Guest: Greg Neuenhuis – Private Equity Advisor, Chairman & AI Expert
Topic: Unlocking Generative AI for Private Equity & Portfolio Companies

🔹 Intro & Background (0:00 – 2:00)

• Greg shares his 20+ years in PE-backed consumer goods: Baver (Netherlands), Cotterdardoor (UK), Mammoth, Wattbike, and No-Door.
• Passion for AI began two years ago, driven by a belief that GenAI is a business and people challenge—not a tech one.

🔹 What is Generative AI? (2:00 – 6:00)

• Difference: classic AI (recommendations) vs. GenAI (creating content—text, images, plans—and interpreting documents).
• GenAI enables rapid creation of marketing, investment memos, strategic plans, and more.

🔹 Common AI Misconceptions in PE (6:00 – 11:00)

• Myth: It’s a long, expensive IT project.
• Reality: Immediate impact possible—if teams are empowered and trained.
• Greg stresses: “This is a people challenge. CEOs—not just CTOs—must lead the charge.”

🔹 High-Impact Use Cases (11:00 – 18:00)

• Customer outreach & market mapping via AI.
• Recruitment: auto-generated job specs, AI interview notes, candidate matrices.
• AI’s biggest blocker? Lack of training—people haven’t “learned to drive the car” (use GenAI effectively).

🔹 Voice Prompting & Real-Time Examples (18:00 – 25:00)

• Greg showcases how he uses voice to interact with AI—writing emails, brainstorming use cases, even in Chinese.
• Prompts done via speech save time and boost output.
• GenAI as an “intern army”—needs clear direction and oversight.

🔹 PortCo Strategy (25:00 – 32:00)

• PE-backed firms should use GenAI for growth, not just cost-cutting.
• AI can reshape customer journeys and product innovation.
• Link GenAI to value creation plans: “How can AI help us grow faster, better, cheaper?”

🔹 Private Equity Funds Must Lead Too (32:00 – 39:00)

• Many PE funds expect portfolios to adopt AI—but don’t use it themselves.
• Greg supports fund-level training: mapping investment flow to identify use cases in screening, DD, deal memos, legal, and more.
• Example: “Sales Hunt” tool for sourcing targets with AI-powered outreach.
• GenAI allows same-size teams to evaluate more deals and increase velocity—without compromising quality.

🔹 Where to Start? (39:00 – 44:00)

• Overcome fear and decision paralysis.
• AI must be part of culture—non-use should be seen as “cheating the company.”
• Build internal champions to sustain the transformation.
• Key resources:
  • Dr. Ethan Mollick’s LinkedIn & site
  • AI Daily Brief podcast
  • 11Labs’ “ElevenReader” for converting articles into listenable audio

🔹 Contact Greg (44:00 – 45:00)

• LinkedIn: @Greg Neuenhuis

Key Takeaways:

• AI is a culture shift, not a tech add-on.
• Empower the entire team to use GenAI in everyday work.
• Start small, build momentum, and tie AI directly to growth strategy.
• Private equity must adopt AI internally to credibly promote it in portfolio firms.

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

In this insightful episode, Nate Edgerly, CEO of Enzo Group Inc., discusses his journey from CPA at PricewaterhouseCoopers to a seasoned private equity investor and executive leader in the hospitality industry. Nate shares valuable insights on leadership, long-term investing, and what makes hospitality businesses thrive or fail.

Key Takeaways:

• Nate’s journey from CPA to CEO, highlighting his pivotal experiences in private equity and operating roles.
• Lessons learned from running a business, enhancing empathy, and effectively partnering with leadership teams.
• What separates exceptional CEOs: empathy, people-focus, and creating a supportive culture.
• Common private equity mistakes: prioritizing short-term gains over long-term strategic growth and cultural investment.
• The decision behind Enzo Group's unique approach to raising capital—democratizing access beyond institutional investors.

Notable Mentions:

• Book Recommendations:
  • Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
  • Warren Buffett’s investor letters
  • Leadership insights by Simon Sinek, Daniel Pink, John Maxwell
  • Mastery by Robert Greene
• Brands Admired:
  • Ladybird Taco, Original Chop Shop, Cava, McDonald’s, Chipotle, Golden Corral

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction to Nate Edgley
• 02:30 – Nate’s early career and transition to private equity
• 06:10 – What Nate learned from operating roles
• 10:00 – Qualities of exceptional CEOs
• 13:15 – Mistakes private equity firms make and Nate's long-term investment philosophy
• 17:20 – Enzo Group’s unique capital-raising strategy
• 21:45 – Why choose the volatile hospitality industry?
• 27:30 – Critical success factors for restaurant businesses
• 32:00 – Brands admired by Nate and reasons behind their success
• 38:00 – Nate's insights on executive search firms
• 42:00 – Influences, recommended readings, and learning resources
• 45:20 – How to connect with Nate Edgley

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

In this episode, Alex speaks with Jeff Zwiefel, former President & COO of Life Time, about scaling the business from $139M to $2.3B in revenue and navigating multiple private equity exits and IPOs. Jeff shares how a people-first culture and rigorous training enabled long-term, sustainable growth in a competitive industry.

Jeff discusses why private equity firms often miss the mark by focusing only on KPIs and financials, instead of investing in leadership, culture, and succession. He explains Life Time’s unique "casting" approach to hiring, their internal university for training, and the importance of empowering GMs as mini-CEOs of their locations.

The conversation also covers trends in the health and wellness sector, the rise of personalized longevity services, and how private equity can unlock new value in this rapidly evolving space.

🕰️ Timestamps:
00:00 – Jeff Zwiefel’s background & journey at Life Time
01:53 – The biggest mistake PE firms make
03:21 – Why people, culture, and purpose drive success
06:15 – How to assess leadership in health and fitness businesses
08:13 – “Casting,” not hiring: Building the right team
09:38 – Lifetime University & Navy SEAL-style GM training
11:34 – Accountability, culture, and performance awards
13:29 – The GM certification process & promotion pipeline
17:20 – Investing in employees for long-term loyalty
19:18 – Dashboards & career growth planning
20:48 – Leadership by example: From towel folding to training
22:43 – Core traits Jeff looks for in leaders
24:09 – The 8 leadership attributes at Life Time
25:36 – How ownership mindset and equity drives behavior
28:29 – Interview strategies for soft skills and leadership potential
32:18 – Measuring success through team development and turnover
34:15 – Auditing the customer experience as a PE firm
35:14 – Lessons from COVID: Digital experience & pricing
39:07 – PE deal activity in health & fitness
41:06 – Jeff’s new venture: Miura Performance & Longevity
43:55 – Practical health advice for busy professionals
46:20 – Supplements, red light, cold plunge, and more
47:50 – Opportunity for PE in bundling wellness services
48:17 – How to contact Jeff

📌 Key Takeaways:

• PE must look beyond financials to people and leadership.
• High performance culture starts with casting, training, and accountability.
• Wellness and longevity are emerging as investable and scalable PE categories.
• Personalized health solutions offer huge market potential.

📨 Connect with Jeff Zwiefel:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 jzweifel.com

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