How to protect culture while scaling with PE: insights from TSG

How do you keep your culture intact when driving rapid growth under private equity investment? On this episode of our High Growth Leadership podcast, we’re joined by Rory McKeand, CEO of TSG. An enterprise-grade IT partner for SMEs, serving 1,500 clients with one of the UK’s highest NPS scores. David, Simon and Rory delve into: ✔️ How to protect culture, even through acquisitions, and why Rory walked away from deals mid-due diligence ✔️ The hidden toll of an MBO/PE deal cycle and how to prepare your team (and yourself) for it ✔️ Building a leadership bench: why every CEO needs deputies who can run the board without them ✔️ Scaling client success into a true growth engine and why TSG accepted short-term pain to get long-term NPS gains ✔️ What it really takes to go from £40m to £100m turnover in a PE cycle Every CEO faces the same challenge, which is amplified through investment, can you grow fast without losing what made you great? Rory shares how TSG have done just that. 🎙 Full episode live now, link in first comment.

This week on the Private Equity Value Creation Podcast, Shiv sat down with Craig A T Jones of Tpe Boulder Inc. to discuss strategies for scaling lower middle market companies. Craig shared TPE Boulder’s playbook for driving enterprise value through organic growth, diversification, and strategic founder partnerships. From leveraging the Rule of 40 to mastering the "CEO’s Clock" for balanced leadership, this episode is packed with actionable insights for investors, CEOs, and operators. Tune in to learn how to unlock growth in smaller companies and tips for preparing them for higher-value exits. Link is in the comments.

Clarity brings momentum. Chris shares how defining ITC Services' mission helped unlock its full potential.   On this episode of the High Growth Leadership Podcast, we’re joined by Christopher Potts, Founder and Director of ITC Service. From foundation to £7m turnover, £1.5m profit, 50 people, and raising investment from the Business Growth Fund, Chris shares the reality of scaling an IT managed service provider.   David and Simon explore with Chris: ✔️ Why trying to sell the business too early nearly derailed the journey ✔️ The danger of hiring without a clearly defined mission ✔️ What changed after 10 years that unlocked sustainable growth ✔️ The physical and emotional toll of scaling, and why every founder needs an exit plan   Chris doesn’t sugar-coat it. From tough lessons to pivotal turning points, this is an honest look at the reality of building, scaling, and preparing for life after business.   🎙 Full episode live now https://lnkd.in/eejN4bcD

Have a listen to Episode 2 of Season 8 of the SuccessionReady Podcast: Governance as the Catalyst for being SuccessionReady. In this episode, James Grieve and I are joined by Barb Schimnowsky, Partner at Watson Board Advisors. Barb shares how governance, director recruitment, and leadership dynamics can help family and founder-led businesses thrive and transition successfully. She explains why governance matters even in early growth stages, how to build effective boards or advisory councils, and the importance of recruiting directors who align with family values while bringing independent strategic thinking. Through real-world examples, Barb illustrates how governance supports leadership transitions, balances family priorities with business performance, and acts as a performance multiplier by shifting decision-making from reactive to strategic. https://lnkd.in/gUNmgggu #successionreadypodcast #successionplanning #founders #entrepreneurs #strategy

Have a listen to Episode 2 of Season 8 of the SuccessionReady Podcast: Governance as the Catalyst for being SuccessionReady. In this episode, Ashka Wirk and I are joined by Barb Schimnowsky, Partner at Watson Board Advisors. Barb shares how governance, director recruitment, and leadership dynamics can help family and founder-led businesses thrive and transition successfully. She explains why governance matters even in early growth stages, how to build effective boards or advisory councils, and the importance of recruiting directors who align with family values while bringing independent strategic thinking. Through real-world examples, Barb illustrates how governance supports leadership transitions, balances family priorities with business performance, and acts as a performance multiplier by shifting decision-making from reactive to strategic. https://lnkd.in/gUNmgggu #successionreadypodcast #successionplanning #founders #entrepreneurs #strategy

🚧 Beyond the Build: The Business of Relationships 🚧 When most people think about construction, they picture cranes, steel, and concrete. But the truth is—some of the most important foundations are built long before ground is broken. In this episode of our podcast, I sit down with Stephen Callahan, VP of Business Development at Callahan Construction Managers, to talk about what it really takes to win work in today’s competitive market. Stephen shares: ✅ Why business development is less about closing deals and more about building trust ✅ How Callahan balances short-term wins with long-term vision ✅ The role of culture, reputation, and relationships in driving growth ✅ His candid take on networking, storytelling, and what really sets successful firms apart Whether you’re in construction, real estate development, or business strategy, this conversation is packed with insights on leadership, growth, and creating lasting impact. 🎙️ Tune in and discover why Stephen believes the strongest thing you can build in business is trust. Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/eAGPfeNK Special thanks to our sponsor: https://optiline.com #Podcast #BusinessDevelopment #ConstructionManagement #CommercialConstruction #LeadershipPodcast #StrategicGrowth #Networking #TrustInBusiness #CallahanConstruction #IndustryInsights

On the תקציר מנהלים podcast, our General Partner Yair Cassuto joined Lior Atias to share lessons from the investor’s seat on M&A and entrepreneurial leadership: ➡ Build relationships with potential buyers early, long before a deal is on the table ➡ Create healthy competition by managing dynamics between multiple buyers ➡ Understand there’s no single playbook. Every deal depends on the buyer, the stage, and the sector Yair also spoke about cultural differences between Israeli and American founders, and why at the end of the day, it’s the entrepreneur who must lead the process. For founders mapping their long-term path - and for investors navigating M&A - this episode offers a candid, practical perspective. 🎧 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/dG63hbem #Pitango #PitangoFirst

Honor beats pride every time. Most companies want innovation and competitiveness, but skip the hard first steps—alignment and belonging. Without those, trust and safety cannot be established, and risk-taking collapses. Honor-based cultures—like elite teams, fire crews, or wolf packs—start with shared vision and values. That alignment creates kinship, which unlocks trust, creativity, and sustainable success. Listen to my full conversation with Joao Camargo on the Business of Learning podcast at https://lnkd.in/gYf-Vd_x #WolfTribe #HonorBasedCulture #Leadership #TeamCulture #CultureIsTheOS #BusinessOfLearning

Succession Isn’t a Spreadsheet. 🪑✨ Emily Holdman, managing director at Permanent Equity, joins Jamie Shah on The Family Business Podcast to explore why succession in family business is one of the most emotional and complex transitions a family can face. They discuss what emotional readiness looks like for both generations, the misconceptions that derail planning, and the leadership skills that truly prepare the next generation. It is a conversation about letting go, stepping up, and building continuity that lasts beyond titles. 🎧 Listen to the full episode >> https://lnkd.in/ggJpYVAC

Too many firms hit a ceiling because partners stay stuck in “ME” mode. ➤ The pain? Growth stalls when collaboration is missing. ➤ The answer? Shift mindsets from ME to WE—because scale only happens when leaders row in the same direction. ➤ The solution? Build alignment, shared accountability, and culture that prioritizes the firm over the individual. Want to hear more leadership lessons that drive growth? Catch Alan Whitman on the Everything CPA & Private Equity podcast! #LeadershipDevelopment #CPAInsights #FirmGrowth #PrivateEquity #ScalingFirms