Private Equity Blog
Growth Insights for Every Deal Stage
Art Saxby
Art Saxby is Founder and CEO of Chief Outsiders. Saxby specializes in manufacturing, commodity and branded products. Contact Art at 281.610.1481 or art@chiefoutsiders.com.
Recent Posts

The Operational Pivot Has Reached Commercial Growth
May 20, 2026 8:45:42 AM | Posted by Slade Kobran
Executive Takeaways
- Leverage, timing, and multiple expansion are no longer enough to drive returns.
- Hold periods are stretching past 7 years — operational value creation is now the mandate.
- A growth system connects insight, strategy, execution, and measurement. A campaign does not.
- Buyers are not evaluating historical performance. They are evaluating the system behind it.
The New PE Value Creation Playbook: Part One
Series Introduction
Private equity value creation has entered a new era.
For years, firms could rely on leverage, market timing, and multiple expansion to help drive returns. That environment has changed. Capital is more expensive, exit timelines are less predictable, and buyers are applying greater scrutiny to the quality, durability, and repeatability of portfolio company growth.
Recent Posts

Operating on the Same Side of the Table: Interview with Ricardo Gonzalez of Hellman and Friedman
Apr 19, 2017 3:42:33 PM — One of the challenges that all Operating Partners face is finding the balance between being a representative of the Private Equity “owners” and helping the portfolio company leadership team get stuff done. This can be particularly difficult when the area the company needs help in relates to things like sales leadership or sales management.
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