Shows
Private Equity ExperienceLeveraged Buyouts Uncovered: Private Equity’s High-Stakes GameIn Episode 15, hosts Emily Sanders and Rory Liebhart delve into the world of Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), examining how private equity firms and other entities utilize substantial debt to acquire companies. Joined by expert Edward Barton, the conversation examines the mechanics of an LBO, its benefits and substantial risks, including cash flow pressure and covenant breaches. The episode also addresses why the current private equity market is experiencing a "log jam" due to factors like high valuations from past years and rising interest rates.Key Takeaways & Discussion Highlights (Leveraged Deal Structure)What is...2025-07-1037 minPrivate Equity ExperienceRaising Capital 101: Insights from Seasoned PE ProsDescription:In this episode, we explore the various types of funding rounds that a startup or business can undergo, ranging from angel investing to private equity buyouts. Our guests, Emily Sander and Rory Liebhart, are joined by Ed Barton, who shares his expertise on the private equity side.Key Takeaways:Angel investing: This refers to the initial round of funding, typically provided by high-net-worth individuals or family offices. It's a high-risk, high-reward investment, and the investor typically seeks a 10- to 20-fold return on investment.Pre-Series A: This is the next round of...2025-06-1244 min
Leveraging LeadershipHow Non-Action Conversations Enhance Business RelationshipsEmily Sander talks about the importance of conversations focused on understanding, not always on doing. As a Chief of Staff, you're often in "go mode," but sometimes it's essential to just listen and understand a team member's perspective. She gives tips like changing the conversation's setting or tone to foster better understanding and notes that this skill is key for mediating disagreements and improving team performance.Links Mentioned:Clarity Call with Emily Free Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA Day in the Life of a Ch...2025-04-3008 minLeveraging LeadershipListener Question: How to Request Feedback as a New Chief of StaffEmily Sander answers a listener's question about getting specific feedback in the Chief of Staff role. She suggests asking more focused questions and tailoring the feedback process to fit individual preferences, like providing options for written or verbal feedback. Emily also highlights the importance of building a culture of open feedback through demonstration and modeling.Links Mentioned:Clarity Call with Emily Free Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA Day in the Life of a Chief of StaffChief of Staff Toolkit Get in Tou...2025-04-1609 minLeveraging LeadershipExclusive Edition: AceUp’s Game-Changing Coaching Platform and 360 Feedback ReportsEmily Sander hosts Sara Dakin, Senior Coach Network Manager at AceUp, to discuss their coaching platform focused on leadership development using technology and data. They explore the use of 360-degree feedback reports, highlighting strengths and growth areas, with examples of how this has impacted leaders like Sara. They also talk about AceUp's team coaching initiatives and the integration of AI to enhance coaching experiences. Emily has a special connection to AceUp - tune in to hear about it!Links Mentioned:AceUp WebsiteFree Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief o...2025-04-1446 minLeveraging LeadershipTackling Office Politics: Are You Ready to Play the Game?Emily Sander discusses the challenges of navigating office politics, identifying the "games" at play, and deciding if you're willing and able to participate. Examples include dealing with strong personalities or working long hours. She also talks about life changes affecting your willingness to play and shares strategies for shifting your approach over time.Links Mentioned:Clarity Call with EmilyFree Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA Day in the Life of a Chief of StaffChief of Staff Toolkit Get in Touch Wi...2025-04-0908 minLeveraging LeadershipEffective Event Networking for Introverts: Enjoy Building Connections Without The StressEmily Sander introduces Rob Giardinelli, an introvert with a long career in the tech industry, who has attended over 2000 networking events and founded Event Mindset to help others with similar experiences. Giardinelli offers specific strategies for introverts, like starting conversations by asking "What brings you here tonight?" and finding conversations at the bar line or during event activities. He also emphasizes introverts' value at events and shares tactics for gracefully exiting conversations and engaging with event hosts.Links Mentioned:Event Mindset WebsiteEvent Mindset Contact Email: info@eventmindset.comConnect with Rob Giardinelli on LinkedIn2025-04-0735 minLeveraging LeadershipBeyond Predictions: How Real Outcomes Shape Effective LeadershipEmily Sander discusses how we often let assumptions and predictions about future meetings or situations affect us. She shares examples like a boss announcing role changes and budget approval meetings to highlight the gap between our internal stories and reality. By reflecting on these differences, we can build evidence showing that negative assumptions rarely unfold as imagined and train our brains to expect a more balanced or positive outcome.Links Mentioned:Clarity Call with Emily Free Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA Day in the Li...2025-04-0210 minLeveraging LeadershipChief of Staff Success: Tips for Thriving in Startup EnvironmentsEmily Sander talks with Rafael Mari about the role of Chief of Staff and its development in France compared to the US. Rafael shares his journey from financial consulting to Chief of Staff roles in various companies, including his current position at Swan, a European banking service provider. They discuss the importance of building trust with the CEO, having clear ownership of projects, and the necessity for CEOs to genuinely want a Chief of Staff for the role to be successful.Free Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA Day i...2025-03-2437 minLeveraging LeadershipCrafting Clear Job Descriptions for Attracting The Right Talent to Your OrgEmily Sander discusses how Chiefs of Staff, particularly in smaller to mid-sized companies, can craft effective job descriptions. She shares a five-section structure: intro paragraph, what you'll be doing, what we're looking for, benefits and perks, and call to action. Emily provides examples, like including "what you'll be doing" bullet points and adding a unique attribute section for clarity.Links Mentioned:Clarity Call with Emily Free Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA Day in the Life of a Chief of StaffChief of Staff Toolkit 2025-03-1912 minLeveraging LeadershipWhen to Involve Additional Team Members in Critical Business DecisionsEmily Sander, Chief of Staff to an executive leadership coach, discusses how to handle underperforming team members by involving others in the team. She shares a case where a founder had difficulty getting metrics from a team member named Sharon. To solve this, Emily suggests including Daniel, an individual contributor close to the data, in meetings. This helps uncover Sharon's hidden talent and ensures essential work is completed, while also providing contingency plans if Sharon exits.Links Mentioned:Clarity Call with Emily Free Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of St...2025-03-1208 minLeveraging LeadershipHow an Irish Comedian Uses Humor to Enhance Business CommunicationEmily Sander interviews Conor Cunneen, a former VP of Marketing turned keynote speaker and business humorist. Conor discusses the power of humor in business, using the "LAUGH" acronym to add humor to presentations. He shares examples like a neurosurgeon's humorous slide and suggests building a collection of anecdotes to make work environments more engaging.Links Mentioned:Conor Cunneen’s WebsiteFree Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA Day in the Life of a Chief of StaffChief of Staff Toolkit Get in Touch With Emily:Co...2025-03-1037 minPrivate Equity ExperienceThe PE Leadership Gambit: What Happens to the C-Suite After Acquisition?What happens to leadership teams when private equity enters the picture? In this revealing episode of The Private Equity Experience, Emily Sander, Rory Liebhart, and Ed Barton discuss the dramatic shifts that occur when PE firms acquire companies. Drawing from their battle-scarred experiences, they explore how founders navigate new stakeholder relationships, why CFOs often become CEOs, and the critical importance of meeting financial covenants. Learn why "business as usual" isn't an option, why flash reports become non-negotiable, and how to identify hidden talent during reorganization. Whether you're a founder considering a PE partnership or an executive navigating post-acquisition waters...2025-03-0732 minLeveraging LeadershipMaking Critical Leadership Decisions During Major Industry DisruptionsEmily Sander discusses how leaders can make strategic decisions when unexpected events occur, using an example of a project that fell behind due to industry changes. A company leader had to shift focus from their planned initiative to tackle a new urgent industry policy, which Emily explains was a necessary strategic adjustment, not a failure. She emphasizes that changing plans in response to significant changes is a sign of good leadership.Links Mentioned:Clarity Call with EmilyFree Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA D...2025-03-0504 minLeveraging LeadershipWorth The Fight? Juggling Short-Terms Wins and Long-Term GoalsEmily Sander talks about deciding which battles to fight in a leadership role. She shares a story of a Chief of Staff who chose a short-term reorg plan to avoid conflict with a long-standing Chief Product Officer. Another example is a CEO who decided to replace a problematic Senior Vice President to prepare the company for a sale.Links Mentioned:Clarity Call with EmilyFree Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA Day in the Life of a Chief of StaffChief of Staff Toolkit2025-02-2607 minLeveraging LeadershipFinding Balance Between Work Tasks and Relationship BuildingEmily Sander interviews Matt Hartman, a Chief of Staff at Oracle, about his dual role overseeing employee-facing technology and a service group. Matt shares his strategies for prioritization, like focusing on company-wide goals first, utilizing delegation, and fostering teamwork across global teams. He highlights practices like implementing "Friye" for recognition and ensuring cross-training in his team to handle challenges effectively.Free Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA Day in the Life of a Chief of StaffChief of Staff ToolkitGet in Touch With Emily:C...2025-02-2440 minPrivate Equity ExperienceCracking the Code on Private Equity Valuations: Understanding the Art and Science of M&A DealsThis episode of The Private Equity Experience dives deep into the crucial and often dramatic world of business valuation in private equity deals. Hosts Emily Sander, Rory Liebhart, and Ed Barton explore the complexities, emotions, and strategic considerations determining a company's worth during the "buy phase." They discuss key valuation methodologies (revenue multiples and EBITDA multiples), the importance of revenue recognition, and how "corporate hygiene" (organized and accurate financial records) directly impacts perceived risk and, ultimately, the final valuation. The hosts emphasize that getting the valuation right is paramount, as it sets the tone for the entire private equity ho...2025-02-2029 minLeveraging LeadershipAvoiding Overcorrection in Personal Growth - Balancing Leadership StrengthsEmily Sander discusses the importance of not losing your strengths while trying to fix your weaknesses. She shares examples like someone being too aggressive in communication and someone being too timid. Emily emphasizes that being direct can be a strength if balanced, just as listening can be, and encourages self-awareness and using feedback to improve leadership skills.Links Mentioned:Clarity Call with EmilyFree Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA Day in the Life of a Chief of StaffChief of Staff Toolkit2025-02-1910 minLeveraging LeadershipA Decade in the Making: Founder and COS Together AgainEmily Sander talks with guests Nikki Barua and Cheryl Couch about building and leading a professional development platform that helps businesses grow highly engaged, future-ready talent. Using community-driven, tech-enabled learning, they help top companies boost revenue, retention, and engagement while empowering diverse professionals to rise as resilient leaders. Their mission is to expand economic opportunity for all, guiding professionals from campus to the C-suite and creating a platform that accelerates success for everyone. Because when more of us have a seat at the table, everyone wins.Links Mentioned:Connect with Nikki Barua on LinkedInConnect with Cheryl...2025-02-1739 minLeveraging LeadershipUsing Flash Reports to Improve Leadership Communication and Keep the Board HappyEmily Sander discusses the benefits of flash reports in tracking company performance. Flash reports provide a quick overview with KPIs from each department and brief updates from department leaders. They help leadership teams stay informed and enhance board relations by facilitating clear and direct communication.Links Mentioned:Clarity Call with EmilyFree Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA Day in the Life of a Chief of StaffChief of Staff ToolkitGet in Touch With Emily:Connect on LinkedInFollow on Y...2025-02-1214 minLeveraging LeadershipHow Chief of Staff Association Elevates Leadership and Organizational Alignment GloballyEmily Sander interviews Trent Smyth and Jeremy Costa from the Chief of Staff Association, exploring the relationship between a Principal and Chief of Staff. They discuss the role of a Chief of Staff and the association's programs at Oxford and Harvard, emphasizing alignment and personal development. The episode also covers the association's global reach, including networking opportunities and its new military membership initiative.Links Mentioned:Chief of Staff Association WebsiteFree Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA Day in the Life of a Chief o...2025-02-1044 minPrivate Equity ExperienceUnderstanding the Private Equity Ecosystem: VC, Series Funding, and PE FirmsIn this informative episode of the Private Equity Experience podcast, hosts Emily Sander, Rory Liebhart, and Ed Barton break down the complex world of private equity, venture capital, and series funding. Learn the differences between VC and PE firms and how to navigate the ecosystem to secure funding for your startup. Discover the importance of assembling a strong team of advisors and resources, including investment banks, financial advisors, and startup accelerators like Y Combinator and Startup Grind. Get insights on preparing for private equity investment and learn about essential books like "On Ramp to Exit" that can help you...2025-02-0633 minLeveraging LeadershipMapping Contributions: How Every Team Member Affects Customer SatisfactionThis episode of Leveraging Leadership focuses on defining the customer using three key questions. Emily Sander, Chief of Staff, discusses how crucial it is for everyone to understand their impact on the customer and what the customer really, REALLY wants. Links Mentioned:Clarity Call with EmilyFree Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA Day in the Life of a Chief of StaffChief of Staff ToolkitGet in Touch With Emily:Connect on LinkedInFollow on YouTubeLearn more about coaching Sign up for the newsletterClarity Call with Emily2025-02-0511 minLeveraging LeadershipHow a Principal and Chief of Staff From T-Mobile Started Venture ForgeEmily Sander talks with Adam Maddock and Marcus East about their careers and roles at T Mobile, highlighting Adam's background as a Marine and his role as Chief of Staff and Marcus's position as Chief Digital Officer. They discuss the importance of trust, integrity, and the strategic impact of the Chief of Staff role. The episode also covers their new venture, Venture Forge, which aims to democratize wealth creation by supporting underserved founders with funding, resources, and a supportive community.Links Mentioned:The Venture Forge WebsiteEmail contact for Adam Maddock: adam@ventureforge.orgEmail contact for Marcus...2025-01-2752 minLeveraging LeadershipUnderstanding Cause and Effect Across Your Org Using Strategy MapsEmily Sander explains the cause and effect relationship between the four Balanced Scorecard perspectives: financial, customer, internal process, and learning and development. She shares examples like employee training programs leading to streamlined internal SOPs, which enhance customer experience and increase market share. She also talks about creating a visual strategy map to keep track of strategic objectives and the process her executive leadership team used to brainstorm and select these objectives.Links Mentioned:Static Image of the Strategy MapClarity Call with EmilyFree Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA D...2025-01-2213 min