Growth Leaders Network

Leading at the Speed of Growth: 

What Private Equity Looks for in Transformational Executive Talent 

Date: October 15, 2026 

Time: 10:30am CST/11:30am EST/8:30am PST

Location: Zoom

Cost: Free

Event Overview

Growth-stage, private-equity-backed companies require a different kind of executive leadership. Rapid scaling, changing organizational structures, aggressive performance expectations, and evolving investor priorities can quickly expose the difference between executives who have been successful in the past and those who can successfully lead through the next stage of growth.

Through an engaging Q&A discussion, Michael Burcham, Shore Capital Chief of Strategy and Talent Development, will share an insider’s perspective on how private equity investors and portfolio company leaders assess, select, and develop high-performing executive talent.

The discussion will explore the leadership attributes and behaviors that distinguish executives who thrive in high-growth environments, common reasons otherwise accomplished leaders struggle after joining PE-backed companies, and how executives can better demonstrate their ability to create measurable enterprise value.

For executives considering their next career move, Michael will also discuss how to position transformational leadership experience for opportunities within PE portfolio companies—including what investors and CEOs look for during executive assessment and selection.

Michael is also the author of Blood Sweat & Equity: How Great CEOs win in Private Equity. Drawing on his experience building companies and working with more than 100 CEOs, this book delivers a practical leadership playbook for building high-performing teams, making hard decisions, and leading with urgency and accountability. In private equity, leadership is the difference between simply managing a company and creating lasting value under a five- to six-year clock.

Join us for this peer-level discussion designed to help experienced executives better understand what it takes to lead successfully in a high-growth, private-equity-backed environment—and how to position themselves for these opportunities.

Who Should Attend

• Senior executives considering their next career move
• CEOs, Presidents, and C-suite leaders exploring opportunities with private-equity-backed companies
• Executives preparing to transition into a growth-stage or PE-backed organization
• Experienced leaders who have scaled businesses, teams, revenue, operations, or organizational capabilities
• Executives interested in understanding how PE investors and portfolio company CEOs evaluate leadership talent
• Founders and executives involved in a potential sale to private equity who want to understand how leadership expectations may change after a transaction
• Leaders looking to better position their transformational experience for future executive opportunities

Discussion Topics

1. What Does Private Equity Look for in Executive Talent?

Leadership Attributes That Drive Success

• How PE investors assess executive talent
• Attributes of high-performing PE executives
• Leading through transformation and change
• Demonstrating adaptability, accountability, and execution

2. Can You Scale a Business—or Maintain One?

The Leadership Demands of High Growth

• Assessing your ability to scale
• Leading through rapid growth
• Balancing strategy with execution
• Building teams and systems for scale

3. How Do You Demonstrate Enterprise Value?

Positioning Your Experience for PE Opportunities

• Quantifying your business impact
• Demonstrating value creation in interviews
• Communicating your impact to investors and CEOs
• Positioning your transformational leadership experience
• Evaluating performance after the hire

4. Is a PE-Backed Environment Right for You?

Understanding the Fit Before You Make the Move

• Assessing fit with the PE environment
• Understanding investor expectations
• Evaluating leadership style and culture
• Questions to ask before accepting a role
• Understanding the opportunities and challenges

What You’ll Walk Away With

• A clearer view of what PE investors look for in executives
• Insights into leading in high-growth environments
• A better understanding of what it takes to scale a business
• Practical ways to demonstrate measurable enterprise value
• Guidance on positioning your experience for PE opportunities
• A framework for assessing PE-backed leadership opportunities
• Questions to consider before making your next move

Session Format

• 15 min - Welcome and shared group networking successes
• 30 min - Facilitated Q&A and discussion: Michael Burcham
• 10 min - Group Q&A
• 20 min - Group breakout conversations/networking – assigned topics related to our main discussion topic
• 15 min - Group share of key takeaways, resource sharing and networking introduction asks
• 5 min – Wrap-up

Why This Matters Now

Private equity-backed companies operate with intense expectations around growth, performance, accountability, and value creation. For executives, that creates both opportunity and risk: a strong corporate track record does not automatically translate to success in a fast-moving, investor-driven environment.

Executives who can lead transformation, scale organizations, build high-performing teams, and deliver measurable results can create significant value in these environments.

Understanding what PE investors and portfolio company leaders look for can help executives make better career decisions and more effectively communicate the value they bring.

Whether you are considering a PE-backed opportunity, preparing for your next career move, or leading through a potential transaction, join us for a practical conversation about what it takes to lead at the speed of growth—and how to position yourself as the executive who can.