Dive into the future of private equity with hosts Rory Liebhart, Emily Sander, and Ed Barton! In this episode, they break down the top trends shaping 2026, from AI's impact on labor to soaring interest rates and deglobalization. Learn how PE firms are adapting to these challenges, what it means for founders and investors, and hear their bold sports predictions for the year!

🔔 Subscribe for expert insights and hit the bell to stay ahead in the PE world!

Key Topics Covered:
-Interest Rates & Private Equity Strategies: How rising rates affect leverage, deal-making, and refinancing.
-AI's Role in Labor and Operations: Will AI replace jobs or create new opportunities?
-Deglobalization's Impact: Tariffs, supply chain shifts, and reshoring trends in manufacturing and services.
-2026 Sports Predictions: Super Bowl, College Football, and more!

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🎙 Podcast – Strategies, PE 101 & witty banter

📚 Book – On‑Ramp to Exit, full deal life cycle

🛠 Resources – Free templates, guides, tools

🔗 LinkedIn – Follow us for fresh PE insights

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Who Are We?

Three insiders. One mic. All things private equity — explained. Hi 👋 We’re Ed, Rory, and Emily — a CEO, a CFO, and a Chief of Staff — here to demystify the world of private equity. Between us, we’ve sat in the founder’s chair, run PE‑backed companies, and worked on the deal side, so we know the wins, the pitfalls, and the jargon (and we’ll explain it).

Through the Private Equity Experience Podcast, our book On‑Ramp to Exit, and a library of free tools and templates, we share real‑world stories, practical strategies, and insider insights to help you navigate every stage of the PE journey — whether you’re leading a portfolio company, joining a deal team, considering PE, or just PE‑curious.

🔗Connect with Ed

🔗Connect with Emily

🔗Connect with Rory

Dive into the world of private equity with hosts Rory Liebhart, Emily Sander, and Ed Barton! In this episode of The Private Equity Experience Podcast, the trio discusses their groundbreaking book On Ramp to Exit—a no-nonsense guide to navigating PE transactions, avoiding pitfalls, and preparing for the future. Learn why they wrote the book, their personal stories from the trenches, and their predictions for AI’s impact on private equity in 2026. Whether you’re a founder, investor, or curious professional, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Don’t miss their plans for live case studies and guest interviews!

🔔 Subscribe for more PE wisdom and to stay updated!

Key Topics Covered:
The creation and purpose of On Ramp to Exit
Why private equity can be a partner, not a predator
Must-know steps for founders entering PE deals
How AI is reshaping private equity in 2026
Future podcast plans: case studies, guest experts, and Q&A

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🎙 Podcast – Strategies, PE 101 & witty banter

📚 Book – On‑Ramp to Exit, full deal life cycle

🛠 Resources – Free templates, guides, tools

🔗 LinkedIn – Follow us for fresh PE insights

================================

Who Are We?

Three insiders. One mic. All things private equity — explained. Hi 👋 We’re Ed, Rory, and Emily — a CEO, a CFO, and a Chief of Staff — here to demystify the world of private equity. Between us, we’ve sat in the founder’s chair, run PE‑backed companies, and worked on the deal side, so we know the wins, the pitfalls, and the jargon (and we’ll explain it).

Through the Private Equity Experience Podcast, our book On‑Ramp to Exit, and a library of free tools and templates, we share real‑world stories, practical strategies, and insider insights to help you navigate every stage of the PE journey — whether you’re leading a portfolio company, joining a deal team, considering PE, or just PE‑curious.

🔗Connect with Ed

🔗Connect with Emily

🔗Connect with Rory

In this trending topic episode of the Private Equity Experience Podcast, hosts dive into the explosive intersection of private equity (PE) in college sports. Fueled by NIL deals, revenue sharing, transfer portal chaos, and massive TV rights contracts, college athletics—especially college football and basketball—is on the brink of a PE revolution. Is the Big Ten "selling its soul"? Could Notre Dame sell 10 years of TV rights for $2.8B? The team unpacks how PE could transform conferences like the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC, boost efficiencies, and reshape the "student-athlete" model. Predictions: PE investments within the next year. Perfect for fans tracking college sports changes, PE trends, and the shift from amateur to pro-like leagues.

Memorable Quotes:
"When one needs cash, there's places to find that cash... private equity is now being talked about as a means to grow college sports." – Rory Liebhart

"A hundred dollars next year is worth about $96 today... Money today is worth more than money tomorrow." – Ed Barton on time value of money

"It'll happen sooner than 24 months... bigger than the NFL." – Ed & Rory on PE timeline

Private equity's push into college athletics signals a $ multi-billion-dollar new frontier. Track NIL evolution, conference realignments, and revenue-sharing lawsuits. Will it save or "fleece" programs like the Big Ten?
Key Topics: private equity college sports, PE in college football, NIL private equity, college basketball investments, SEC Big Ten TV rights, transfer portal impact, college athletics revenue sharing

Subscribe & Share: Never miss PE trends. Rate 5⭐ & drop a review! Follow for updates on Ep. 26. #PrivateEquity #CollegeFootball #NILDeals #BigTen #SEC

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🎙 Podcast – Strategies, PE 101 & witty banter

📚 Book – On‑Ramp to Exit, full deal life cycle

🛠 Resources – Free templates, guides, tools

🔗 LinkedIn – Follow us for fresh PE insights

================================

Who Are We?

Three insiders. One mic. All things private equity — explained. Hi 👋 We’re Ed, Rory, and Emily — a CEO, a CFO, and a Chief of Staff — here to demystify the world of private equity. Between us, we’ve sat in the founder’s chair, run PE‑backed companies, and worked on the deal side, so we know the wins, the pitfalls, and the jargon (and we’ll explain it).

Through the Private Equity Experience Podcast, our book On‑Ramp to Exit, and a library of free tools and templates, we share real‑world stories, practical strategies, and insider insights to help you navigate every stage of the PE journey — whether you’re leading a portfolio company, joining a deal team, considering PE, or just PE‑curious.

🔗Connect with Ed

🔗Connect with Emily

🔗Connect with Rory