ETA Insider Podcast
A podcast series featuring all things related to search funds and entrepreneurship through acquisition. Hosted by Brian O'Connor, Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business and Managing Partner of NextGen Growth Partners.
Episodes
July 30, 2025 • 30 mins
Operating in the White Space of ETA in Mexico by Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
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June 30, 2025 • 26 mins
In this episode, we sit down with Jake Levine, MBA '19, CEO of ROBO, an Austin-based IT managed service provider. Jake shares his non-traditional path to ETA, reflecting on his journey from political campaigns to business school to acquiring and operating ROBO. He candidly discusses the challenges of search fund life, partnership dynamics post-acquisition, and the pivotal decision to pursue both organic and inorganic growth. Jake o...
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May 30, 2025 • 29 mins
In this episode, we sit down with Keith Burns and his journey behind leaving a legal career and a promising path in finance to pursue ETA. Keith shares how a well-timed bonus and a trusted partnership with Michael Curry set him on a path to build and scale a healthcare services company. Keith breaks down their approach to capital, growth, and navigating multiple acquisitions and exits. He also reflects on the importance of aligned ...
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April 25, 2025 • 28 mins
This month’s episode of the ETA Insider Podcast welcomes Christine Koval, founder of Next Haven Group. Christine shares her journey from successful start-up Chewy to search entrepreneurship. She reflects on the strategic reasons for the e-commerce success story, the lessons learned from emotionally driven consumer businesses, and why she now prioritizes revenue quality in service-based industries. Christine also discusses how the E...
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March 27, 2025 • 29 mins
In this episode of the ETA Insider podcast, we are joined by Michael Aubrey, Partner at Shore Search Partners. Michael shares his compelling entrepreneurial journey which has resulted in the creation of billions of dollars of equity value. The discussion begins with a heart-wrenching family story that ignited his entrepreneurial spirit, moves through his early days raising a search fund with his college classmate, and ultimately di...
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February 26, 2025 • 27 mins
This month’s episode of the ETA Insider Podcast welcomes Anthony Walker, MBA ’14, an influential figure in the ETA investment space. Anthony brings a wealth of experience from his diverse career path, having started on Wall Street at Morgan Stanley, followed by roles at Lehman Brothers, Citadel, and Millennium. He now leads the efforts at Next Coast Legacy, focusing on investment strategies and working closely with management teams...
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January 30, 2025 • 30 mins
In this month’s episode, we sit down with Mark Jackson, MBA ’11, Co-Founder of Centennial Investment Partners, and operator to several business he acquired through ETA. Mark talks about his journey into acquisition and lessons he's learned along the way. From transitioning out of investment banking to building a self-funded portfolio, Mark shares the challenges, strategies, and key insights that have shaped his approach to acquirin...
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December 25, 2024 • 30 mins
In this episode of the ETA Insider Podcast, we speak with Brian Wolfe, who co-led a self-funded ETA search, which he and his partner sold to Alpine Investors, and who now teaches courses on private equity and ETA at Washington University in St. Louis and the University of North Carolina. They discuss Wolfe's transition from being a PE M&A attorney at a leading law firm, and Wolfe’s insights regarding the importance of a business th...
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December 2, 2024 • 27 mins
In this month’s episode, Marcela Fernandez, founder of Olive Ridge Partners, discusses her journey into ETA alongside her husband, Andrew. Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Marcela transitioned from biotech engineering and running a cidery to attending Stanford Graduate School of Business. The couple pursued ETA to stabilize their lives and quickly acquired Colorado Home Services, focusing on multi-trade residential services, achi...
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October 24, 2024 • 34 mins
In this episode of the ETA Insider Podcast, host Brian O'Connor sits down with Gabe Barkley, former CEO of MHW. Gabe acquired and led MHW through an impressive growth trajectory in an ETA effort. They discuss Gabe’s journey into ETA, key factors that contributed to his success, and the operational learnings that shaped his tenure and eventual exit. Gabe also shares his future plans and insights for aspiring entrepreneurs in the ETA...
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September 27, 2024 • 33 mins
In this episode of the ETA Insider Podcast, join host Brian O'Connor as he sits down with Ryan Turbes and Clay Brownlee, partners at Boulay, a Top 100 CPA firm and financial consultancy specializing in the lower middle market. They discuss how searchers and entrepreneurs considering ETA can work with firms like Boulay throughout their lifecycle. From early engagement to post-close services and beyond, Ryan and Clay provide valuable...
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August 30, 2024 • 24 mins
This month’s episode features Lacey Wismer, Founder and Managing Partner of Hunter Search Capital and Co-Founder of the Women's Search Network. In this episode, we explore her journey in the ETA landscape, with a spotlight on search funds. Lacey delves into her personal experiences, the evolution of the search fund model, and the impactful initiatives like the Women's Search Network that are driving diversity in the field. Tune in...
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July 26, 2024 • 36 mins
This month’s episode features Reyes Florez, MBA ’14, CEO and Founder of the Platform Accounting Group, a private equity-backed business services company. Discover the compelling journey from acquiring a small family-owned tax firm to leading a nationwide group of professional services firms. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the strategic approaches used for successful acquisitions and the importance of fostering relation...
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July 1, 2024 • 39 mins
This month’s episode features Rob LeBlanc, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at ambit partners. The discussion highlights the growing momentum of ETA in various countries and delves into fund deployment, geographic investment distribution, and the potential for ETA in major economies outside of North America. The conversation also underscores an optimistic perspective for ETA's expansion into new and emerging international markets, wit...
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May 31, 2024 • 27 mins
This month’s episode features Sara Rosenthal, partner at TTCER Partners and co-founder of the Women's Search Network, who shares her journey in the search fund ecosystem and her efforts to promote diversity and mentorship. Brian and Sara discuss the culture of search funds, fostering leadership qualities, evolving models in the industry, and the need for structured mentorship programs.
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April 30, 2024 • 35 mins
This month’s episode features Chris Richling, MBA ’14, owner of a franchise business in Seattle. Chris shares his entrepreneurial journey from search fund pursuits to self-funded acquisition. He discusses the challenges faced, the transition to a management program, and ultimately acquiring a franchise. Chris reflects on lessons learned, emphasizing the importance of relationships, adaptability, and navigating personal dynamics in ...
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March 31, 2024 • 48 mins
This month’s episode features a live recording from the Harper Center with Aizik Zimerman, MBA ’23, CEO of J Blanton Plumbing, a business he acquired during his second year at Booth. Unlike many ETA students focused on quick exits, Zimerman is dedicated to long-term growth, aiming to build the business into the nation's largest home services company. Influenced by his family's immigrant background and entrepreneurial success, Zimer...
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March 3, 2024 • 40 mins
This month’s episode features a discussion with AJ Wasserstein, Professor, Yale School of Management, on the rapidly changing world of search funds. They explore the normalization of search funds, demographic trends, and the evolution of search fund models. Delving into the investor landscape, they discuss the shift from individual to institutional investors and its impact on entrepreneur-investor relationships. Despite the influx ...
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January 31, 2024 • 32 mins
This month’s episode features Peter Jackson, the owner and CEO of Miller Industrial, as he shares his remarkable journey from the world of Wall Street to becoming a key player in Main Street entrepreneurship. The discussion delves into Peter’s diverse career experiences, from corporate finance to his pivotal role at Groupon, leading up to the acquisition of Miller Industrial in 2018. Explore the challenges, triumphs, and lessons le...
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January 3, 2024 • 44 mins
This month’s episode of the ETA Insider Podcast features Marc Shiffman, MBA ’94, Former President & CEO of SMS Assist. In this episode, we explore the dynamic career journey of a finance professional who transitioned into the realm of innovation and leadership. Beginning in New York with McAndrews & Forbes owned and operated businesses, Marc played pivotal roles in iconic companies like Revlon, Coleman, and Sunbeam. The narrative t...
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