How to Drive Organic Growth in a Private Equity Backed Company

Alex Rawlings speaks with Nigel Green on why private equity firms struggle with organic growth and how better hiring, faster execution, and customer focus can unlock value.

⏱️ Timestamps & Key Takeaways

00:00 – Introduction
Nigel’s background and advisory focus

00:29 – Career Highlights

•  Two successful exits before 30 
•  Now advising PE-backed companies on growth 

01:34 – Biggest PE Mistake

•  Weak commercial operators 
•  Overvaluing experience vs. current fit 

03:05 – Growth Challenges

•  Delayed action on underperformance 
•  Lack of urgency from investors 

05:42 – Hiring Better Leaders

•  Avoid “black book” hires 
•  Focus on Character, Chemistry, Competency
•  Hire people with urgency and something to prove 

08:35 – Go-To-Market Strategy

•  Get close to customers early 
•  Avoid internal-only focus 

10:29 – The Real Competitor

•  Most deals are lost to “doing nothing” 
•  Solve customer inertia, not just competition 

12:56 – Interviewing Sales Leaders

•  Conversations aren’t enough 
•  Require candidates to demonstrate ability 

14:38 – Attracting Top Talent

•  Best candidates aren’t applying 
•  Sell the opportunity with honesty and realism 
•  De-risk the move 

23:06 – Driving Growth

•  Small tweaks > big overhauls 
•  Retention often a bigger issue than pipeline 

26:41 – Proactive Sales

•  Remove friction in buying 
•  Simplify and speed up decisions 

30:06 – Great Operating Partners

•  Must still be operators 
•  Help leaders make tough decisions 

34:29 – Final Advice

•  Consume less, execute more 

🔑 Key Themes

•  Hire for drive over experience
•  Focus on execution and speed
•  Growth comes from action, not analysis

Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.

🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/

🌐 Visit Raw Selection www.raw-selection.com

Looking to grow your team? Check out our Hiring Guides

for proven strategies, templates, and best practices to make smarter hires.