The leading global event for
private equity value creation
Join the largest assembly of PE value creators
in New York City this fall

Annie Asrari

Amar Ghai

Kush Tulsidas

Operating Principal

Head of Digital Value Creation

Operating Partner

Accel-KKR

KKR

One Rock CapitalPartners

Connect with 500+ value creation leaders to solve shared challenges, exchange
ideas, and develop fresh strategies for the current market and beyond.
Optimize your value creation plans in peer-to-peer think tanks, expert panels,
interactive working groups, and more.

Access a peer-to-peer communityof value creation leaders
Our attendees at a glance

450+

operating partners
attended the Forumin 2023200+

industry specialists
will guide this year’scontent

500+
firms havejoined our PE
community

Operating partner-only networking opportunities:» NEW: five pre-conference dinners, split byfunctional business area
» Pre-event reception with a view of
Manhattan’s skyline» Closed-door lunch discussion for womenin PE and VC portfolio operations» Deep-dive think tanks focused on specificareas of value creation» Lunch discussion for functional specialists» And more…

An in-depth look at cross-functional
value creation
Examine specific growth levers
in collaborative sessions:» Panels led by functional experts» Deep-dive roundtable thinktanks, exclusively for operating
partners» Breakout rooms for eachfunctional specialty» Interactive working groups withdesignated facilitators» NEW: a series focused on
integrating AI strategies acrossfunctions

Drive value creation at the intersection of functional areas:» Rewriting the value creation playbook for2024 and beyond» Comparing value creation playbooks acrossthe entire lifecycle» The AI boom in PE: practical use cases
across all functions» The role of the operating partner from due
diligence to year one» Heads of value creation perspectives: whatmakes a great operating partner?

» Value creation planning: sharing
perspectives beyond cost-savings

View the full agenda

AgendaPre-conference events - October 21, 2024
Manhatta, 28 Liberty St, 60th floor, New York
5:30–7:30pm Operating Partners Forum NY Pre-Event Welcome Reception (invitation-only for
operating partners)
Join the operating partners attending the New York Forum at our opening grand reception. Exchange
valuable insights with your peers in a relaxed setting and build your connections before theconference kicks off.
7:30–9:00pm Pre-event dinners to select for operating partners only:
Heads of Value Creation – Team Leaders Dinner (invitation-only)
Join us for a VIP private networking-style dinner designed exclusively for the leaders of the value
creation teams attending the NY Forum.
GTM, Sales and Revenue Growth Operating Partners Dinner (invitation-only)
Join us as we welcome the sales, revenue growth, marketing, and GTM operating partners attending
the Forum for a private networking-style dinner to facilitate networking before the conference starts.
Technology and Digital Operating Partners Dinner (invitation-only)
Join us as we welcome the digital and tech operating partners attending the Forum for a private
networking-style dinner to facilitate networking before the conference starts.
Finance Operating Partners Dinner (invitation-only)
Join us as we welcome the finance operating partners attending the New York Forum for a private
networking-style dinner to facilitate networking before the conference.
Human Capital Operating Partners Dinner (invitation-only)
Join us as we welcome the talent partners attending the New York Forum for a private networkingstyle dinner to facilitate networking before the conference.

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny

Day 1 - October 22, 2024
Downtown Convene, 225 Liberty St, New York
7:30 AM Registration and breakfast

THINK TANK SERIES 1
7:45 – 8:40 AM Think tanks for full-time operating partners: value creation war rooms(invitation-only for operating partners)
These closed-door discussions will allow you to learn and share best practices of successful operating
partners with your peers. Please select one of the rooms:
Think Tank 1 Digital and Technology Operating Partners
Facilitators:
Craig Vosburgh, Chief Technology Officer, Strattam CapitalThink Tank 2 Human Capital/Talent Operating Partners
Facilitators:
Kristin Patrick, Senior Operating Partner, Human Capital, New State Capital Partners
Chris Trendler, Managing Director, Head of Portfolio Talent, Madison Dearborn Partners
Think Tank 3 GTM, Sales and Revenue Growth Operating Partners
Facilitators:
Tanoya Chatterjee, Senior Principal, Mubadala Performance Partners, Mubadala
Jonathan Konkoly, Vice President of Portfolio Operations, HCI Equity Partners
Think Tank 4 Finance Operating Partners
Facilitators:
Brian Barnum, Operating Partner, Head of Private Equity Value Creation Team, Shamrock Capital
8:40 AM PEI’s welcome and chairmen’s opening remarks
Chairman: Tony Buffum, Vice President of HR Client Strategy, Upwork

9:00 – 9:40 AM Panel 1 Assessing and showcasing your value as an operating partner• Who cares about measuring operating partner impact and why do they care?
• What are the biggest issues and challenges for operating partners when it comes to impact
assessment?
• How can you measure/assess your impact without taking credit that belongs with the
management team?

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny•

How do you effectively showcase the value you provide as an operating partner/operating
partner team?
Moderator:
Jim Corey, Managing Partner, Blue Ridge Partners
Panelists:
Doron Grosman, CEO and President, Smart Start, Inc.
Raj Kushwaha, Co-Head of Value Creation and Chief Digital Officer, Warburg Pincus
Marissa Tarleton, Senior Managing Director, Haveli Investments
9:00 – 9:40 AM Panel 2 Heads of value creation insights: comparing models across the
lifecycle• How large is your team and how is your team structured?
• Did you build out your operating team in recent years and is your team still growing?
• How are operating teams organized these days across the lifecycle?
• How do you best support your operating team members?
• What do you value most in an operating partner? What does great look like?
• What will the structure and model of operating partner teams look like in future?
Moderator:
Adam Pollak, Partner, National Practice Leader – Transformation Services, KPMG US
Panelists:
Arvind Anantharaman, Head of Mubadala Performance Partners, Mubadala
Richard Elder, Managing Director and Head of Global Portfolio Solutions, The Carlyle Group
Robin Goodman, Senior Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Portfolio Operations,Blackstone
Aaron Miller, Head of Apollo Portfolio Performance Solutions, Apollo Global Management
9:45 – 10:25 AM Panel 3 The future of value creation at the intersection of talent, tech, and AI• Relying on cutting-edge technology and talent to bolster long-term growth and returns• Looking beyond AI’s promise and failings: how the intersection of talent and technologicalpossibility is the greatest lever• What is it that operating partners need to understand about technology and AI?
• How can AI add value for PE firms that are investing across multiple industries and across thedeal cycle?
• How best to staff-up for AI-driven growth• How can AI help to recruit and retain talent?
Moderator:
Jason McDannold, Americas Co-Lead, Private Equity, Partner & Managing Director, AlixPartners
Panelists:
Cory Eaves, Partner and Head of Portfolio Operations, BayPine
Angela Geffre, Head of Human Capital, GrowthCurve Capital

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny

Neil Kimber, Operating Principal, Accel-KKR
Paul Zuber, Operating Partner, North American Lead, Hg
9:45 – 10:25 AM Panel 4 A forward-looking perspective on growth in the current landscape• What are the most effective levers to scale up post a period of depressed growth?
• What forward-looking metrics and indicators are you using to refine and deliver your growthstrategy?
• How is the environment rebounding and where do the biggest growth opportunities lie?
• How do you think about return on GTM, and the return on each marginal dollar of spend?
• How are you thinking about growth with your CEOs? How do you work effectively with yourCEOs and the C-suite to deliver growth?
Moderator:
Mike Hoffman, CEO, SBI
Panelists:
Craig Greenseid, Managing Director and Portfolio Chief Commercial Officer, The Carlyle Group
10:25 AM Networking break

10:50 – 11:30 AM Panel 5 State of the industry: the key drivers for value creation that will
matter from a macro and practitioner’s perspective• The impact of current macro environment shifts on the investment and value creation
playbooks• Functional drivers of large-scale transformations• How to implement AI driven analytics and tools for better decision making• The difference between current state and future state in PE – and why it should matter to you• What to do now that will matter mostModerator:
Markus Lahrkamp, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal
10:50 – 11:30 AM Panel 6 Progressive approaches to CEO assessment, onboarding, andsuccession planning• Onboarding the CEO – post close and post hire
• CEO assessments – how has the criteria evolved? What is new?
• Performance evaluation – how and when do investors review CEO performance?
• Board composition and support of the CEO• When to replace or develop the CEO• Approaches when the hold period has extended – does the CEO profile change?
• The rise of CEO succession in PE backed companies – best new practices• Founder vs Professional CEOs – lessons learned. Can they co-exist?
• Other recommendations to optimize the CEO and ensure success for all?
Moderator:

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny

Dan Hawkins, Founder and CEO, Summit Leadership Partners
Panelists:
Lane McDonald, Managing Director, Strategy and Operations, OMERS Private Equity
Brian Slobodow, CEO of Better Being and Operating Partner, HGGC
Maggie van de Griend, Managing Director, Portfolio Talent, Warburg Pincus
11:35 – 12:15 PM Panel 7 AI real world use cases and implementations for your function• Finance, GTM, and Tech functional specialists share practical implementation stories• Working together with your functional leaders on implementing AI successfully• How is AI enhancing cross functional value creation synergies?
• How are you quantifying the impact of AI on your function?
• How will AI impact your function in the future?
11:35 – 12:15 PM Panel 8 Operating partner-deal partner alignment: working together as“one team”• Insights into the growing role of operating partners in due diligence• Best practices in working together as a team from due diligence to year one• How can operating partners give deal teams the edge in the bidding process?
• How can operating partners help investment teams maximize returns for LPs• Sharing how operating partners can unlock valuable upside potential and value• How do you achieve alignment and overcome frictions internally?
Moderator:
Thomas Kolaja, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
Panelists:
Zorian Rotenberg, GTM, Sales and Revenue Growth Operating Partner, Charlesbank CapitalPartners
INTERACTIVE WORKING GROUP SERIES 1
12:20 - 1:00 PM Interactive Working Group 1 (for operating partners only) | Optimizing yourboards: key considerations for effectiveness and governanceThis session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive
discussion with designated facilitators.
• Establishing an advisory board for portfolio companies – tools and strategies to add value
with independent perspectives• Setting up effective governance systems – road map to good governance, policy
management, and leadership• What are the skills and expertise most needed on boards? What expertise is often lacking?
• Are operating partners on your boards? Should operating partners be on boards?
• How do you measure board effectiveness?

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny

Facilitators:
Brenda Morris, Partner, CSuite Financial Partners
Ricardo Rodriguez, Managing Director, Investments and Head of Portfolio Dynamics, Grain
Management
12:20 - 1:00 PM Interactive Working Group 2 (for operating partners only) | Cybersecurity
operating partner workshop: practitioner perspectives
This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive
discussion with designated facilitators.
• Sharing key steps to prevent breaches before they happen• Talking through a live ransomware incident – where to start? Who do you bring in?
• How do you pivot during the inevitable twists & turns? How do you turn chaos and crisis into
an opportunity?
• Real outcomes and lessons learned: how can you safeguard and elevate your cyber resiliencestrategy?
Facilitators:
Sean Curran, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Enduir Cyber
Michael Picton, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Enduir Cyber
12:20 - 1:00 PM Interactive Working Group 3 (for operating partners only) | Productroadmaps: commercial strategies for launch, market entry, and growthThis session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive
discussion with designated facilitators.
• Bringing new products to market: what are the most effective growth plays?
• Monetizing AI features: What’s the right commercial strategy?
• Organizing, enabling and incentivizing your sales teams around new features/products• Unlocking product GTM velocity and acceleration: how do you shorten the cycle to see
growth?
• Integrating AI and tech to further boost your commercial strategy and gain market share
12:20 - 1:00 PM Interactive Working Group 4 (for operating partners only) | An inside look
into employee benefits program optimization and cost savings: market dynamics
This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive
discussion with designated facilitators.
• Sharing examples of how to reduce cost without reducing benefits in a rising healthcare costmarketplace• How can human resources establish a strategic role in driving measurable cost savings
aligned with the value-creation strategy goals of the PE firm?
• What creative solutions can be identified within employee benefit programs to ensure costsavings while maintaining fiduciary responsibility?
• How to run the right procurement for your benefits: transparency, inclusion of vendors, andobjectivity in your implementation process

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny•What strategies can be employed to develop metrics that effectively measure material
returns resulting from HR led cost-saving initiatives, and how can HR stay adaptable to market
dynamics during this process?
Facilitators:
Todd Miller, CEO, Risk International
John Weaver, Senior Director, Risk International
12:20 - 1:00 PM Interactive Working Group 5 (for operating partners only) | Realizing
untapped enterprise value from operations beyond costThis session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive
discussion with designated facilitators.
• Learn from case studies, how process and digital enablers contribute to Enterprise Value (EV)through process effectiveness, not just efficiency; impacting working capital, third-party
spend reduction and growth. Including a discussion on why Operating Partners might beleaving money on the table and how might we change that?
• Hear how process effectiveness improvements can be worth several times the impact of costsavings, and how they can be achieved without necessitating implementation of a new ERP• Dive into examples of optimizing your working capital and FP&A to reinvest in the business;understand where the scale of the impact can meaningfully fuel growth
Facilitators:
Constantin Mihaila, Senior Partner and US Lead, Private Equity, Genpact
1:00 – 2:00 PM Networking Lunch

1:00 – 2:00 PM Women in PE portfolio operations lunch (invitation-only for operating
partners)
This closed-door lunch discussion will explore what it’s like being a woman in PE portfolio operations.
• Sharing challenges, tips, and strategies for your career paths as women operating partners• Building credibility and trust with the deal teams, management teams, and your value
creation teams – what are some ways you’ve found success in doing that?
• What are some of the strengths women have that make you uniquely positioned to excel inthis space? What are some of the challenges we should be mindful of and how have you
tackled these obstacles?
• What are key initiatives you have seen tied to women’s leadership at your portfolio
companies?
1:00 – 2:00 PM Functional lunch discussion 1 (invitation-only for operating partners) |Unlocking advanced pricing strategies: how are you thinking about it?
This closed-door deep dive lunch discussion designed solely for operating partners will focus on
strategic areas in pricing to enhance value.
• How are you engaging with your companies to successfully execute pricing projects?

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny•

How does the current inflationary environment affect how you think about and execute
pricing and how will it play out in future?
• Sharing insights with a focus on return to value-based pricing; understanding the value
proposition to your customer and pricing accordingly• Pricing in due diligence and how do you incorporate that in your VCP• Cohesive pricing strategies as a key growth lever for expansions and renewals• Using data and KPIs to achieve out-performing net retention• Aligning sales teams and your GTM strategy with pricing to strengthen your execution• Looking at how different companies/sectors require different pricing models• Internal vs. external support and resources for pricing assessments• What are companies doing in terms of pricing looking forward?
Facilitators:
Dave Clement, Partner, Simon-Kucher & Partners
Adam Echter, Partner, Simon-Kucher & Partners
FUNCTIONAL BREAKOUT SERIES 1
2:00 – 2:40 PM Track 1 Driving higher EBITDA in a prolonged high interest rate environment• How has the prolonged period of high interest rates significantly impacted portfolio
companies?
• What are the most effective solutions to mitigate debt burdens?
• How are you enhancing EBITDA through strategic measures?
• Uncovering priorities to stabilize operations, improve financial health, and navigate thechallenging financial landscape
Moderator:
Gary Hoover, Vice President, Global Private Equity Practice, TBM Consulting Group
Panelists:
Ariel Garcia, Partner, OceanSound Partners
2:00 – 2:40 PM Track 2 Enabling secure digital transformation with Zero Trust for yourcompanies• Why digital transformation (security, network, application & business transformation) is
essential for value creation in PE portfolio companies?
• How does zero trust framework impact PE portfolio companies digital transformation?
• How do portfolio companies think about security during transformation?
• Where should one start and how to enable the zero trust journey?
• How to measure ROI from digital transformation efforts & align to value creation goals?
Moderator:
Akshay Grover, Global Private Equity Practice Lead, Zscaler
Panelists:
Josefin Frick, Associate Director, Digital, EQT GroupTo learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opnyPuroo Maheshwari, Managing Director, Cybersecurity, Portfolio Value Creation, CPP Investments
David Mamikonyan, Senior Principal, Operating Partner, Mubadala Performance Partners,
Mubadala
Joe Rubino, Managing Director and CISO, Co-Head of Portfolio Resources Group, GTCR
Chris Satchell, Managing Director Technology and Digital, Clayton Dubilier & Rice
2:00 – 2:40 PM Track 3 Building and developing high performing teams at your companies• How to build a high-performance team looking at complementary skills, experiences,
technical aspects, and personality traits• Understanding the importance of diversity of thought to spark creative andnonhomogeneous ways of thinking• How do you measure the right skillsets and metrics to create impact, drive cohesion, andavoid discrepancies?
• How are you filling specific roles or delivering projects based on less tangible skills?
• Comparing and contrasting team structures at your portcos: operating partners share whatworks and what doesn’t to drive the value creation plan
• Dissecting the psychology of effective teams in looking at journey, purpose, positions,communication, and leadership• Developing and improving future workforces in looking at tomorrow’s new talent• What do future stars want?
Moderator:
Rory Gaston, Group Managing Director, Saragossa
Panelists:
Miten Marvania, Managing Director, Business Services Platform, Blue Owl Capital
Kate Migliaro, Managing Director, Blackstone
2:00 – 2:40 PM Track 4 Heads of value creation: turning the talent function into anindispensable asset• Roles and responsibilities of human capital operating partners at different firms• Key characteristics of exceptional talent partners• How to empower talent partners to drive real change• What makes your talent value creation playbook effective and unique, and how is it essential
to the overall VCP?
• Aligning talent partners cross functionally on the team
• Views on expanding and shaping the human capital function of the future
Moderator:
Kevin O'Neill, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Acertitude
2:00 – 2:40 PM Track 5 Operating partner-CFO alignment: strategies for success• As operating partners, how do you drive engagement, support, and initiatives with your
CFOs throughout the deal cycle?
• How do you assess and track your finance function’s performance?
• As CFOs, how do you ensure alignment with operating partners and the value creation plan?

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny•What makes a great CFO? What is top of mind for CFOs nowadays? As CFOs, where do you
need the most support?
• What does a successful CFO-operating partner partnership look like?
Moderator:
Nick Leopard, CEO and Founder, Accordion
Panelists:
Bob Gold, Former EVP and CFO, EyeCare Partners
Ronald Kruczynski, CFO, America’s Group
Travis Krueger, Managing Director, GTCR
Andrew Walshe, Director, North American Operating Team, Strategic Value Partners
FUNCTIONAL BREAKOUT SERIES 2
2:40 – 3:20 PM Track 6 Overcoming underperformance: transformation and turnaroundsuccess stories• How do operating partners work with underperforming companies to get them back to ahigher performance?
• What are the key factors leading to underperformance? How do you work with leadershipteams to get your companies back up to speed?
• How do you establish realistic goals to achieve transformation?
• How do you overcome roadblocks? How do you know when you are on the right track inmoving towards progress?
Moderator:
Kristin Murphy, Vice President, Private Equity and Partnerships, Entromy
Panelists:
Bruce Chesebrough, Operating Partner, New Mountain CapitalBala Ganesan, Managing Director, Special Situations Group, Oaktree Capital Management
Amanda Good, Partner, Head of Global Value Creation, Searchlight Capital Partners
Sonal Singla, Senior Operating Advisor, Hellman & Friedman
2:40 – 3:20 PM Track 7 Comparing tech and digital operating partner models and ecosystems• How is your tech operating team structured and how do you best leverage support withinyour ecosystem?
• What does your tech playbook look like and how do you implement it effectively?
• How do you best work across functions as a technologist to drive the value creation plan?
• How do you work with your commercial teams to enhance revenue growth with tech?
Moderator:
Bala Narayanaswamy, Global Head of Private Equity, Infosys
Panelists:
Annie Asrari, Operating Principal, Accel-KKR

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny

Ali Heron, Managing Director, Digital Transformation, GrowthCurve Capital
Steve Mayotte, Operating Partner, Technology Enablement, New State Capital Partners
Lee McCabe, Operating Partner, AEA Investors
2:40 – 3:20 PM Track 8 The role of commercial excellence and tech enablement to drive topline growth
As 2024 continues to represent a slow exit environment, PE firms and portfolio companies are more
focused than ever on identifying ways to drive top-line growth. Many portfolio companies
underinvested in commercial excellence, key processes (e.g., O2C) and technologies (ERPs, CRMs
and AI/ML) as they acquired add-ons over the past few years, creating complexity to scale for growth
in today’s business environment. In this discussion, we explore ways to enable PE firms and portcos
to achieve greater agility, competitiveness, and profitability to drive recurring top-line growth.
Moderator:
Jawad Hussain, Partner, PE Services Leader, MorganFranklin Consulting
Panelists:
Mark Abatto, Managing Director, Gryphon Investors
Var George, Technology Executive, Portfolio Optimization, Veritas Capital
Samiksha Gupta, Commercial and GTM Lead, Mubadala Performance Partners, Mubadala
Kush Tulsidas, Operating Partner, One Rock Capital Partners
2:40 – 3:20 PM Track 9 Generating outsized returns from procurement• Delivering up to 3x typical value from advanced techniques• Ensuring savings reach the bottom line
• Solving the procurement talent shortage• Leveraging Gen AI to accelerate value capture
Moderator:
Steven Browning, Senior Vice President, Private Equity Practice Lead, Insight Sourcing
Panelists:
Adam Cummins, Principal, Director of Portfolio Procurement, The Carlyle Group
Michael Frain, Managing Director, Shared Services, Warburg Pincus
Jana Wayne, Managing Director, Head of Procurement, Hunter Point Capital
2:40 – 3:20 PM Track 10
3:20 PM Coffee break

FUNCTIONAL BREAKOUT SERIES 3
3:30 – 4:10 PM Track 11 Creating value through high impact functional leadershipTo learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny•What determines the pivotal functional roles across different deal contexts or industry
sectors? How has this been influenced by recent market conditions?
• What essential attributes define high-performing functional leaders in portfolio companies,
and what metrics are used to measure and track their impact and performance?
• How can effective cross-functional collaboration be leveraged to unlock synergies and drive
growth?
• How and when can interim or fractional leaders be deployed for maximum impact?
• In what ways can operating partners manage and maximize functional cohorts across a
portfolio?
Moderator:
Matt Greenberg, Partner, Leathwaite
Panelists:
Tracey Abbott, Senior Operating Partner, Mubadala Performance Partners, Mubadala
Andrew Lim, Managing Director, Blackstone
Avra Schaaf, Principal, Head of Value Creation, Lead Edge Capital
Juliane Stephan, Principal, BayPine
3:30 – 4:10 PM Track 12 Operating partner-CTO synergies for transformation• How is the CIO/CTO role evolving? How are skills and responsibilities changing?
• Sharing PE operating partner-CIO/CTO successful dynamics and engagement models• How are operating partners influencing tech playbooks in tandem with CTOs?
• How are you working together in terms of innovative technologies and automating human
workflow?
• How can CIO/CTOs add value and work with internal teams to drive change
Moderator:
Jeff Laurinaitis, Managing Director, RKON
Panelists:
Alex Bello, Director, Product and Technology Strategy, EQT Group
Brian Heery, Chief Information Officer, Voyant Beauty
Ajaykumar Kutty, Technology Operating Principal, KKR
Robert Sheesley, Chief Information Officer, Wrench Group
3:30 – 4:10 PM Track 13 Case Study: Partnerships that define success in CFO recruitment
This live case study will shed light on why so many CFO searches don’t meet initial expectations in theshifted CFO market. Avoid mistakes and hear firsthand expertise as we share:• An inside look into hiring the right CFO through the lens of the CEO, Deal Partner, TalentPartner, and Search Partner• What does a great search partnership look like?
• The three most important steps to set the search up for success• What are CFO search landmines?
• How to best balance the voice of the Board with the CEO throughout the entire process
Moderator:

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny

Jamie Carter, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Lancor
Panelists:
Marie Deller, Partner, Lancor
John Knapp, Operating Director, Portfolio Support, Berkshire Partners
Nic Volpi, Partner, Permira
Rob Waldron, Chairman, Curriculum Associates
3:30 – 4:10 PM Track 14 Taking the risk out of innovation and transformation
Inherent in the private equity thesis is change to a portfolio company can lead to significant
value creation. Yet the more change and potential value, the more risk you're potentiallytaking on. Join us for a session to discuss how leaders are managing and reducing that risk
while accelerating their ability to deliver results and innovate.
Facilitators:
Patrick Petitti, Co-Founder and CEO, Catalant Technologies
3:30 – 4:10 PM Track 15 Procurement and supply chain in due diligence – when does it movethe needle• Where are the big potential impacts• How to screen early on depth required• Tips and tricks to ensure a high impact for effort level
Panelists:
Anish Jain, Managing Director, Business Operations, Private Equity, Brookfield Asset Management
Susan Scutt, Managing Director, Operating Directors and Entrepreneurial Governance, Partners
Group
Daniel Soroka, Senior Operating Partner, Graham Partners
FUNCTIONAL BREAKOUT SERIES 4
4:10 – 4:50 PM Track 16 Industrial goods and services: rapid EBITDA levers• Analyzing Product Cost Down (PCD) – unpredictable market swings have driven significant
product proliferation and complexity during the last few years• How are companies using techniques such as VA/VE to optimize product costs?
• What are the typical challenges faced by companies to implement PCD levers?
Moderator:
Apurva Nair, Partner, Oliver Wyman
4:10 – 4:50 PM Track 17 Digital disruption and transformation: accelerating seamless postclose transitions• Accelerate digital transformation for your finance and tech functions from post close/due
diligence to the first 100 days
• How are you getting the right people, processes, and tech in place?
• What does great look like in moving from building a foundation to accelerating growth?

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny•

How do you obtain alignment with your tech and finance leaders when it comes to techroadmaps and action items? What innovative initiatives are you advancing?
Moderator:
Doug Schrock, Managing Principal, Artificial Intelligence, Crowe
Panelists:
Gerard Ashmore, Senior Vice President, Reporting and Insights, Grain Management
Tye Howell, Principal, Rubicon Technology Partners
Greg Kegeles, Operating Partner, Digital Transformation, Newlight Partners
4:10 – 4:50 PM Track 18 Integrating commercial due diligence in your operational playbooks• Understanding pricing, GTM, and market research as an opportunity in diligence• How do you go about scrutinizing commercial data in the due diligence phase?
• How do you uncover what works and what doesn’t commercially for the business? How doyou go about choosing and prioritizing your initial commercial projects/tasks?
• How do you build success in selecting the right sales talent and understanding which gaps
need to be filled?
• How do you achieve alignment with the management team to deliver the commercial value
creation plan?
Moderator:
Tim Foster, Managing Director, Investor Group Services (IGS)
Panelists:
Manish Goyal, Operating Partner, Portfolio Support, Berkshire Partners
Daniel Perry, Resource Partner, Court Square Capital Partners
Kelly Wagner, Senior Vice President, Value Creation and Strategy, Erie Street Growth Partners
4:10 – 4:50 PM Track 19 CFO perspectives on health and benefits spend in a rising costmarketplace• CFOs discuss continuously increasingly healthcare costs and how to work closely with their
CHROs on implementations• Looking at how to help executives think about challenging the status quo with cutting edge
ways to reduce healthcare costs• How can PE firms support employers and CFOs to reduce costs and make better decisions?
Moderator:
Todd Grove, Vice President, Private Equity, Quantum Health
4:10 – 4:50 PM Track 20 Is sell side prep for technology and operations necessary?
• How much preparation is necessary? Come see the debate on whether preparation and sellside readiness efforts pay off• Compare and contrasting viewpoints on the topic in the context of real engagements• Timing: when is the right time to start? How necessary is early prep?
• What is the right level of depth: check the box activity versus forward looking value creation?
• Sharing data driven preparation examples

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny• What actions are necessary to take in getting ready to exit? What levers did you pull for exit?
Moderator:
Peter Kahn, Senior Partner, West Monroe
Panelists:
Geoffrey Baird, Independent Operating Executive, Palladium Equity Partners
Abigail Chan, Senior Operations Executive, ABRY Partners
Amar Ghai, Head of Digital Value Creation, KKR
4:50 PM Networking coffee break
INTERACTIVE WORKING GROUP SERIES 2
5:00 – 5:40 PM Interactive Working Group 6 (for operating partners only) | Optimizing theorder-to-cash process at every growth stage
This interactive session designed solely for operating partners offers actionable strategies tostreamline the OTC process, enhance customer satisfaction, boost profitability, and enable
comprehensive KPI reporting.
• Optimize OTC processes: learn how to streamline your order-to-cash process to enhance
efficiency, reduce errors, and measure key KPIs like ARR, MRR, customer retention, churn, etc.
• Improve customer experience: discover strategies to improve customer satisfaction andretention through a smooth OTC process• Strategic role of CFOs: understand the pivotal role CFOs play in driving OTC optimizations
and strategic technology investments• Maturity model guidance: get insights into a maturity model that helps finance teams
transition from reactive to proactive OTC processes• Real-world examples: hear success stories and best practices from industry leaders on
implementing effective OTC solutions
5:00 – 5:40 PM Interactive Working Group 7 (for operating partners only) | Mastering the dataside of AI to optimize implementations
This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive
discussion with designated facilitators.
• Data before AI: understanding how AI enablement goes hand in hand with getting your dataright
• How are you leveraging your data to amplify your AI initiatives? What are the most important
focal points when it comes to scrutinizing data for AI?
• Sharing real world implementations: what are the biggest challenges and opportunities atyour companies
5:00 – 5:40 PM Interactive Working Group 8 (for operating partners only) | Unlocking revenue
growth’s potential to maximize exit value

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny

This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive
discussion with designated facilitators.
• Sharing lessons learned in getting ready from a revenue growth perspective for the exit
• How does revenue growth have a direct impact on exits? How do you leverage commercial
data for the exit?
• What are the most important commercial functional areas to focus on in the 18 months prior
to exit?
• How are you leveraging commercial teams effectively throughout this key phase?
Facilitators:
Andy Fauver, SVP of Transaction Services, INSIGHT2PROFIT
Jeffrey Nagel, Operating Partner, AEA Investors
5:00 – 5:40 PM Interactive Working Group 9 (for operating partners only) | Uncovering key
trends in PE carveouts to maximize value
This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive
discussion with designated facilitators.
• Understand how carveouts have become a significant source of deal making in the current
market• How are you handling carveout due diligence as a key part of the process?
• How do you approach a carveout transaction in terms of minimizing risks and maximizing
opportunities?
• How would you define key success factors in a carveout transaction?
Facilitators:
Scott Brady, Managing Director, M&A Practice, Marsh McLennan
Steve Siwinski, Operating Principal, Accel-KKR
5:00 – 5:40 PM Interactive Working Group 10 (for operating partners only) | Driving long-term
incentives and broad-based employee ownership across the organization
This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive
discussion with designated facilitators.
• Understanding the lay of the land: how you should be thinking about offering and rolling out
shared ownership to employees• Comparing shared ownership programs that have helped companies improve employee
engagement, attract and retain talent, and drive operational improvements• Showcasing how shared equity participation and building a culture of ownership can alignthe interests of investors and workers to drive better outcomes for all• Aligning the executives and the board on LTI program implementations• Measuring its impact with an eye to the future and what comes next in PE
5:40 PM End of day one and networking cocktail reception

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny

Day 2 - October 23, 2024
Downtown Convene, 225 Liberty St, New York
7:45 AM Registration and breakfast
THINK TANK SERIES 2
7:45 – 8:30 AM Think tanks for full-time operating partners: value creation war rooms(invitation-only for operating partners)
These closed-door discussions will allow you to learn and share best practices of successful
operating partners. Select one of the rooms:
Think Tank 1 Emerging Operating Partners (1-2 years in PE)
Think Tank 2 Advanced Operating Partners
Facilitators:
Matt Ibbetson, Partner, Ridgemont Equity Partners
John Sander, Principal, Portfolio Solutions, Lightyear CapitalThink Tank 3 Heads of Value Creation: Team Leaders Think Tank
Facilitators:
Bob Isaman, Head of Operations, Dunes Point Capital
BREAKFAST DEEP-DIVE SERIES
8:30 – 9:15 AM Breakfast deep dive discussion 1 (invitation-only for operating partners) |Value creation as a macro imperative: key insights for operating partner groups
This breakfast deep dive discussion designed solely for operating partners will allow you to join aninteractive discussion with designated facilitators.
• Operating teams in an evolving macro landscape• Economic imperative for value creation in PE• Key macro trends to consider while monitoring your portcos• PE operating group evolution to support the new reality of deal economics
Facilitators:
William Bundy, Partner, McKinsey & Company
Jason Phillips, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
8:30 – 9:15 AM Breakfast deep dive discussion 2 (invitation-only for operating partners) | The
keys to achieving outsized value creation through revenue growthThis breakfast deep dive discussion designed solely for operating partners will allow you to join aninteractive discussion with designated facilitators.
• Operating partners share growth war stories at their portfolio companies

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny

•
•
•
•

Avoiding the “lost years” caused by waiting too long to address revenue growth
Fast starts drive higher IRR and earlier successful exits
Launching and maintaining a growth focus in diligence and the first 100 days
16 analyses that quickly highlight the growth opportunity in a business

8:30 – 9:15 AM Breakfast deep dive discussion 3 (invitation-only for operating partners) |Leadership matters: unique guidelines for transformation and impact
This breakfast deep dive discussion designed solely for operating partners will allow you to join aninteractive discussion with designated facilitators.
• How would you define successful leadership? What are key qualities of the most impactfulleaders at your companies?
• What can operating partners do to improve their influence when it comes to coaching?
• Leadership during times of disruption: sharing challenges and successful approaches• What are key differences and similarities in working with different leaders across sectors?
• What does the next generation of leaders look like? How are you approaching theirdevelopment?
Facilitator:
Ted Bililies, Partner and Managing Director, AlixPartners
8:30 – 9:15 AM Breakfast deep dive discussion 4 (invitation-only for operating partners) |Preparing for techxit: ensuring your tech is ready to maximize the multiple
This breakfast deep dive discussion designed solely for operating partners will allow you to join aninteractive discussion with designated facilitators.
• Getting ahead of the tech narrative for your business• Establishing a “mock buy-side” baseline• Defining the timeline and technology playbook for exit
• Identifying the most (and least) important digital and tech initiatives for the 12-18 months
prior to exit
• Ensuring the tech team is ready for the diligence process• Aligning market/commercial work with tech/product readiness
Facilitators:
Barr Blanton, CEO, Crosslake Technologies
Kenneth Wang, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs
8:30 – 9:15 AM Breakfast deep dive discussion 5 (invitation-only for operating partners) | How
operating partners and CFOs collaborate effectively to maximize value creation
This breakfast deep dive discussion designed solely for operating partners will allow you to join aninteractive discussion with designated facilitators.
• Sharing war stories: challenges and benefits of collaborative decision-making and strategicalignment between operating partners and CFOs
• Operating partners expose the dos and don’ts to ensure their unique partnership works
smoothly and effectively• As operating partners, how do you best leverage your CFOs to drive the value creation plan?

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny•

Exploring frameworks for aligning the operating partner’s expertise with the CFO’s vision andthe portfolio company corporate strategy

9:15 AM Chairman’s welcome
Chairman: Tony Buffum, Vice President of HR Client Strategy, Upwork

9:20 – 10:00 AM Keynote discussion
10:00 – 10:40 AM The portco CEO perspective: leveraging operating partners to drive value
creation• What are CEO expectations for a productive value driven relationship?
• What can the operating partner do to help build trust with the CEO and what is the mosteffective engagement model with the CEO?
• Through the lens of the CEO, what are some common operating partner dos and don’ts?
• How might the operating partner align their experience/expertise with the CEO’s visionacross all stages of the deal lifecycle?
• Where do CEOs need the most help? Least help?
• How has the CEO’s mindset shifted with respect to leveraging operating partners,
consultants, and other specialists for value creation?
• What considerations should an operating partner keep in mind when working with aseasoned PE CEO versus a new PE CEO?
10:40 AM Networking break
11:00 – 11:40 AM Value creation for the exit: operating partner perspectives• What is your approach to preparing a portfolio company for exit, and how do you executethe plan?
• How are current market conditions impacting exit plans and strategies?
• How do you work with your functional leadership team to support the execution of your exit
strategy?
• What is the role of data in driving higher exit valuations?
• Showcasing dos and don’ts and what a successful exit looks like; how do you measure thesuccess of an exit?
• How closely did the post close experience match the pre-close promises? What worked andwhat didn’t?
Moderator:
Ryan Jones, Global and US Private Equity Consulting Leader, Deloitte Consulting
Panelists:

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny

Asheesh Gupta, Managing Director, Portfolio Support, Audax Private Equity
11:40 – 12:20 PM Innovation in value creation: showcasing cutting-edge initiatives• What are the most innovative and unique initiatives you have implemented within yourfunctional domain?
• Can you share examples of how you worked cross functionally on real innovative projects?
• How do you establish a culture of innovation and break down walls at your companies?
• How did your initiatives really make a difference and create value? What were the biggest
challenges you had to overcome?
• Showcasing value creation innovation beyond AI: what are the game changers?
Moderator:
Sean Mooney, Founder and CEO, BluWave
Panelists:
Mara Edgar, Managing Director, Human Capital, The Riverside Company
Misha Logvinov, Director, Mubadala Performance Partners, Mubadala
Jonathan Metrick, Partner, Chief Growth Officer, Sagard
12:20 PM Coffee break
INTERACTIVE WORKING GROUPS SERIES 3
12:30 – 1:10 PM Interactive Working Group 11 (for operating partners only) | Go-to-Market
strategy and execution: what does great look like?
This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive
discussion with designated facilitators.
• Creating a winning go-to-market strategy: aligning competencies with opportunities• Getting your messaging right with your customers• Accelerating your GTM execution: improving processes and increasing lead conversion• How are you effectively communicating with and training the sales team?
Facilitators:
AJ Gandhi, Chief Growth Officer, Marlin Equity Partners
Darlene Kober, Principal, NEXT LEVEL Partners
12:30 – 1:10 PM Interactive Working Group 12 (for operating partners only) | Technology
value creation workshop: sharing firsthand playbooks and projects
This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive
discussion with designated facilitators.
• How do you define effective tech and digital value creation?
• How do you go about identifying, evaluating, prioritizing, and executing technology
initiatives that improve enterprise value?

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny•

How do you showcase value when it comes to data points on tech spend and tech value
creation?
• How do you establish and execute tech roadmaps across the investment lifecycle? How doyou overcome roadblocks?
Facilitators:
Nadeem Ahmed, Partner, CrossCountry Consulting
12:30 – 1:10 PM Interactive Working Group 13 (for operating partners only) | Operating
partner-COO dynamics: driving better business processes
This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive
discussion with designated facilitators.
• Collaboration dynamics to scale and grow your operations as a business• Key insights into org design, process improvement, integrations, change management andtransformation work focused on the office of the COO• Setting up program management to drive accountability and execution of value creation
efforts
Facilitators:
Seavron Banus, Operating Vice President, Portfolio Support Group, Berkshire Partners
David Venker, Principal, Portfolio Operations, HCI Equity Partners
12:30 – 1:10 PM Interactive Working Group 14 (for operating partners only) | Refining yourESG and impact strategy within the value creation agenda
This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive
discussion with designated facilitators.
• Moving beyond data collection – how to integrate and improve upon impact outcomes
across the portfolio• Creating impact value and considering materiality in an impact strategy• Scaling impact – creating a portfolio-wide playbook to enhance adoptions, learnings andimpact outcomes
Facilitator:
Danielle Jezienicki, Impact/ESG Advisor, GroundForce Capital
12:30 – 1:10 PM Interactive Working Group 15 (for operating partners only) | Tactical andtechnical finance and accounting workshop for operating partners
This session designed solely for operating partners will allow the audience to join an interactive
discussion with designated facilitators.
• Sharing tactical and technical viewpoints in accounting and controlling: what to do if you
have issues with your accounting function• Staying up to date with the latest accounting standards• Proactively evaluating your accounting function for unique transactions, and ensuring yourfinancial reporting is accurate and compliant• What are the most complex technical areas you have come across? How do you prioritize theright initiatives to tackle these complex areas?

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny•Tactical finance and accounting in the current marketplace: how do you forecast and budget
through volatility?

1:10 – 2:00 PM Networking Lunch
1:10 – 2:00 PM Functional lunch discussion 2 (invitation-only for operating partners) | Rate
optimization: the no regrets cloud cost management tactic your portcos are not fully
leveraging
This closed-door deep dive lunch discussion designed solely for tech and digital operating partners
will explore key strategies for cloud to enhance value. One of the highest impact tactics to optimize acloud environment with cloud providers that is often underemployed by CTOs and VPs of
Engineering is pricing or rate optimization through discount instruments. If cloud costs are a top P&L
line item in your portfolio, missing out on rate optimization is gross margin dollars left on the table.
Learn how rate optimization can be tracked, and with the right automation, employed in yourorganization to incrementally add margin to the business.
• What is rate optimization?
• How is it different from usage/workload optimization?
• What are the use cases that are candidates for rate optimization?
• Why is rate optimization often overlooked by CTOs/VP Engs?
• Why is rate optimization an obvious KPI for an operating partner?
• Why is automation critical for expert rate optimization?
• How the different optimization metrics for both rate and usage optimization alignFacilitator:
Chris Cochran, Co-Founder and CEO, ProsperOps
1:10 – 2:00 PM Functional lunch discussion 3 (invitation-only for operating partners) | TBA
FUNCTIONAL BREAKOUT SERIES 5
2:00 – 2:40 PM Track 21 Harnessing data to increase enterprise value across all stages of thedeal cycle• How do investors and management teams increasingly achieve higher returns by harnessingdata?
• Gaining a competitive advantage with command of commercial data and the capabilities totake action from it• Sharing differentiated and more sophisticated views of a target’s commercial performance indiligence• Improving clarity and confidence in underlying performance drivers during the first 100 days
• Accelerating opportunity identification and capture during value creation or control andarticulation of the equity story at exit
Moderator:

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opnyChristian Davis, Associate Partner, JMAN Group
Panelists:
Ishan Gammampila, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Apax Partners
Subhi Sherwell, Director of Operations, TPG Capital
2:00 – 2:40 PM Track 22 Pricing’s effect on value creation for industrials: sharing lessons
learned to drive returns• Understanding trends in the space and why focusing on price improvements is imperative forvalue creation• Unlocking customer segmentation and analytics to optimize your pricing strategy within the
sector• Sharing success stories and lessons learned
Moderator:
Jared Wiesel, Senior Vice President, Revenue Analytics
Panelists:
Alexis Underwood, Managing Director, Commercial Excellence and Pricing, Wynnchurch Capital
2:00 – 3:20 PM Track 23 Portfolio perspectives: leveraging supply chain to empower speedto-value from operational analytics• Savings: 8.6% cost capture through informed pricing and usage strategies• Profitability: 1%-5% more sales returned to the bottom line
• Efficiency: 10%-16% distribution network savings
Moderator:
Tony Totta, Executive Vice President, eShipping
2:00 – 3:20 PM Track 24 Cost optimization to unlock and accelerate VCP initiatives• Sharing examples of how cash constrained businesses have flourished with cost optimizationand transformational growth• Operating partner-CFO dynamics to leverage cost optimization and profitability• Fixing cost management in the first 100 days to set the tone in looking at EBITDA margin• Reducing costs in areas of indirect spend to substantially impact EBITDA margin in a shortperiod of time
• Putting cost savings to work to deliver and further enhance value creation plan initiatives
Moderator:
Kevin Flounders, CEO, SIB
Panelists:
David Bonasia, Managing Director, Private Equity, Brookfield Asset Management
Daniel Goetz, Operating Executive, Siris Capital
Mujteba Haidri, Operating Partner, Blue Point Capital Partners

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny

FUNCTIONAL BREAKOUT SERIES 6
2:40 – 3:20 PM Track 25 Demystifying R&D across your portfolio to drive better businessoutcomes• Uncover how PE operators can gain visibility into R&D organizations, understand theireffectiveness, and ensure they are aligned to business priorities.
Moderator:
Ryan Kuchova, Head of Strategy and Operations, Jellyfish
Panelists:
Patrick Mizer, Portfolio CTO, Blue Star Innovation Partners
Mark Uhrmacher, Head of Digital Transformation and Chief Technology Officer, GrowthCurve
Capital2:40 – 3:20 PM Track 26 Marketing as a key lever beyond due diligence: unlocking 180-day
success• Assess potential acquisitions and investments more effectively by building a better due
diligence process that incorporates deep marketing data and analysis• Add quantitative value to targets faster by de-risking investment choices and unlocking
efficiencies that accelerate performance and profitability• Minimize friction and ease the transition to the 180-day plan by inserting operating partners
earlier in the diligence process to work directly with deal teams• Leverage short-term “test and learn” project engagements to set up data systems anddetermine channel prioritization, effectiveness, and/or elimination
Moderator:
Pierre Le Veaux II, SVP, Head of Private Equity Partnerships, Wpromote
Panelists:
Beth Dresdale, Principal, Head of Value Creation, Martis Capital
Andy Pickens, Managing Director, Apollo Global Management
Shivani Tejuja, Advisory Director, Charlesbank Capital Partners
2:40 – 3:20 PM Track 27 Panel
3:20 – 3:40 PM PEI presents the 1st annual operating partners compensation survey results
3:40 – 3:45 PM Closing remarks and end of conference

To learn more, visit: privateequityinternational.com/opny