Best But Never Final: Private Equity's Pursuit of Excellence

Join Doug McCormick from Oridian Capital Partners, Lloyd Metz from ICV Partners, and Sean Mooney from BluWave as they explore timely private equity topics and offer their seasoned perspectives on crucial areas of focus within the industry. Gain valuable insights from these industry experts in this engaging podcast tailored for PE professionals.

Best But Never Final: Private Equity's Pursuit of Excellence is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 51 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Best But Never Final: Private Equity's Pursuit of Excellence, a business show with 51 episodes published.

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  Episode #51

  Private Equity AI ROI in the Office of the CFO

  Jul 29, 202653 min

  Episode Description Jeff Berry, CFO at BluWave, joins Sean Mooney, Lloyd Metz, and Doug McCormick to explain how AI is creating practical ROI inside the office of the CFO. He breaks down the foundations that matter most—clean data, mapped processes, clear policies, prompting discipline, and AI-enabled tools that can reduce manual work without sacrificing control. The conversation covers real use cases across AP, AR, FP&A, reporting, forecasting, process documentation, and executive decision-making. This is a tactical look at how private equity-backed companies can turn AI from experimentation into operating leverage—hit play. Episode Highlights 1:13 - Moving past AI exhaustion toward practical ROI and real adoption 4:38 - Jeff Berry’s five-part framework for AI in finance and accounting 7:42 - Why structured CRM and ERP data creates better business insight 17:17 - Mapping finance processes before using AI to improve them 20:32 - Cutting 40–50 monthly hours from AP workflows with AI-enabled tools 26:05 - Using Claude Code to build FP&A models and debt schedules faster 38:14 - Shifting finance from producing data to acting on better insights 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 Oridian Capital Partners, go to https://oridiancapital.com/ For information on ICV Partners, go to https://www.icvpartners.com For information on BluWave, go to https://www.bluwave.net

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  Best But Never Final: Private Equity's Pursuit of Excellence

  Private Equity Value Creation with Mary Rachide and Bob Hund

  Jun 10, 20261h 2m

  Episode Description Mary Rachide, Managing Director at ICV Partners , and Bob Hund, Operating Partner at Oridian , join Sean Mooney, Lloyd Metz, and Doug McCormick to explain how operating executives help turn private equity value creation plans into results. They discuss how operating partners engage in diligence, align with founders and deal teams, and support portfolio companies through execution without losing trust. The conversation also covers process discipline, management assessment, stakeholder alignment, and the art of knowing when to coach versus when to push. This is a practical look at how modern private equity firms build better businesses—hit play. Episode Highlights 1:52 - Mary Rachide’s path from McKinsey and executive roles into PE operations 3:33 - Bob Hund’s engineering, manufacturing, and process background before Iridium 6:45 - How operating partners support diligence, strategy, and execution 9:59 - Aligning founders and investors around realistic value creation plans 18:52 - Using process assessments to identify risk and unlock improvement opportunities 26:50 - Mary’s “glue, grease, grit, and glitter” framework for operating partner impact 41:06 - Why the best operating executives take joy in helping others succeed 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 Oridian Capital Partners, go to https://oridiancapital.com/ For information on ICV Partners, go to https://www.icvpartners.com For information on BluWave, go to https://www.bluwave.net

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  Best But Never Final: Private Equity's Pursuit of Excellence

  Private Equity and AI: From Hype to Portfolio Execution

  May 12, 202657 minS0

  <p>Lloyd Metz (Partner, ICV Partners), Doug McCormick (Managing Partner, Oridian Capital Partners), and Sean Mooney (Founder & CEO, BluWave) are joined by James Aylward (Chief Product & Technology Officer, BluWave) and Nathan Plummer (Co-Executive Director, Venture Café Global Institute) to translate AI from concept into execution. The conversation moves beyond buzzwords to where firms are actually applying AI today—from coding and data strategy to real-time decision-making inside portfolio companies. They also address the practical barriers: data readiness, organizational adoption, and the risk of standing still. This is a clear look at what it takes to put AI to work in pri...

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  Best But Never Final: Private Equity's Pursuit of Excellence

  Private Equity in 2026: Liquidity, Growth, and AI Execution

  Apr 14, 202650 minS0

  <p>Lloyd Metz (Partner, ICV Partners), Doug McCormick (Managing Partner, Oridian Capital Partners), and Sean Mooney (Founder & CEO, BluWave) assess the private equity landscape heading into 2026. They unpack the pressure to return capital, the realities of longer hold periods, and why growth—not multiple expansion—is now the primary driver of returns. The conversation also explores the accelerating impact of AI on dealmaking, operations, and portfolio company performance. This is a clear-eyed view of where private equity is headed next—hit play.</p><p>Episode Highlights</p><b>2:00 -</b> Liquidity pressure builds as distributions lag across the industry<b>6:01 -</b>...

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  Episode #45

  Rollover Equity and the Power of True Alignment

  Mar 17, 202645 minS1

  <p>Doug McCormick, Managing Partner at <b>HCI Equity Partners</b>, and Lloyd Metz, Partner at <b>ICV Partners</b>, join BluWave’s Sean Mooney to explain why rollover equity sits at the center of private equity dealmaking. They break down the mechanics, tax advantages, and alignment dynamics that allow founders to take liquidity while remaining invested in future growth. The discussion also explores signaling, governance rights, and why investors pay close attention to how much an owner chooses to reinvest. If you want to understand why rollover equity drives many of the best outcomes in private equity, hit play.</p>...

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