Show notes
Our Journeys guest this week is Devin Mathews, Founder and Partner of ParkerGale. The Chicago-based private equity firm concentrates on small sector-focused buyout opportunities. Their unique approach enables them to be deeply engaged with companies, improving and upgrading systems, helping management teams develop new skills, building software products, scaling technology infrastructure, creating financial reporting to reflect the key metrics for growth and establishing a sales and marketing organization that scales.
As can be imagined, with any major change, there are bound to be some bumps in the road. So how does ParkerGale remedy these obstacles to create the smoothest transition and in turn, the highest functioning teams? How do they effectively take a company from the minor leagues to the major leagues?
- Follow the servant/leader model-as a PE, focus on others’ (read; acquired company) needs first then focus on the firm.
- Use expert resources like psychiatrists and professional coaches to help assess strengths, weaknesses and compatibility.
- Look for the yes, and… mentality vs. no, but...
- Diversify their own team to better engage and work with their acquisitions along with developing a similar work environment as their companies.
Interested in more learning materials? Check out a few of Devin’s favorite resources.
Daniel Pink
DiSC personality test
Thinking fast and slow by Daniel Kahneman
Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore
Connect with Devin
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinmathews
Twitter: @devinmathews
