In this episode, we sit down with Curt Miller, Operations Consultant at Littlejohn & Co., to discuss the transition from the “classically trained” GE culture to the high-stakes world of private equity. Curt shares his journey from an industrial engineer to a procurement expert who has navigated some of the biggest PE firms in the industry. We explore his player-coach philosophy, why procurement is often a late-stage strategic lever rather than a Day 1 priority, and how AI is currently transforming contract management from a day-long task into a 15-minute review. Curt provides a pragmatic look at value creation, explaining why incremental improvement often yields higher returns than chasing a best-in-class ideal.
Join us as we discuss:
[1:28] Injecting the GE experience into a rising firm in the early days of private equity
[9:19] How talented generalists find success in niche organizations
[13:37] Elevating procurement from a quick revenue injection to a long-term strategy
[20:25] How Curt thinks AI could transform the procurement space
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