The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection
Hosted by Alex Rawlings, Managing Partner of Raw Selection, a specialist executive search firm. Join us as we interview the leading experts in Private Equity, unlocking their secrets of success to share with you.
Discover how some of the top Private Equity professionals got into Private Equity, how they rose to success and learn about some of the mistakes they made along the way.
Alex has strong connections to the Private Equity industry through his executive search firm, Raw Selection, which specialises in working with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies across Europe and North America. Alex is straight talking and to the point and aims to unlock real gold you can build into your firm or portfolio companies. Find out more at www.raw-selection.com
The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection
The Lessons Learned from a Private Equity Founder from 19 Acquisitions with Sequoya Borgman
From Big Four to 19 Acquisitions: Sequoya Borgman on Building Borgman Capital
Sequoya Borgman, Founder of Borgman Capital, joins the show to discuss his leap from public accounting into private equity, building an independent sponsor model, and the real challenge behind every deal—people. He shares lessons from 19 acquisitions, why they prioritize cultural fit, and how they’re tapping into retail capital and AI to scale smarter.
[00:03] From Arthur Andersen to launching Borgman Capital in 2017
[01:44] Acquisition focus: <$200M revenue, <$20M EBITDA, founder-led
[02:41] Why CEO transitions post-founder are the biggest execution risk
[04:04] Structuring smoother founder exits and delaying heavy changes
[06:01] Key takeaway from 19 deals: it's always about people
[07:27] Internal MDs, external consultants, and hands-on support
[08:23] Why they chose independent sponsorship over raising a fund
[10:45] Flexible hold periods appeal to sellers—option to hold long-term
[12:10] 450+ LPs and the launch of PassTheHat for retail investors
[14:03] Proprietary deal flow through direct sourcing and partnerships
[15:26] Expansion plan: adding local originators in new cities
[16:26] Top reads, podcasts, and how AI will impact private equity
[16:53] Using AI to review 1,500 SIMs—huge efficiency potential
[17:20] Confidentiality is the barrier to broader AI use in PE
[17:48] Why they can't fully adopt large AI platforms—NDA risk
[18:15] Book recs: Do Hard Things + AI Made Simple
[18:44] Staying ahead of AI’s rapid impact on PE and portfolio ops
[19:41] Closing thoughts and thanks for tuning in
How to contact Sequoya? via BorgmanCapital.com or LinkedIn
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Got feedback or questions? Email Alex at alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com. Until next time—keep smashing it!