People – Firms

When dealmakers branch out on their own, they often invest deal-by-deal before raising a blind-pool fund. But other ideas are in play as the fund-less sponsor market searches for capital.

Emerging managers shouldn’t discount the value of bringing on a CFO early. Here’s how to source one that can set up a firm’s operations for years to come.

The firm’s software bet holds as portfolio recorded 20% growth year-on-year, even as AI disruption accelerates.

Wolfram tells us about his happy place in Nantucket, winning tailgates, and why he sends the Semisonic song 'Closing Time' to Oak Hill's investment team.

Weinberg tells us about his fantasy job as a teacher, his love for Hawaii, great sunset dinners and 1980s music, and why golf is a ‘go-to’ when he needs to relax.

MiddleGround’s 'entrepreneurial' vibe allowed Christen Paras to embrace increasing responsibility, and eventually lead six teams. Passionate about female empowerment, she's a sponsor of the firm's Women’s Wing, which backs charities for abused and homeless women and children.

Marcie Frost started out as a teenage mother with a temp job as a typist. She would rise to become the CEO of the largest public pension in the US, without receiving a college degree, and experiencing a diversity of roles along the way that no college degree could buy.

For Silvia Oteri, who heads Permira's global healthcare investing arm, improving the gender gap isn't just about getting more women into PE, she believes, but creating an environment that leads to success.

Julia Wittlin spent 15 years at BlackRock before joining RedBird, whose OneTeam launched with partners from NFL and MLB player associations. Now she's a lead on RedBird's college sports efforts, including its engagement with the Big 12 Conference.

Marcie Frost rose from being a typist without a college degree to being CEO of CalPERS, the largest public pension fund in the US. She is one of 10 women on our list who exemplify what it takes to thrive in the world of private equity.