On The Line

What does it actually take to transform a private markets firm? In this episode, Alice sits down with Sahem Gulati, a senior transformation leader who has spent 13 years working across audit, consulting, asset management and private equity; helping firms navigate some of the most significant operational shifts the industry has seen.  They cover the long arc of technology adoption in private market...

What does it actually look like to build a finance function from the ground up, at an AI-native GP?   In this episode, Alice sits down with Millie Silver, CFO of Clipway, the data-driven secondaries firm that has made waves since its launch in 2023. Millie talks through her path from auditor to CFO, via Coller Capital, and the moment a wedding seating plan changed the course of her career.  She op...

For those who don’t believe a humanities degree can lead to a graduate scheme at EY, think again. Imogen Sanders completed her classics degree and did just that – and it turns out the skills aren't as different as you'd think. In this episode, Alice sits down with Zetland Capital's VP Finance and Senior Fund Controller to talk honestly about the journey: the decisions that shaped he...

In this episode of On The Line, Alice Murray speaks with Meera Savjani, Fund CFO at Arrow Global, about what it really means to lead a modern finance function.  Yes, they discuss governance, controls, technology and scaling a multi-strategy platform. But for Meera, clean audits and timely reporting are simply table stakes. What differentiates a finance function today is not just technical excellen...

In this episode, Alice is joined by Tom Seymour Mead, CFO at SIGNAL, for a practical conversation on what it takes to run a high-performing finance function in private markets. Tom shares how his experience across institutional and leaner environments has shaped his view of “what good looks like”, why communication is the foundation of trust and influence, and how calmness under pressure becomes a...

In this episode, Alice is joined by Jeremy Hocter (Holland Mountain) to explore the seven operational themes he expects to shape 2026 for private capital firms. Building on Holland Mountain’s work across a record year of operational strategy projects, Jeremy shares what he is seeing across the market, why operational leaders are feeling the pressure to do more without adding headcount, and where f...

Private markets is built on performance, but the industry often treats performance as purely output-based: deals closed, returns delivered, targets hit. In this episode, Alice sits down with Emily Cook, founder of FOUND and a certified performance coach, to explore what sits underneath those outcomes: brain health, cognitive performance, and the emerging concept of “brain capital”. Emily shares wh...

In this episode of On The Line, Alice speaks to Natalia Ramsden, founder of SOFOS Associates, business psychologist and cognitive performance expert. Natalia’s work sits at the intersection of neuroscience, leadership and organisational performance. She and her team help senior leaders and investment teams understand how their brains function under pressure, how they make decisions, and how they c...

In the second instalment with executive coach and former COO Cressida Hamilton, we explore one of the toughest challenges facing finance and operations leaders in private markets: managing time, energy and competing demands in roles that never stop. Drawing on 26 years in financial services, Cressida offers practical, real life advice for CFOs, COOs and senior ops professionals who want to take ba...

In this episode, Alice speaks with Seán Allen, Deputy Head of Finance at Coller Capital. Sean joined Coller 13 years ago as a financial analyst and now leads a 60-strong finance function across London and Luxembourg. His career has spanned Coller’s evolution from a single-strategy secondaries house to a diversified platform with credit and private wealth capabilities.  This conversation delves int...

Head of Legal, Aimee Fabri joins Alice and Malcolm to trace an unconventional career from the Aldi shop floor to leading Oakley Capital’s legal function. She explains why legal belongs at the centre of the firm (not the side lines), how to balance breadth versus depth in-house, the value of “usefulness over perfectionism,” and how to build a tight, trusted network that you can lean on when it coun...

Deepfakes are no longer the stuff of sci-fi. They’re here, and they’re targeting private capital firms.  In this episode, Alice Murray is joined by Travis DeForge, Director of Cybersecurity at Abacus Group, to explore how generative AI is supercharging social engineering attacks and what fund managers can do to defend themselves.  What we cover:  What deepfakes are, and why private equity and vent...

In this episode, Alice speaks to Cressida Hamilton , former banking COO and now coach at Chryse Coaching, about why operational leaders in private markets can’t afford to leave their personal brand to chance.  Drawing on 26 years in financial services and her work as a personal brand and confidence coach (and author of The Art of Self Advocacy ), Cressida breaks down:  What “personal brand” really...

In this episode of On The Line , Alice sits down with high-performance coach Dean Leak, who has worked with Olympic athletes, C-suite executive teams and special forces. Together, they explore the lesser-known traits that underpin sustainable high performance: communication, belonging, clarity, and the ability to handle conflict well.  Dean shares actionable tools for navigating high-pressure envi...

With Bruce Hepburn and Steve Darrington of Mactavish   In this episode of On The Line , Alice Murray speaks to Bruce Hepburn , CEO and founder of Mactavish, and Steve Darrington , long-time private equity CFO and member of The Line’s Editorial Board, and now also an adviser to Mactavish.  Together, they dive into why insurance is one of the most overlooked, and potentially dangerous, blind spots i...

Recorded at the British Emerging Manager Institute Summit 2025 Guest: Zoe Yeo, Partner, Headway Capital Host: Alice Murray, Editor, THE LINE_ Episode Overview In this episode of On The Line , Alice Murray speaks with Zoe Yeo, Partner at Headway Capital, about the growing importance of emerging managers and independent sponsors in private capital. Zoe reflects on how Headway has sharpened its focus...

Recorded at the British Emerging Manager Institute Summit 2025 Guest: Ed Stubbings, Founder, BEMI Host: Alice Murray, Editor, THE LINE_ Episode Overview In this special episode of On The Line , Alice Murray sits down with Ed Stubbings, founder of the British Emerging Manager Institute (BEMI), live at the Institute’s flagship summit. Just one year on from launch, BEMI has become a rallying point fo...

Jan Gruter and Ben Cocoracchio, co-leads of Addleshaw Goddard’s Independent Sponsor practice discuss the rapid rise of ISPs in Europe and the importance of these deal-doers when it comes to the overall health of private markets.   The conversation delves into the evolving landscape of independent sponsors in the private equity market, coming off the back of Addleshaw Goddard’s recent independent s...

Sarah Clarke, co-founder of Rewire Partners and Insight Referencing, shares her journey into private equity and the evolution of fundraising and investor relations.   For Sarah, the tougher fundraising conditions mean relationships are at a premium, which in practice means adopting a constant fundraising approach, regardless of the fundraising cycle. But relationships with investors or potential L...

THE LINE UP_ steering committee member, Chris Hardy - Senior Fund Controller at Headway Capital - talks to Alice and Malcolm about his journey from auditing to private equity, his current role, and the evolving landscape of the finance function in the private equity sector. Particular attention is paid to the ever growing importance of collaboration, data management, and networking in driving care...

Kicking off our next gen initiative, THE LINE UP_ founding member Rachael Rickwood, FD of Northzone, takes us through her career journey so far.  Rachael's story is somewhat unique, having decided to swap out a law degree for an in-house audit training scheme. She talks us through that decision and importantly, how quickly she was able to rise through the ranks. Rachael then tells us about he...

George Ralph, Global Managing Director & CRO of RFA, highlights the increasing risks posed by AI on the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.  George shares real-life examples of cyber attacks to illustrate the impact of human error. He emphasises the importance of education and awareness in mitigating cyber threats, the role of technology in protecting data, and the need for robust polici...

Stephanie Flooks shares insights from her extensive investor relations experience, detailing her role as an IR coordinator and providing practical tips and advice on how best to strengthen relationships with investors when also working with a busy investment team. Stephanie explores the current challenges of fundraising, the complexities of due diligence, and the impact of technology (both good an...

In this broad and multi-faceted discussion, Ed Stubbings shares his journey from studying theology to becoming a prominent figure in the private capital funds industry. From his formative experiences at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, then to Houlihan Lokey, and in 2020 launching his consultancy business Ternion.  He reveals the genesis behind the British Emerging Manager Institute and what has bee...

Columnist Laura Callahan, HR and next gen talent expert, explores the challenges employers face in adopting AI, the importance of setting clear expectations, and the need for open communication about AI usage within organisations. Laura emphasizes the necessity of being intentional with AI applications to ensure efficiency and compliance. Takeaways Employers are learning AI usage through trial and...