Preferred Return is your opportunity to learn from the brightest minds in both private capital markets alternative investments.
Gain their insights, understand trends as they see them, and learn how they’re gaining an edge in the market.
Each episode is packed and punchy to make sure you’re getting that preferred return.
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Accelerating Innovation: Cait Brumme on Social Capital and Startup Success
CEO Cait Brumme of MassChallenge discusses how social capital and supportive networks propel startup success, revealing how strategic relationships help founders navigate challenges in this interview.
5 May 2025
Magnetic. Unstoppable. Funded: Mastering the Art of the LP Meeting
In this episode of Preferred Return, we sit down with Craig Wortmann (https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigwortmann/), Founder of Sales Engine (http://www.salesengine.com), to discuss the habits, systems, and mindsets that define standout salespeople.
Drawing on three decades of experience as a founder, educator, and investor, Craig shares how deliberate practice, discipline, and relationship-building drive success in high-stakes conversations like fundraising and enterprise sales. He also opens up about a personal chapter—losing his leg to cancer—and how it reshaped his understanding of resilience, performance, and what it means to bounce back better.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How to Win the Room: Craig walks through the subtle disciplines—from meeting prep to handwritten notes—that make your meeting the one people remember.
The Mindset That Moves Deals: You’ll learn why sales isn’t about persuasion—it’s about helping people make progress in their lives.
What Elite Practice Really Looks Like: Learn the five elements of deliberate practice and why most people never actually improve.
Things to listen for:
(00:00) Introduction to Craig Wortmann
(02:23) Wearing three hats: Sales Engine, Kellogg, and venture partner
(09:20) Self-disqualifying: Why cultural fit matters in sales
(16:02) How to stand out in a sea of 35 weekly meetings
(24:23) Asking better questions: Start the conversation, not a pitch
(32:55) The power of a handwritten thank-you note in sales
(36:58) Hiring for growth: Why coachability beats experience
(45:11) Deliberate practice: What separates good from great
(49:12) Lifequake to learning: Craig’s cancer and resilience journey
(53:44) The Bounce Back Better framework for adversity
(59:08) Master Course Academy and why teaching is still learning
Resources:
More from Altvia: https://altvia.com/ (https://altvia.com/)
Connect with Craig Wortmann💡 LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigwortmann/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigwortmann/)
If you're interested in learning more about the services at Sales Engine, please visit their website at www.salesengine.com (http://www.salesengine.com/).
14 Apr 2025
Ask Why, Not Just What: The Ops Mindset Every Fund Needs
In this episode of Preferred Return, we’re joined by Lauren Schirle (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-schirle/), Senior Manager - Strategic Initiatives at VIRIDIS Fund Solutions (https://viridisfs.com/), where she reveals how to maximize the true potential of data.
With a career that bridges the worlds of archival sciences, technology, and finance, Lauren explains how organizing and presenting data is essential for both business decision-making and making historical stories accessible. She talks about her journey from working with archival data to helping companies manage financial information better, showing how well-structured data can tell powerful stories.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How to Turn Raw Data Into Actionable Insights: Lauren explains the key steps for organizing data, allowing businesses to make informed decisions.
Why Data Quality Matters More Than You Think: Learn why accurate and clean data is essential for generating reliable analytics.
The Critical Skills You Need to Maximize Data Access: Teaching people to ask the right questions can empower teams to use data more effectively.
Things to listen for:
(00:00) Introduction to Lauren Schirle
(02:33) From history and economics to managing $30 billion
(05:16) Data as storytelling: Making historical information accessible
(06:49) Building systems for accessible data in business contexts
(12:50) Information literacy: Asking better questions in business
(17:12) User interaction as a series of questions
(18:45) Lessons from operational roles and historical data work
(37:16) The evolving role of information literacy across industries
(48:20) Advice for GPs: Ensuring data quality and understanding data tools
(52:57) Trends in portal technology and future directions
(55:27) Personal growth through questioning and diverse perspectives
Resources:
More from Altvia: https://altvia.com/
(https://altvia.com/)
Connect with Lauren Schirle💡 LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-schirle/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-schirle/)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 30 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
47
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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