Fund Fanatics

For our first-ever Fund Fanatics Fireside, Scott Aleali sits down with Kellen Mond , Founder of Original Visuals and former NFL quarterback. They discuss how NIL is reshaping college sports, why more athletes are building their brands on LinkedIn, leadership lessons from the NFL and Kellen's journey from professional football to launching a career in the art world.

Hosts Jeff Maier and Scott Aleali sit down with John Carroll , Managing Partner at Sportsology Capital Partners , to discuss investing in sports franchises, Sportsology's Texas Rangers deal, the growth of sports private equity and opportunities in emerging leagues like SailGP. Plus, lessons from building a career in private capital and sports.

This month on Fund Fanatics, hosts Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier sit down with Jason Wright , Managing Partner of Project Level at Ariel Investments , for a deep dive into one of the fastest-growing opportunities in sports: women’s sports investing . Jason shares insights from his unique journey — from NFL running back to McKinsey partner to becoming the first Black team president in NFL history wit...

What does it take to leave a stable CFO job and build one of the fastest-growing fund admins in the market? Pete Haskopoulos , Co-Founder of Petra Funds Group, joins Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier on Fund Fanatics to talk about scaling to 1,200+ funds, leveraging AI as a competitive edge, and why fund admin is evolving faster than ever. We cover: Breaking the “addiction to direct deposit” Why AI + pr...

Creating. Building. Selling. Maintaining. In Part 2 of Fund Fanatics' Builders & Fund Administration series, Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier sit down with Ben Jamron , Head of Fund Administration for IQEQ , to unpack his entrepreneurial journey — from leaving a comfortable GP role to founding JGM Fund Services in 2014 and scaling it to $25B+ in AUA before its sale to IQEQ in 2022. Ben shares hard-...

What if the most powerful stage in private markets isn’t a conference… but your LinkedIn feed? Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier flip the script on Brandon Sedloff — Chief Real Estate Officer at Juniper Square and host of The Distribution Podcast — to talk AI (bubble or durable shift?), the evolution of fund administration, industry consolidation and why executives are sleeping on the massive opportunit...

Fund Fanatics is back—and we’re kicking off the year with a powerhouse conversation. This episode, Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier sit down with Brendan Coughlin , President of Citizens Financial Group, to unpack what it really takes to build and lead at the highest level in financial services. From launching Citizens Private Bank in the aftermath of the 2023 banking shakeup to scaling a service-led c...

In this episode of  Fund Fanatics ,  Jeff Maier  and  Scott Aleali  team up with  Matt Allard , Founder and Managing Partner of Case Study Capital Partners, for a lively dive into launching a new independent sponsor platform, the meaning behind the Case Study name and what he’s hearing from nearly 90 LP conversations in today’s unpredictable fundraising world. Matt shares why the lower middle mark...

Fund Fanatics hosts ⁠ Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier team up with Taylor Robinson of Lexington Partners for a sharp, engaging dive into private equity’s hottest topics: liquidity, continuation funds, and the evolution of secondaries. Taylor shares how firms are adapting to shifting valuations and investor demands, plus a few stories from his championship squash days as the sport heads to the 2028 Oly...

On this episode of Fund Fanatics , hosts Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier are joined by Blake Cholost , VP of Finance and Controller at Kinderhook Industries. Blake shares how Kinderhook scaled from $2B to $8.5B AUM while modernizing operations through outsourcing, automation, and AI. From data architecture to ROI—and even surviving as long-suffering Miami Dolphins fans—this episode blends finance insi...

Shark Tank investor. Atlanta Falcons owner. Private equity dealmaker. Rashaun Williams has built a career turning once-in-a-lifetime opportunities into industry-shaping wins. In this episode of  Fund Fanatics , Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier sit down with Rashaun to unpack the private equity boom in professional sports—and why franchises from the NFL to the NBA are becoming the hottest alternative as...

In this episode of Fund Fanatics, Jeff Maier and Scott Aleali are joined by Brian Vickery , Partner at Pact Capital, for a masterclass on GP stakes and platform-building in private equity. Brian shares why Pact is doubling down on the middle market and how minority capital can fuel growth, not just cash out founders. Drawing on his experience at McKinsey and as host of Deal Volume , Brian offers i...

In this special episode of Fund Fanatics, Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier sit down with Nizar Tarhuni , EVP of Research & Market Intelligence at PitchBook, for an unfiltered conversation covering everything from private market trends to his early days as employee 79 at PitchBook. Nizar breaks down the real story behind private credit, shifting LP behavior and the evolving fundraising landscape, sh...

Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier huddle up with Rick "Coach" Gordon , Senior Managing Director at Citizens Private Wealth, who brings his A-game, sharing wealth strategies for PE professionals. Rick shares his expertise on liquidity smoothing, risk barbells and tax efficiency techniques that help PE professionals navigate the unique financial challenges they face. He also reveals why DIY inve...

Calling all Fund Managers, Investors, and Business Leaders in the Private Markets with a bold perspective and an excitement for life’s adventures ⚡ Join Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier and tune into Fund Fanatics - Private Markets, it's People and Passions 📹

What does it take to evolve from a back-office number cruncher to a boardroom strategist? In this episode of Fund Fanatics, Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier sit down with Jason Donner, CFO of Veritas Capital, to unpack a few of his insights from the Private Funds CFO’s feature, “The Strategic CFO.” Jason shares his take on the rise of retail investors, the evolving role of the private markets CFO, and...

Jonathan Garonce and Mitch Melfi from Drake Real Estate Partners join Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier to discuss how their partnership model and flexible approach set them apart in the real estate world. They dive into their investment strategy, the importance of local operating partners and how pivoting quickly can lead to major opportunities, like converting office space into flex industrial. They a...

Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier welcome Yehuda Hecht , CFO of Madison International Realty, to discuss the firm's evolution, including their strategic pivot towards investing in sectors like data centers and industrial logistics. They also delve into current commercial real estate trends, the impact of NAV loans and share fantasy football insights, featuring a cameo from Graig Vicidomino. Plus, Ye...

Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier are joined by Jennifer Choi , CEO of ILPA, covering NAV lending, the state of fundraising, what LPs really want and why spa culture might be the secret to success. Plus: a surprise Ryan Reynolds moment and a Britney Spears reference you didn’t see coming.

In this episode, Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier sharea conversation with Tom Ripley , CEO of Lids and co-founder of private equity firm Ames Watson. From special ops in the Marines to scaling one of the world’s largest sports retailers, Tom shares how discipline, directness and diving into the action have defined his leadership journey. He discusses Lids’ transformation from a mall-based hat shop int...

In the final Fund Fanatics episode of 2024, Jeff Maier and Scott Aleali sit down with Rob Konrad —former Miami Dolphins fullback and now Managing Partner at Alterna Equity Partners—for a powerful conversation on leadership, resilience and building a successful private equity firm. Rob shares the inspiration behind launching Alterna, how lessons from the locker room translate to the boardroom, and...

Saaima Khaliq , CFO of New Mountain Capital, joins Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier on Fund Fanatics to discuss her journey from barista to managing $55 billion in private equity assets. We cover the evolving CFO role, building a strong and lasting team, navigating LP demands, and the critical importance of mentorship and inclusion. Plus, hear how Syma used poker as a surprising tool for connection—and...

What do Liverpool FC, Tiger Woods andbillion-dollar sports media deals have in common? Don Cornwell. In this episode of Fund Fanatics, Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier sit down with Don Cornwell , co-founder of Dynasty Equity and a seasoned sports dealmaker, to explore the explosive intersection of private equity and pro sports. From golf’s tech forward transformation to women’s hoops, global football,...

In this episode of Fund Fanatics, Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier connect with Jed Johnson , Head of GP Solutions at ORIX Corporation USA, for a candid conversation about what’s really happening in the world of NAV facilities. Together, they unpack the latest use cases, discuss potential ILPA guidance on the horizon and examine whether private equity is ready for the test at maturity. The group also e...

In this episode of Fund Fanatics, Scott Aleali and Jeff Maier are joined by Neil Keegan , co-founder of Marlinspike, for a wide-ranging conversation on investing in the aerospace and defense industry. Neil breaks down what every emerging manager should know about the U.S. defense industrial base, shares smart fundraising strategies and highlights forward-thinking companies using AI to reshape nati...