The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection
Hosted by Alex Rawlings, Managing Partner of Raw Selection, a specialist executive search firm. Join us as we interview the leading experts in Private Equity, unlocking their secrets of success to share with you.
Discover how some of the top Private Equity professionals got into Private Equity, how they rose to success and learn about some of the mistakes they made along the way.
Alex has strong connections to the Private Equity industry through his executive search firm, Raw Selection, which specialises in working with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies across Europe and North America. Alex is straight talking and to the point and aims to unlock real gold you can build into your firm or portfolio companies. Find out more at www.raw-selection.com
The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection
The Hidden Mistakes Killing PE Value (And How to Fix Them)
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Episode Summary
Paul Brennan, PE-backed CFO, shares lessons from exiting Lindsay Precast (sold to The Jordan Company), covering exit prep, value creation, and integration.
⏱️ Key Timestamps
00:00 – Intro & Background
CFO experience across PE, public, and family-owned businesses.
01:23 – Common PE Mistake
Lack of clarity on why data requests matter → impacts alignment.
03:13 – Exit Preparation
👉 Prepare every quarter
- Update data room
- Review QoE
- Avoid last-minute pressure
05:07 – Data Insight
Customer profitability analysis revealed hidden value drivers.
06:03 – Sale Process
👉 Management must own the narrative
- Review CIM as an outsider
07:46 – Final Exit Lesson
Working capital & closing estimates need tighter focus.
08:44 – Key Win
CRM rollout improved pipeline visibility and buyer confidence.
11:08 – Acquisition (Dutchland)
👉 Weekly integration + team collaboration drove success.
13:57 – Finance Transformation
- Built FP&A + BI tools
- Real-time data for better decisions
14:51 – Standardisation
Unified processes improved scalability and exit readiness.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Align teams by linking actions to value creation
- Always be exit-ready
- Data visibility = competitive advantage
- Own your story in a sale
- Integration requires structure and consistency
- Strong FP&A drives performance
Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.
🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/
🌐 Visit Raw Selection www.raw-selection.com
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