How Private Equity Finds & Hires The Best Talent With Rob Huxtable

Nick is joined by Rob Huxtable, a partner at executive search firm Falcon, to discuss what it takes to thrive as a C-suite leader in a private equity-backed company. Rob shares his expertise on the characteristics and skills necessary for success in this environment, delving into the importance of self-esteem, execution at velocity, hands-on involvement, effective communication, and influence without authority.

They also explore the need for alignment with the specific governance model of a private equity firm.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Self-esteem and vulnerability are crucial traits for success in a private equity-backed company. Executives need to believe in themselves, be open to recognising their gaps, and continuously strive for improvement.
• Execution at velocity is highly valued in the private equity world. Executives must be able to make decisions quickly, be data-driven, and have a sense of urgency to drive results.
• Hands-on involvement is essential in private equity-backed companies. Executives should be willing to roll up their sleeves, be involved in various aspects of the business, and have a deep understanding of the operations.
• Effective communication is key. Private equity firms value clear, succinct communication that includes the problem, solution, and action plan. Building trust and maintaining alignment with the board is crucial for success.
• The ideal skill set for executives in private equity-backed companies includes a strong foundation from a blue-chip company, experience in progressively smaller businesses, engineering scalable operations, and the ability to align with the investment thesis of the firm. Adaptability and the ability to influence without authority are also important skills to possess.

BEST MOMENTS

"If you don't prepare properly for what is the biggest financial event of your life, you are the prey." 

"Private equity investors are some of the brightest and most ambitious and boldest business minds out there, but they're also risk averse, thoughtful." 

"You better be reinventing yourself and improving on a constant basis." 

"The minute you let that moat run dry, they have no choice but to infiltrate and start taking more control than you might like."

"We want to make sure they are systematised and mechanised to scale, without excessive dependency on people and more dependency on process." 

VALUABLE RESOURCES

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https://highvalueexit.scoreapp.com/

Rob Huxtable LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robhuxtable

ABOUT THE HOST 

Nick Bradley is a renowned entrepreneur, investor, speaker, and business growth expert.
His background is growing and scaling Venture Capital and Private Equity backed businesses globally. Over the last decade, he has completed 117 acquisitions and 25 business exits with a combined valuation of over $5bn dollars.
His mission is to help business founders build valuable businesses and create life-changing exits so they can realise freedom, wealth, and impact.

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