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Pathways to the CEO role (including private equity)

Are you a Turnaround or Growth Leader seeking a new opportunity?

The pathway to a CEO role for a portfolio company may be a logical next step in your career when you consider the structure of a private equity firm, its particular mandate and meet the performance criteria.

It’s a complicated industry, certainly, but some similarities across private equity funds provide helpful context to understand what they generally seek in a portfolio CEO.  

As a basic structure and construct, private equity firms generally invest in companies requiring help with financial and market growth. Many firms have an industry focus, and others diversify across sectors. 

I don’t believe you need to be a private equity expert to serve as a CEO in a private equity-backed company. Business is business, and companies need to remain liquid, serve their customers, and be profitable.

Considering a CEO search in this asset class, private equity firms purchase (invest in) portfolio companies for several reasons. Some are to help the company prepare for a strategic sale, for an IPO (initial public offering), or to help it scale to the next level.

Access to capital is a key reason firms seek the help of the private equity firm, but that’s not all. Private equity firm leaders experience growing and supporting their portfolio companies and serve as advisors to those companies. Cross-portfolio collaboration also helps companies grow, scale, and manage risk.

Here is a generalized organization profile for a private equity firm: 

Whether you're targeting a non-public private equity portfolio company CEO role or the CEO of a publicly traded company, articulating your value proposition and raising your market visibility is more effective when you have a branded CEO portfolio. 

Your CV becomes the pathway to the interview(s), the interviews are the pathway to the offer, and the offer is the pathway to the negotiation, and the negotiation is the pathway to the first 90-days in the CEO role. 

Contact us today for a private and complimentary discussion at [email protected].

Champagne Bistro (01/06)
- In its 7th Year

Set meaningful intentions for 2024!

Are you interested in joining me for my annual Champagne Bistro? Join me on Saturday, January 6th for a private visualization event from the privacy of your home. During this event, we will set intentions for 2024 using a simple, fun, and powerful process (and they are NOT "SMART goals").

For the last seven years, I’ve led hundreds of people through this journey -- my daughter (Brenna Farmer) actually purchased her first home by setting the right intention during the height of the pandemic--against all odds. The power of intention works for me. I’ve used it time and again to visualize, manifest, and realize several challenging and life-changing achievements. 

One of our participants from last year recently said: 

“The Champagne Bistro was such a valuable exercise for me, I’d welcome doing it for 2024.” ~ NM, Ottawa, CANADA

I look forward to hosting you. 

Here are the details:

When: January 6th from 4 pm to 4:45 pm (EST)

What: Set your 2024 intentions

How: By Zoom (no video) 

Fee: Free for you

Who: Westgate community exclusive, current clients, past clients, partners, friends, and colleagues

You’ll need to register to join me, but there is no cost. All you have to do is reply to this email, and we will be sure to add you to our list for the event. Once you express your interest, we will send you the link in advance of the Bistro.

This online event is private and confidential, so we will not use video … audio-only. No participation is required, but you will enjoy a fun, pleasant, and empowering process to get the best of 2024.

The Champagne Bistro will not be recorded. 

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Home for the holidays ...

In this part of the world (Halifax, CANADA), we are preparing for the holidays. Here is Allison (daughter, left), and Grace (friend) Friday evening visiting after several months away in British Columbia. 

A birthday surprise party Friday evening for Sean (taking the photo) at Cocoa Pesto in Windsor, Nova Scotia (CANADA). When you visit Nova Scotia, you must try this restaurant--it's been a favorite for more than two decades. 

A skim of ice at the cottage this morning (near Chester, Nova Scotia). Not a sound to be heard. I hope you have a peaceful day ahead.

Thank you for being part of the Westgate community. I hope you have a great day ahead where ever you are. Have an optimized week ahead. 

Maureen Farmer is a CEO career advisor and personal branding strategist for next-level executives, investors, and board nominees. 

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Westgate Executive Branding and Career Consulting Inc. would like to acknowledge that we are located in Mi'kma'ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq People. We are all Treaty people.