Episodes
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As Lincolnâs Chief Executive Officer and a key driver of the firmâs growth from its beginnings, Rob has been instrumental in building its global footprint and a highly desirable culture that prioritizes attracting, retaining and engaging top talent at all levels. As a connected leader within the firm, Rob works closely with Lincolnâs investment banking professionals to help them achieve success. He continues to focus on building long-term relationships with clients and prospects, achieving optimal results through his thoughtful, interpersonal and collaborative approach.
Rob has nearly 30 years of experience advising leading private equity groups, privately owned businesses and large public companies on divestitures, acquisitions and other strategic initiatives. Rob helped start Lincolnâs industrials and consumer practices and led the firmâs business services practice for more than a decade. Accordingly, Rob has a deep understanding of how to best position companies for sale, drive competitive processes and negotiate to successful closings.
As a recognized advisor and thought leader in the investment banking industry, Rob is a frequent guest on WBBMâs Noon Business Hour in Chicago and a speaker and author on mergers and acquisitions-related topics. Rob sits on the board of UNICEF USA and the Deanâs Business Council for the Gies School of Business at the University of Illinois. He is also President of the Board of Regents at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago.
Prior to Lincoln, Rob worked at Price Waterhouse. His diverse experiences include management positions in Price Waterhouseâs investment banking subsidiary and the Transaction Services group.
Rob earned a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois. Rob is a certified public accountant (inactive).
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Advice to College Students Montage â Episode Overview
For this special segment, we compiled standout moments from our guestsâ responses to one of our favorite questions:
âWhat advice would you give to college students or young professionals just starting out?âThis recurring question has become a listener favorite on the podcast, and in this episode, weâre bringing those insights together into a powerful montage. From timeless career wisdom to honest reflections on failure and resilience, each soundbite delivers real-world guidance for the next generation of leaders.
Featured Guests:
This montage includes advice from top executives, investors, and entrepreneurs featured in past episodes, including:Sunaina Sinha, Raymond James
Brad Armstrong, Lovell Minnick Partners
Greg Belinfanti, One Equity Partners
Adam Feinstein, Vesey Street Capital Partners
Devon Kirk, Portage
Steve Young, HGGC
Jack Purcell, Ridgemont Equity Partners
Steve Gord, Hidden River Strategic Capital
Paul Swaney, Swaney Capital Group
Mark Strauch, Alpine Investors
Jeff Jenkins, Bernhard Capital Partners
Patrick Maciariello, Compass Diversified
Bogdan Gogulan, NewSpace Capital
Erik Brooks, Ethos Capital
Jeff Aiello, Agellus Capital
Marshall Adkins, Raymond James
Andrew Weinberg, Brightstar Capital Partners
Lucy Heintz, Actis
John Diggins, Platinum Equity
Purpose:
This episode aims to inspire college students, recent graduates, and young professionals with tactical advice and encouragement straight from the industryâs top minds. Itâs also a great resource to share with interns, mentees, or students exploring careers in finance, investing, or business leadership.Let us know if you'd like a custom graphic, suggested caption, or LinkedIn blurb to go with it.
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Episodes manquant?
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John Diggins is responsible for senior level business development activities focused on identifying new acquisition opportunities and has been involved in sourcing many multi-billion dollar deals during his time at Platinum.
Mr. Diggins joined Platinum Equity in 1996. Prior to joining Platinum, he was the co-founder of Ventec Systems with Platinum Equity Chairman and CEO Tom Gores. Mr. Gores brought Mr. Diggins to Platinum Equity to drive deal sourcing and help shape the firm in its early days of growth. In this capacity Mr. Diggins served as CEO at Platinum Equity portfolio companies Pilot Software and Foresight Software.
Mr. Diggins holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of New Mexico
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As graduation season kicks off, many students and young professionals are stepping into an exciting new chapter â one filled with opportunity, growth, and a few unknowns.
To mark this milestone, weâve curated a special montage episode featuring timeless advice from nine distinguished Wharton alumni. These leaders have successfully navigated the path from campus to boardroom, and theyâre sharing candid insights on mindset, momentum, and making your mark in Private Equity and Investment Banking.
In this episode, youâll hear from:
Dave Tayeh â Investcorp
Marc Leder â Sun Capital Partners
Neha Markle â Morgan Stanley
Bob Frost â Lazard
Jeff Collins â Cloverlay
Jeff Aiello â Agellus
Michael Butler â Cascadia Capital
Jack Purcell â Ridgemont Equity Partners
Barry Freeman â Lincoln International
Whether youâre just graduating or mentoring the next generation of finance leaders, this episode delivers practical, powerful advice thatâs well worth the listen.
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Weâre excited to share a special episode of the Branch Out Podcast featuring Jeff Henningsen! Jeff has always been curious, creative, and committed to his goalsâtraits that have fueled his success across a variety of industries.
Jeffâs entrepreneurial journey began early, mowing lawns as a student to earn extra cash. That side hustle eventually grew into a full-fledged business, which he sold at just 22 years old. From there, he moved into the world of private equity and ultimately became the President of Lockton Companies in Texas, a role heâs held for the past 26 years.
In addition to his leadership role, Jeff is also the host of the Private Equity Fast Pitch podcast.
In this conversation, originally recorded on Branch Out, Jeff shares the mindset shifts and habits that have helped him thriveâboth professionally and personally.
Key Points From This Episode:
The key factor that separates âidea menâ from successful entrepreneurs.
Why Jeff is so passionate about the value of coaching.
What inspired Jeff to launch his podcastâand the surprising outcomes itâs led to.
The importance of committing to your goals.
Why Jeff thinks of himself as a (figurative) orchestra conductor.
How being an introvert can actually be a strength.
Why doing beats dreaming every time.
Whether you're launching a new venture or looking to lead with more purpose, Jeffâs story is full of insights and inspiration.
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The description of Actis' process in evaluating investments reflects the opinions of Actis and of the typical investment process (or intended investment process) as of March 2025, but this investment process can vary for particular investments and is subject to change at Actis' discretion and without prior notice. References to 'mitigating risk' does not guarantee against risk and does not protect against losses. General discussions contained in this document regarding the Indian or South East Asian market or market conditions represent the view of either the source cited or Actis. Such information is not research and should not be treated as research. Moreover, there is no assurance historical trends will continue. The information referenced herein is as of March 2025, unless otherwise indicated, is subject to change.
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Powerhouse Women in Private Equity & Investment Banking
Our Female Quotes & Montage spotlights an extraordinary lineup of women who are shaping the future of private equity and investment banking. From driving strategic investments to leading top firms, these industry trailblazers embody leadership, innovation, and impact.
Featuring insights from Sunaina Sinha of Raymond James, Neha Markle of Morgan Stanley, Deborah Smith of The CenterCap Group, Blythe Jack of TSG Consumer, Franny Jones of The Sterling Group, Meahgan OâGrady of Palladium Equity Partners, Shannon Zoller of Tephra Advisors, Julia Karol of Watermill Group, Gretchen Perkins of Avance Investment Management, Gina Luna of GP Capital Partners, Caroline Stevens of MPK Equity Partners, Devon Kirk of Portage Capital Solutions, Tammie Miller of TKO Miller, Chrisanne Corbett of KPMG, Lauren Mulholland of Middle Ground, and Suzanne Yoon of Kinzie Capital Partners.
Their voices inspire the next generation and reinforce the power of women in finance.
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Andrew Weinberg is Founder and CEO of Brightstar Capital Partners. Andrew serves as Chair of Brightstarâs Investment Committee.
Prior to founding Brightstar, Andrew was a Partner at Lindsay Goldberg, a New York-based private equity firm. Andrew served on the Boards of 13 portfolio companies during his tenure at Lindsay Goldberg. In addition, from 2008-2011 Andrew served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of Likewize.
Prior to joining Lindsay Goldberg, Andrew worked at Goldman Sachs in their Principal Investment Area (PIA). Andrew started his career at Morgan Stanley in mergers and acquisitions and leveraged finance.
Andrew received his MBA from Stanford GSB and an AB from Dartmouth College with a double major in History and Economics. Andrew serves as a trustee of the PGA of America REACH Foundation. Andrew is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). He is a former member of the World Economic Forum who served on the Global Future Council on Investing and the Stewardship Board of the Forumâs Platform on Shaping the Future of Investing. Andrew has appeared on multiple panels at Milken Institute and FII conferences.
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Marshall Adkins joined Raymond James in 1995 and serves as the head of the firmâs Energy Investment Banking practice. Prior to this role, Mr. Adkins served as the director of Energy Research and focused on oilfield services and products. Prior to Raymond James, he spent 10 years in the oilfield services industry as a project manager, corporate financial analyst, sales manager, and engineer. He holds a B.S. degree in petroleum engineering and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.
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Jeff co-founded Agellus Capital in 2024 after spending 13 years in the private equity industry. Prior to Agellus, Jeff was a Managing Director at Thompson Street Capital Partners. Prior to Thompson Street, Jeff was a Senior Associate at Audax Private Equity. Prior to Audax, Jeff served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force. Jeff holds a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton, and an MBA from Wharton. He lives in St. Louis with his wife, son, and daughter.
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Erik has spent his entire career in the investment industry and prior to founding Ethos was a Managing Partner leading Abry Partners. During his 20-year tenure at Abry he originated, supervised, and sold companies in information services, digital infrastructure, enterprise systems, healthcare IT, financial services and media, representing an aggregate enterprise value of approximately $11 billion. Additionally, as a Managing Partner at Abry Partners, he served on investment committees, and oversaw recruiting of all investment professionals, research, and information technology. He also managed relationships with limited partners, headed its Heritage Fund and was a key partner in raising $17 billion across 15 funds. Prior to joining Abry Partners, Erik was an investment professional at New Century Holdings, the Baupost Group, and Apax Partners.
In addition to Erikâs professional activities he serves on the Board of Advisors of the International Council of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University, and the Advisory Board of Think:Kids at Massachusetts General Hospital. As an active alumni advisor for Harvard Business School and Brown University, he spends time with students helping them think about life after academia and how their contributions can make a difference in the world. Previously he served on the boards of the Citi Performing Arts Center in Boston and the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University, and the Presidentâs Advisory Council on Internships at Brown University.
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We are excited to present a montage of quotes and mottos from prior guests that have inspired them throughout the years in both their careers and personal lives.
As we begin a new year, we hope this special episode sets the stage and provides you with a new mindset for conquering the challenges & opportunities that lie ahead.
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Bogdan Gogulan has 20 years of experience in finance, product and business development. Before initiating NewSpace Capital, he had accumulated a unique combination of cross-border experience in communication, security and defense industries. He served as VP of international operations and business development for AT Communication (Switzerland), Defendec (Baltics) and Katmerciler (Turkey), managing breakthrough projects for security and defense agencies in the Middle East and Central Asia. For years, he managed alignment and cooperation with UN agencies (BOMCA/UNDP, BOMNAF, UNODC, UNHCR, IOM) and security organizations (NATO, OSCE, ISAF). Prior to that, Bogdan worked for American Express (USA, UK) and Deutsche Bank (UK). As global sales development Program Manager and Head of Industry Analytics at American Express he was responsible for global partnerships development with top tier clients. Since 2010, Bogdan has been actively involved with UN Alliance of Civilizationâs (UNAOC) participating as an OYW Ambassador in the UN Sustainable Development Goalsâ initiative.
Bogdan holds a BSc in Financial Economics from University of Essex and graduated from Abingdon & Whitney College. He is a co-founder and CEO of NewSpace Capital GP S.A.
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Pat Maciariello is Chief Operating Officer of Compass Group and a member of Compass Diversifiedâs Investment Committee, which is responsible for evaluating all of the organizationâs investment opportunities. In this role, he manages Compassâs investment teams and is responsible for financial and strategic oversight of its subsidiaries. Pat is currently a director and the Chairman of BOA and Lugano Diamonds. He is also a director of 5.11, Inc., ErgoBaby, Altor Solutions, and the Sterno Group. Pat joined Compass Diversified in 2005. Before that, he was with Bain & Company and Deutsche Banc Alex Brown. Pat is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Columbia Business School.
He lives in San Juan Capistrano, CA with his wife, his two daughters, and their dog and cat, Rocky and Adrian. In his free time. he loves horse racing, fantasy football, hiking and doing escape rooms with his family. When he was younger (and fitter) he was an avid runner and completed eight marathons.
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Jeff Jenkins is a Founder and Partner of BCP. He serves as a member of the Investment Committee, serves on the Portfolio Committee and is involved in all areas of the firmâs investment activities.
Prior to founding BCP, Jeff spent ten years working for The Shaw Group where he served many vital positions. During his tenure at Shaw, Jeff served as Chief Operating Officer of Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure, where he was responsible for operations and business development. Prior to this role, he served as President of the Commercial, State, and Local group within the Environmental and Infrastructure division. Before moving into his operating roles, Jeff served as Vice President of the Office of the Chairman where he led overall corporate development and placed a special emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and business development efforts. Prior to joining Shaw, Jeff was a Corporate and Securities Attorney at Vinson & Elkins LLP where his practice focused primarily on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital, and public securities work in a broad range of industries.
Jeff received his B.A. from Louisiana State University and his J.D. from Louisiana State University after attending law school at the University of Texas.
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Mark is a founding partner and President of Alpine. Mark also co-founded ASG, the firmâs vertical SaaS platform. He has been involved as board member in over 25 past and present Alpine investments. Prior to Alpine, Mark has served in several CEO roles for venture and PE-backed businesses and has over 30 years of experience as an investor and operator. Mark received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and his Bachelors of Science in Industrial Engineering from Lehigh University, where he graduated with honors and served as a four-year letter winner and captain of the baseball team.
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Paul W. Swaney III is the founder of Swaney Group Capital, a private equity firm focused on revitalizing and scaling industrial companies in the lower middle market. He applies a hands-on approach to value creation, emphasizing efficiency, process optimization, and growth initiatives. His career began with service in the US Navy, followed by key operations roles at ConocoPhillips, Amazon, and Total Oil, where he refined his expertise in performance improvement. He transitioned to management consulting at McKinsey and then spent seven years as an operating partner at Partners Group, contributing to operational transformations and serving on the investment committee. In 2022, he founded Swaney Group Capital, leveraging his extensive experience to build and grow industrial businesses.
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Jack Purcell, Managing Partner â Jack is a Managing Partner and member of the Management and Investment Committees at Ridgemont Equity Partners. He is primarily responsible for general management of the firm and additionally focuses on the groupâs investment activity in the Business & Tech-enabled Services and Industrial Growth sectors, serving on the boards of a number of Ridgemontâs portfolio companies. Jack joined Banc of America Capital Investors, the in-house private equity arm of Bank of America and predecessor partnership to Ridgemont, in 2002 and led investments across a variety of industry sectors including industrials, business services, and healthcare. He worked in various other roles throughout his BACI tenure. Jack earned his M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in Finance and a B.A. in Economics from Davidson College.
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Steve Gord, Partner, Hidden River Strategic Capital
Steve Gord has over 25 years of experience in the small company investment business. He is one of the co-founders of Hidden River Strategic Capital, a Radnor, PA-based SBIC fund that invests structured junior capital into owner-operator run small businesses. From 2008-2020, Steve was a co-founder and general partner in the first two funds at SBIC Boathouse Capital. Earlier in his career, Steve spent five years at BDC American Capital Strategies investing in junior capital transactions, in the consumer investment banking group at Robertson Stephens, in the M&A and private equity practices at Compass Partners and in the investment banking group at Furman Selz.
Steve obtained a BA in economics from Dartmouth and an MBA from Tuck.
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Steve Young a Partner, the Chairman and Co-founder of HGGC
Steve is a Partner, the Chairman and Co-founder of HGGC. Steve is a member of HGGCâs Management Committee, Investment Committee and Valuation Committee. He serves as Chairman of the Board of three HGGC portfolio companies: IDERA, Integrity and AutoAlert. Prior to their sales, he also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the firmâs exited investments in hybris Software, Dealer-FX, Serena Software and Sunquest Information Systems.
Prior to the inception of HGGC, Steve's professional football career spanned more than fifteen years in the NFL, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers, where he received numerous accolades, including Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXIX, Sports Illustrated and Sporting News' Player of the Year from 1992 - 1994 and the NFL's Most Valuable Player for 1992 and 1994. In 2005, Steve was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the first left-handed quarterback to be so honored. When he retired, Steve was the highest-rated quarterback in NFL history and has the distinction of being the only signal caller in league annals to win four consecutive NFL passing titles.
Steve founded and chairs the Forever Young Foundation which is actively involved in children's charities worldwide and is currently the broadcast host as well as the former International Spokesperson for the Children's Miracle Network, which has raised over one billion dollars world-wide to benefit children's hospitals.
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