, and BlackmoreConnects gives you the tools to identify where a company is in its journey and tailor your approach accordingly.
1. Acquisition and Transition Phase
- Focus: Stabilize the company and establish a new baseline.
- What PE Firms Look For: Tactical problem-solvers who can rapidly address inefficiencies and stabilize operations.
- How BlackmoreConnects Helps: Through interactive workshops and networking with PE professionals, you can refine your ability to quickly diagnose operational issues and propose solutions that align with the company’s immediate needs.
2. Growth and Optimization Phase
- Focus: Drive growth and scalability while maintaining operational discipline.
- What PE Firms Look For: Executives with a metrics-driven mindset who can balance strategic vision with day-to-day execution.
- How BlackmoreConnects Helps: By engaging in peer discussions and scenario-based practice, you’ll learn how to articulate strategies for scaling operations, managing growth initiatives, and delivering measurable results.
3. Exit Preparation Phase
- Focus: Optimize financial metrics and operational performance to maximize exit value.
- What PE Firms Look For: Detail-oriented leaders who can lead with precision under tight timelines.
- How BlackmoreConnects Helps: Through case studies and role-play exercises, you’ll practice identifying high-impact metrics and developing strategies to meet aggressive exit timelines.
Practice and Test: Building Your Playbook with BlackmoreConnects
Executives who succeed in PE-owned portcos don’t just show up—they’ve practiced and tested their approach. BlackmoreConnects provides a unique platform to “play on the court” through:
1. Networking with PE Decision-Makers
Every interaction with a PE firm is an opportunity to test your understanding of the levers they value most. BlackmoreConnects conferences allow you to engage directly with decision-makers, ask questions, and fine-tune your messaging.
2. Scenario-Based Workshops
PE hiring requires the ability to think through complex trade-offs. BlackmoreConnects workshops immerse you in real-world scenarios, challenging you to navigate decisions such as:
- Speed vs. precision: When to act quickly versus when to gather more data.
- Short-term gains vs. long-term value: How to balance immediate fixes with sustainable growth.
- Cost-cutting vs. cultural impact: Managing operational changes without jeopardizing morale.
3. Building Measurable Narratives
PE firms demand evidence of past success. BlackmoreConnects helps you craft compelling narratives that highlight the measurable impact you’ve had in prior roles, such as:
- “Reduced SG&A costs by 15% in six months through process automation.”
- “Led a $50M revenue growth initiative by entering new markets and increasing pricing by 10%.”
Mapping Your History to Fit the PE Playbook
To succeed in PE hiring, you must align your past experiences with the PE life cycle. This requires:
- Understanding the Company’s Investment Thesis: BlackmoreConnects teaches you how to ask the right questions and uncover insights about a PE firm’s strategy, even when the thesis is not fully disclosed due to confidentiality.
- Creating a Framework for Trade-Offs: Use BlackmoreConnects scenarios to refine your decision-making process, demonstrating your ability to think critically about competing priorities.
- Proving You’re an Architect of Change: Highlight past roles where you designed and executed strategies that drove measurable change, not just participated in them.
What If You Can’t Access the Thesis?
Sometimes, due to the sensitive nature of PE investment theses, you won’t have access to detailed information until late in the hiring process. Here’s how to adapt:
- Focus on Universal Metrics: Demonstrate your ability to drive EBITDA, operational efficiency, and growth.
- Ask Strategic Questions:
- What are the company’s immediate priorities?
- What metrics are most important to the PE owners?
- Leverage BlackmoreConnects Resources: Use the insights and strategies gained from workshops and conferences to demonstrate your understanding of PE priorities, even without the full thesis.
Why PE Needs Executives Who Can Make Trade-Offs
PE firms value leaders who can make quick, informed decisions. BlackmoreConnects helps you build a framework for navigating trade-offs, such as:
- Scenario: The company needs to cut costs by 10% but risks losing top talent. How do you approach this challenge?
- Practice: Through BlackmoreConnects workshops, you’ll refine your ability to weigh options, propose solutions, and explain the reasoning behind your decisions.
Conclusion: Start Building Your PE Career Now
Landing a role with a PE-owned portco isn’t just about your resume—it’s about demonstrating your ability to drive value at every stage of the PE life cycle. BlackmoreConnects provides the ultimate platform to practice, test, and refine your approach in a real-world context.
By leveraging BlackmoreConnects’ workshops, networking events, and resources, you’ll not only build the skills PE firms demand but also gain the confidence to engage with decision-makers, navigate trade-offs, and position yourself as the architect of change. Start practicing today and prepare to meet the PE world on its terms, driving value from day one and ultimately contributing to a successful exit.