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DATA-DRIVEN TALENT ID

By analyzing the most successful PE exits and their executive teams, we’ve reverse-engineered the key qualities that drive exceptional returns. While others rely on intuition, our proprietary analytics—grounded in Steven Kaplan’s groundbreaking research at Chicago Booth—identify these critical traits. We call this Private Equity DNA™

How We Did This

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Step 1
Deal Analysis
  • We've analyzed 500 of the most successful private equity exits from the past 5 years
  • Ranked these exits based on multiple success criteria
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Step 2:

Executive Team Analysis
  • Examined executive teams both pre-close and post-exit
  • Identified common characteristics among top-performing teams
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Step 3:
Developed PE Success Leadership Formula
  • Developed a thesis on candidate qualities that predict success in PE portfolio companies
  • We continually refine our model based on new data and outcomes

PE Success Metrics Database

By studying 500+ top-performing PE exits and their leadership teams pre-close and post-exit, we've identified the executive characteristics that drive exceptional returns.

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895000 +

Executive data points analyzed

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500 +

Deals analyzed

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1800 +

Portco Leadership Backgrounds Analyzed 

To decode which executive experiences deliver premium returns, we analyzed nearly 900,000 data points across...
COMPANY
  • Industry
  • Company Size/Revenue
  • Deal Size
  • Deal Type (Buyout/LBO, Recap, Corp Div. etc.)
  • Exit Type (Strategic/Financial/IPO)
  • Hold Time
  • Exit Value
  • Employee Count
  • Number of Leadership Changes
EXECUTIVE TEAM
  • Prior Industry Experience
  • Prior PE Experience
  • Prior C-Suite Experience
  • Prior Title/Function
  • Number of Prior Leadership Roles
  • Fortune 500 Experience
  • Functional Background:
    • CEO's: Sales, Operations, Finance, Technology
    • CFO's: FP&A, Treasury, Controller
  • Educational Background
  • Internal vs. External Hire
  • Length of Pre-Acquisition Tenure
  • Presence at Both Acquisition & Exit

Private Equity DNA™: The Formula for Leadership Success

Great PE leaders aren’t just born—they’re tested. The executives who drive superior returns combine the right traits with the right experience in high-growth, investor-backed settings. Our Private Equity DNA™ framework pinpoints those who have both, ensuring your next hire is built for PE success.

Your investments deserve precision. Connect with us to learn which leadership traits create the best returns.

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