Ongoing Series
Accessing the Pipeline, a brand-new McGuireWoods podcast hosted by Rubin Pusha III, features the voices of Black professionals in private equity and finance.
In this episode of Accessing the Pipeline, a podcast from McGuireWoods featuring the voices of Black professionals in private equity and finance, host Rubin Pusha III welcomes Austin Smoak to the show. Austin is the founder of the private equity firm Grove Oaks Capital (GOC), an investment partnership focused on acquiring privately owned businesses in the lower middle market space. GOC is backed by various investors, including CEOs, entrepreneurs, and institutional investors.
From the length of the deal from its inception to its closing, Austin doesn’t hold back on giving advice to other aspiring Black professionals in private equity. Austin also provides insight to what he sees as attractive verticals in the marketplace, as well as influential books that helped shape his own business practices.
In this episode of Accessing the Pipeline, a podcast from McGuireWoods featuring the voices of Black professionals in private equity and finance, host Rubin Pusha III welcomes Omar Simmons to the show.
Omar is the co-founder and president of Exaltare Capital Management, a consumer-oriented private equity firm with expertise in multi-unit and franchise businesses strategically partnering with lower middle-market companies at inflection points.
Rubin and Omar talk about emerging managers, deal alignments and predictions for the remainder of the year. Omar also describes the ins and outs of a major portfolio company exit he recently oversaw.
Tune in to the second part of the conversation from episode two of Accessing the Pipeline, a McGuireWoods podcast for Black professionals in private equity and finance, with hosts Rubin Pusha III and Greg Kilpatrick talking to 5th Century Partners’ co-founders, Jessica Patton and Bruce Hampton. Jessica is a principal at 5th Century Partners, and Bruce is a managing partner.
In this episode, Jessica and Bruce discuss their professional journeys, how diverse managers in this space can be supported, and the importance of advocates in your career. They also share valuable advice they received from mentors and thought leaders, offering listeners rich insights into their successful paths.
In this two-part episode of Accessing the Pipeline, a McGuireWoods podcast for Black professionals in private equity and finance, hosts Rubin Pusha III and Greg Kilpatrick are joined by 5th Century Partners’ co-founders, Jessica Patton and Bruce Hampton. They discuss their firm’s investment strategy — which focuses on three main pillars — how their team came up with it, what they look for in companies they plan to invest in, and what they look for in limited partners (LPs).
As Black professionals who engage in fundraising, Jessica and Bruce do not shy away from discussing the value of diversity within their firm and within the LPs and companies in which they invest. At 5th Century Partners, they are intentional about creating more opportunity and access where they can.
Listen to part one now and stay tuned for part two of this episode, coming soon.
Accessing the Pipeline, a brand-new McGuireWoods podcast hosted by Rubin Pusha III, features the voices of Black professionals in private equity and finance. Rubin kicks off this series with guest Chelsea Celistan, vice president at Providence Equity Partners, to talk about how she sets herself apart as one of few Black women on a private equity investment team and get her perspective on investing more broadly and the value of sector specialization. Chelsea shares with listeners what she believes have been the crucial ingredients to her success: her grit, internal motivation, and a strong network of people with whom she surrounds herself.