Inflection Points

About Inflection Points

Welcome to Inflection Points, hosted by Joe Hine. This podcast is an exploration of those pivotal moments in a company’s, founder’s or leader’s history that resulted in a step change in their growth. An inflection point has been defined as an event “that results in a significant change in the progress of a company, industry, sector, [or individual] …. considered a turning point after which a dramatic change occurred, with either positive or negative results”, “Investopedia”. Some of these events will be gradual and deliberate, others will be fortunate accidents, a dramatic shift created by external factors. We examine these inflection points through the stories of the leaders that experienced them. The goal of this podcast is to understand the drivers of these inflection points, how leaders / CEO’s reacted to them and what they learnt as a result.

Publisher

SI Partners

Category

business · business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Apr 2023

Latest episode

30 Jun 2024

Latest episodes

21 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Jun 2024

   Chasing Disruption: Terry Graunke's 40-Year Journey in Management

   Joe speaks with Terry Graunke, Chairman and Founder of Erie Street, about his extensive management and investment career. He has led over 40 businesses: founding, growing, selling and listing them, all within disruptive industries. Terry talks about founding his first business, Omni-graphics, stumbling upon, then harnessing data to disrupt direct marketing, scaling and then selling to Omnicom. Terry then moved into the operator/investor role within the Hawthorne Group, before starting Lake Capital and ultimately the creation of Erie Street, a business services investment firm focusing on operational orientation and family office money. The podcast delves into Terry's emphasis on human capital, the importance of connections, and the role of curiosity and serendipity in success. Terry also discusses the significance of company values like kindness, curiosity, and courage in guiding daily activities and long-term value creation. Terry discusses his involvement across various industries, including forensic accounting with Huron Consulting Group, web development with Eagle River, and the recent impact of AI on the market. He shares insights on balancing investor partnerships and fostering a patient investor base to focus on sustainable growth rather than short-term sales. Joe and Terry also touch upon the challenges and opportunities in navigating regulatory landscapes, particularly with AI, and the overall evolution of the business landscape. Timestamps 04:52 Terry’s first start-up in direct marketing 06:59 Seeking self-confidence, adaptability, and resourcefulness despite challenges. 13:00 How technology for cruise lines was a catalyst for e-commerce 19:58 The business opportunity Terry saw after Enron brought down Arthur Andersen. 28:00 The evolution of private equity, why Terry founded Erie Street and how it is different 35:04 Underwriting deals, hitting milestones, recapitalizing for growth. 45:12 Investor worries about cybersecurity and future impact.

2. 

   18 Jun 2024

   From Old Trafford to the Palace: Paddy Harverson on Mastering the Business of Media Relations

   In this episode, Joe chats with Paddy Harverson, Co-Founder of Milltown Partners and Former Communications Secretary for the Royal Family & Director of Communications at Manchester United. Paddy discusses Milltown's unique approach to marketing their business, creating a successful company culture, and selling the business to an employee ownership trust in 2021. They discuss the influence of Paddy's journalism background and its importance in his subsequent roles, and how he navigated media relations at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson's watchful eye, to managing the public image of King Charles and his royal household. He emphasises the importance of calmness, truthfulness, and maintaining professional boundaries in high-stakes environments. Paddy delves into Milltown’s strategic focus on quality client relationships and honest communication, which has driven their reputation and growth, particularly in the tech and sports sectors. Together they explore the foundational values that contributed to the company’s success, such as integrity, collaboration, and the privilege of selective project engagement. Lastly, they reflect on the evolving landscape of media and the crucial role of internal communications in navigating challenges like the pandemic.

3. 

   12 Jun 2024

   Data & Deals: Successful Private Equity investing in Creative & Technology

   This week Joe Hine speaks with Mark Sargeant from Phoenix Equity Partners. They discuss the constantly evolving world of private equity investment in the creative and digital sectors. Founded in 2001, Phoenix Equity is a leading mid-market private equity firm with over £1.7bn invested across 60+ deals. They specialise in backing ambitious UK founders and were a pioneer in marketing and digital services with their investments in Karmarama (2011) and later 1000heads (2019). Both companies achieved significant growth and successful exits. Mark Sargeant, a Partner with nearly 20 years at the firm, played a key role in both these stories. In this episode, Mark demystifies Private Equity explaining how it really works, from raising funds to investing decisions and how the culture of the Private Equity business will define its success. Mark emphasises what Phoenix looks for in a target business and how it approaches the growing influence of digitisation and data. He addresses the challenges and opportunities in balancing creativity with financial success, particularly the movement towards recurring revenue models that attract private equity interest. Mark insists on the importance of alignment and shared values between private equity investors and business founders, and the steps an entrepreneurs should take to choose a PE partner. He explains the benefits private equity brings to the economy, helping businesses scale and avoiding cultural clashes commonly seen in corporate acquisitions. They also discuss: - The integration of customer-centric strategies in investment practices - How Private Equity benefits the economy, and society, particularly within the mid-market - The rapid advancement in digitisation and the growing importance of data - The changing dynamics of private equity and the ability for swift investments. - In an ever turbulent world with high interest rates, what is the future for Private Equity? Timestamps: 05:36 Valued people, culture, and entrepreneurial opportunities at Phoenix. 10:24 How private equity firms assess founders and businesses. 17:57 Opportunity in merging businesses for customer centricity. 23:57 The digital sector's recurring revenue model promotes stability. 34:13 Assessing fund deployment and investment strategies is crucial. 42:35 Private equity funding drives business consolidation and exits. 47:09 Private equity brings massive benefits to the economy.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings