PE-CXO’s Success Stories cast a spotlight on private equity-backed operators and the tools and tactics they leverage to create real value. In each entry, a world-class executive details a practical solution to a critical business issue. To be featured, contact mallory.stokker@pe-cxo.com with the subject line “Success Story.”
Executive: Private equity-backed manufacturing CFO/COO.
Challenge: Lack of transparency across all levels of the organization. Middle-management hesitant to communicate key information.
Solution: A 200-strong email group for all levels of management to voice operational issues.
The most important part of building culture is demanding transparency across all levels of the organization.
The exact state of the culture is different in every company. PE-backed executives need to lead by serving and create a momentum of culture within a business.
Subpar companies are good at making excuses for not doing things. As an executive, the only way to solve problems is if you know what the problems are.
In mediocre companies, that middle-management level is often trained not to say anything. They have a strong line of sight into daily operations, but they’ve been taught not to to rock the boat.
To improve that, we set up an email group with roughly 200 people inside of it. All levels of management, including myself, were on the chain. You could write any operating problem there ...