Lloyd Metz, Doug McCormick, and Sean Mooney pull back the curtain on the real career path inside private equity, from first-year associate to partner. They break down the skills, judgment calls, and personal evolution required at each level, including when talent is assessed, how responsibility compounds, and why synthesis and EQ matter as much as modeling. The conversation also tackles business school, asking for help, and the realities of partnership economics and firm leadership. This is a candid, operator-level guide to navigating a private equity career with eyes wide open—hit play.

For more information on the podcast, visit bestbutneverfinal.buzzsprout.com and embark on your journey to private equity excellence today.

Visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-but-never-final-podcast/
Visit us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bestbutneverfinal/

For information on HCI Equity Partners, go to https://www.hciequity.com
For information on ICV Partners, go to https://www.icvpartners.com
For information on BluWave, go to https://www.bluwave.net

Mike Magliochetti, Operating Partner at Riverside Partners and former multi-time PE-backed CEO, explains how operating partners create real value by bridging deal teams and portfolio company leadership. Drawing from three decades as an operator and his book Dancing Between the Toes of Elephants, Mike shares how trust, pattern recognition, and execution discipline shape better outcomes across diligence, governance, and growth. He also addresses deal fever, founder dynamics, and why serving outcomes—not egos—matters most. This conversation offers a clear-eyed view of modern private equity value creation—worth every minute.

Get Mike's Book at https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Between-Toes-Elephants-Experience/dp/1964421136
For more information on Riverside Partners, go to https://riversidepartners.com/
For more information on Mike Magliochetti, https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-magliochetti-9905371

For more information on the podcast, visit bestbutneverfinal.buzzsprout.com and embark on your journey to private equity excellence today.

Visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-but-never-final-podcast/
Visit us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bestbutneverfinal/

For information on HCI Equity Partners, go to https://www.hciequity.com
For information on ICV Partners, go to https://www.icvpartners.com
For information on BluWave, go to https://www.bluwave.net

Meranee Phing Naaman, a trailblazer with over 25 years in private equity and two decades as a senior investment partner at Riverside Company, shares hard-won lessons from building and scaling businesses in consumer markets. She explains why IQ alone isn't enough in PE—you need EQ to sell your vision and LQ (learning quotient) to keep pattern recognition sharp. From buying the same home services business twice to pioneering franchising as a PE strategy, Meranee breaks down what separates good investors from great ones.

For more information on the podcast, visit bestbutneverfinal.buzzsprout.com and embark on your journey to private equity excellence today.

Visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-but-never-final-podcast/
Visit us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bestbutneverfinal/

For information on HCI Equity Partners, go to https://www.hciequity.com
For information on ICV Partners, go to https://www.icvpartners.com
For information on BluWave, go to https://www.bluwave.net

Sean Mooney, Doug McCormick, and Lloyd Metz dissect the gap between textbook valuation methods and what actually happens when private equity firms decide what to pay for a business. They compare DCF models to LBO models, debate the usefulness of terminal value assumptions, and explain why market-based approaches trump theoretical frameworks. The conversation reveals how deal psychology, credit availability, and real-world capital structures shape valuation decisions far more than any spreadsheet ever could.

For more information on the podcast, visit bestbutneverfinal.buzzsprout.com and embark on your journey to private equity excellence today.

Visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-but-never-final-podcast/
Visit us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bestbutneverfinal/

For information on HCI Equity Partners, go to https://www.hciequity.com
For information on ICV Partners, go to https://www.icvpartners.com
For information on BluWave, go to https://www.bluwave.net

In this continuation of their conversation on portfolio performance, co-hosts Lloyd Metz (ICV Partners), Doug McCormick (HCI Equity Partners), and Sean Mooney (BluWave) move from diagnosis to action: what to actually do once you know a business isn’t performing to plan.

They cover how to tell a temporary headwind from a structural problem, where to start on revenue and cost fixes, and how to balance quick liquidity levers with long-term value creation.

From pricing strategy and marketing ROI to Lean Six Sigma process improvements, working capital discipline, and when to inject new capital, this episode is a playbook for business builders navigating tough quarters with clear eyes and steady hands.

Episode Highlights

• 2:21 – Distinguishing market challenges from internal structural problems
• 7:01 – Boosting top-line growth through pricing, marketing, and sales leadership
• 16:48 – Cutting costs intelligently: process efficiency, spend takeout, and Lean systems
• 28:45 – Managing liquidity: working capital, cash creation, and balance-sheet discipline
• 36:18 – Knowing when more capital helps and when it’s time to stop funding the problem

For more information on the podcast, visit bestbutneverfinal.buzzsprout.com and embark on your journey to private equity excellence today.

Visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-but-never-final-podcast/
Visit us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bestbutneverfinal/

For information on HCI Equity Partners, go to https://www.hciequity.com
For information on ICV Partners, go to https://www.icvpartners.com
For information on BluWave, go to https://www.bluwave.net

Private equity is messy in real time. In this episode, co-hosts Lloyd Metz (ICV Partners), Doug McCormick (HCI Equity Partners), and Sean Mooney (BluWave) lay out practical ways to spot trouble early, separate market shifts from operator errors, and use forward indicators, not just rear-view financials, to steer.

They cover KPI design by business model, forecasting discipline, the “support before swap” approach to diagnosis, and when to move to interim leadership while hiring the permanent fix. Clear, blunt, and field-tested; hit play to sharpen how you manage downside and protect value.

Episode highlights

• 3:54 – Why monthly financials are rear-view and can mask emerging issues
• 7:53 – Reading the balance sheet and cash flow to surface hidden problems
• 10:22 – Forward signals: funnels, backlog, churn, and other business-specific KPIs
• 12:42 – Reforecasting discipline, tracking “call accuracy,” and bias correction
• 19:17 – Diagnosis through support: roll-up-sleeves work with operators, not board-deck analysis
• 33:27 – When it’s leadership: interim coverage, “fire fast, hire slow,” and setting the next exec up to win

For more information on the podcast, visit bestbutneverfinal.buzzsprout.com and embark on your journey to private equity excellence today.

Visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-but-never-final-podcast/
Visit us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bestbutneverfinal/

For information on HCI Equity Partners, go to https://www.hciequity.com
For information on ICV Partners, go to https://www.icvpartners.com
For information on BluWave, go to https://www.bluwave.net

Sean Mooney shares a quick update from the Best But Never Final team. With deal flow, board work, and summer schedules in full swing, the podcast is taking a short break until after Labor Day. Sean reflects on the original vision for the show, offers suggestions for catching up, and previews what’s ahead. Whether you’re new to private equity or deep in the game, there’s plenty to dig into while we’re away.

For more information on the podcast, visit bestbutneverfinal.buzzsprout.com and embark on your journey to private equity excellence today.

Visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-but-never-final-podcast/
Visit us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bestbutneverfinal/

For information on HCI Equity Partners, go to https://www.hciequity.com
For information on ICV Partners, go to https://www.icvpartners.com
For information on BluWave, go to https://www.bluwave.net

Board meetings are a critical tool for private equity firms to drive strategy, track progress, and unlock value. In this episode, Sean Mooney, Lloyd Metz, and Doug McCormick explore how private equity boards operate, from setting agendas and assembling members to balancing tactical updates with strategic discussions.

They discuss the importance of preparation, the role of independent directors, and how to ensure that board meetings foster alignment and productive decision-making. Whether you’re refining your approach or learning how boards work, this episode offers key insights for making meetings count.

Episode Highlights:

2:27 - The strategic purpose of PE board meetings and how they differ from weekly updates.

4:02 - Preparation benefits: How crafting the deck helps teams prioritize objectives.

10:02 - Board composition explained: PE team members, independent directors, and management.

18:48 - The role of independent directors: Strategic value and practical benefits.

27:01 - Structuring meetings: Financial updates, strategy reviews, and actionable takeaways.

34:13 - Avoiding pitfalls: Keeping board discussions strategic, not bogged down by readouts.

47:20 - Board logistics: Meeting frequency, in-person sessions, and practical considerations.

For more information on the podcast, visit bestbutneverfinal.buzzsprout.com and embark on your journey to private equity excellence today.

Visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-but-never-final-podcast/
Visit us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bestbutneverfinal/

For information on HCI Equity Partners, go to https://www.hciequity.com
For information on ICV Partners, go to https://www.icvpartners.com
For information on BluWave, go to https://www.bluwave.net