Preview your onsite experience
The Forum agenda is built around the issues operating partners are working through now, spanning value creation across tech, GTM, finance, operations, and talent. Download the agenda to see how those discussions take shape.

For more information about the 2026 program or to inquire about speaking at this year's event, please contact  Marc Mele at marc.m@pei.group.
Download the agenda (opens in a new tab)
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4:30 PM
  1. Think tanks for full-time operating partners at The NY Historical: value creation war rooms (operating partners only)
    60 mins
    Join our think tanks being held in a historical setting for the very first time. These closed-door discussions led by your peers offer a selection that will allow you to learn and share best practices …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Kristin Brown Patrick
    Kristin Brown Patrick, Senior Operating Partner, Talent - New State Capital Partners
5:30 PM
  1. Pre-Event Welcome Reception at The NY Historical (invitation-only for operating partners)
    105 mins
    Join the operating partners attending the NY Forum at our opening reception. Exchange insights with your peers in a relaxed setting and build your connections before the Forum kicks off.
7:15 PM
  1. Pre-Event Dinners at The NY Historical (invitation-only for operating partners))
    105 mins
    Join private networking-style dinners designed exclusively for value creation team leaders, functional specialists, and generalist operating partners attending the NY Forum. You will receive an invita …
7:30 AM
  1. Registration and breakfast
    30 mins
8:00 AM
  1. Breakfast deep dive discussion 01 | Building a strong operating partner team: the non-AI skills and roles required (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This deep dive interactive breakfast session designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. Comparing operating partner talent frameworks at vario …
  2. Breakfast deep dive discussion 02 | Commercial value creation roadmaps across the lifecycle: high impact execution (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This deep dive interactive breakfast session designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. Breaking down the biggest commercial risks and opportu …
  3. Breakfast deep dive discussion 03 | Successes and failures of Agentic AI in value creation: operating partner lessons learned (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This deep dive interactive breakfast session designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. Sharing real examples of how Agentic AI can improve pr …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Souvick Paul
    Souvick Paul, Principal – Technology and Innovation COE - Frazier Healthcare Partners
  4. Breakfast deep dive discussion 04 | The data dividend: turning portco data into a value-creation asset the AI labs will pay for (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This deep dive interactive breakfast session designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. Why portfolio-company data has become valuable to fron …
  5. Breakfast deep dive discussion 05 | The evolution of due diligence and its impact on VCPs (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This deep dive interactive breakfast session designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. What has changed in due diligence within the last 5 ye …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Daniel Perry
    Daniel Perry, Resource Partner - Court Square Capital Partners
8:40 AM
  1. Breakfast deep dive discussion 06 | Beyond the C suite: getting it right when it comes to org design, culture, and workforce planning (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This deep dive interactive breakfast session designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. Sharing innovative views to optimize org design and wo …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Camille DeLaite
    Camille DeLaite, Operating Partner Talent - Charlesbank Capital Partners
    Speaker image for John Knapp
    John Knapp, Operating Director, Portfolio Talent - Berkshire Partners
  2. Breakfast deep dive discussion 07 | The evolution of operating partner GTM playbooks (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This deep dive interactive breakfast session designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. GTM practical use cases and implementations at your po …
  3. Breakfast deep dive discussion 08 | Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs): the good, the bad, and the ugly (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    Everyone is asking if we need FDEs. Join fellow operating partners to discuss what separates AI consulting firms and practices, how to think about co-creation with portfolio teams, and how to scale wh …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Brad Haller
    Brad Haller, Senior Partner - West Monroe
  4. Breakfast deep dive discussion 09 | Making the AI bet: where to invest, what to scale and how to prove the return (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    The biggest AI problem in most portfolios isn't lack of investment. It's lack of prioritization. Across a portfolio, how do you distinguish AI initiatives that can drive meaningful revenue, margin and …
  5. Breakfast deep dive discussion 10 | Operating partners on boards: the role, the opportunities, and the fundamentals (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This deep dive interactive breakfast session designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. How are you making an impact as an operating partner o …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Lane McDonald
    Lane McDonald, Managing Director, Operations and Strategy - OMERS Private Equity
    Speaker image for Scott Phillips
    Scott Phillips, Managing Director, Portfolio Operations - ORIX Capital Partners
9:20 AM
  1. PEI’s welcome and chairman’s opening remarks
    20 mins
9:40 AM
  1. Panel 01 The shift from financial engineering to commercial engineering — the new pathway to value creation
    40 mins
    A conversation with the legends of value creation: The views of 100+ Operating Partners — how the role is changing and where is it heading next? What's driving the shift to “commercial engineering”? H …
    Moderator
    Speaker image for Jim Corey
    Jim Corey, Co-Founder and CEO, Managing Partner - Blue Ridge Partners
  2. Panel 02 The rise of AI operating partners in value creation models
    40 mins
    What makes a great AI Operating Partner today? What skills/backgrounds are necessary? How are you making an impact as an AI Operating Partner? How do AI Operating Partners work across functions? What …
    Moderator
    Speaker image for Max Jacobson
    Max Jacobson, Head of Data Science and AI - Insight Factory
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Sajjad Jaffer
    Sajjad Jaffer, Head of Data, Analytics and Machine Learning - GrowthCurve Capital
    Speaker image for Kristy Khoury
    Kristy Khoury, VP, Head of Data Strategy & AI - Revelar Capital
10:20 AM
  1. Panel 03 The evolution of the PE backed CEO in the age of AI
    40 mins
    How is the CEO role changing, and what capabilities are essential for leading successfully in an AI-driven business environment? How are CEOs shaping and implementing AI strategies? What are the bigge …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Keith Angell
    Keith Angell, Chief Executive Advisor and Head of FTV Propel - FTV Capital
    Speaker image for Merche del Valle
    Merche del Valle, Chief Talent Officer - Kingswood Capital Management
    Speaker image for Lisa Frazier
    Lisa Frazier, Managing Director and Head of Portfolio Technology, Data and AI - Stone Point Capital
  2. Panel 04 DNA of a successful portCo CFO: a central lever for value creation
    40 mins
    What makes a great portco CFO today? How has great financial leadership become a central lever for value creation? Sharing specific real-world examples of how CFOs impact the business in the first 12 …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for  Jay Epstein
     Jay Epstein, Managing Director, CFO Advisor - Warburg Pincus
11:00 AM
  1. Networking break
    20 mins
11:20 AM
  1. Panel 05 Leading forward with AI savvy management teams
    40 mins
    Successful traits of management teams: what does good look like from an AI point of view? Dissecting management team composition, alignment, and governance to accelerate key AI initiatives What is the …
  2. Panel 06 Operating partner guidelines for portfolio companies to be exit-ready
    40 mins
    Exploring the drivers of exit success and how to be exit-ready, not exit-reactive Uncovering strategic roadmaps 12–24 months before sale to improve exit valuations Achieving alignment with your firm’s …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Carsten Weber
    Carsten Weber, Senior Technology Advisor - Private Equity - Ares Management
12:00 PM
  1. Panel 07 Practical and successful AI initiatives in all phases of the lifecycle: what has worked so far?
    40 mins
    Sharing successful AI use cases across all phases: due diligence, 100 days-to-year one, hold period, and exit What are the biggest challenges encountered in each phase and how did you overcome them? W …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Chris Satchell
    Chris Satchell, Head of Portfolio Technology - CD&R
  2. Panel 08 Spotlight interview: What I learned as a commercial operating partner in my career
    40 mins
    Sharing genuine career advice to help operating partners with a commercial focus on their journey What are some unique war stories from your journey? What would you do differently looking back? What c …
12:40 PM
  1. Interactive Working Group 1 | How leading PE funds are re-underwriting value during the hold: an adaptive approach (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This interactive discussion will focus on how the best PE firms build on deal diligence in a disciplined way by re-underwriting value during the hold period, not just at entry: How rigorous re-underwr …
  2. Interactive Working Group 2 | Closing the embedded payments value gap (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    Embedded payments remain one of the largest untapped value creation opportunities in software, yet many companies fall short of the revenue, margin, and enterprise value gains expected by investors. D …
  3. Interactive Working Group 3 | The AI native operating model: five blind spots every operating partner should address (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    Most portfolio companies are focused on AI adoption, but few are addressing the operating model required to create sustainable value. Attendees will leave with a practical framework to assess AI matur …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Jeffrey Malcolm
    Jeffrey Malcolm, Value Accelerator Operating Advisor, Technology - Goldman Sachs Asset Management
    Speaker image for  Rohini Williams
     Rohini Williams, SVP - Strategic Growth, Private Equity, and Restructuring - Ascendion
  4. Interactive Working Group 4 | What makes a great finance function in the age of AI? (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This interactive discussion designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. Discussing AI integration in financial processes What does a successful …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Germain Louie
    Germain Louie,  Head of Global Private Equity - Sage
  5. Interactive Working Group 5 | Value creation in industrials: playbooks for today (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This interactive discussion designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. What are the biggest challenges associated with unlocking value creatio …
1:20 PM
  1. Lunch discussion 1 | Execution excellence 2.0 — the next frontier in PE commercial value creation (operating partners only)
    60 mins
    Simon-Kucher will present findings from the 2026 Simon-Kucher and PEI Private Equity Value Creation Study, focused on the next frontier of PE commercial value creation: execution excellence. The sessi …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Dave Clement
    Dave Clement, Partner - Simon-Kucher
    Speaker image for Adam Echter
    Adam Echter, Partner - Simon-Kucher
  2. Lunch discussion 2 | A “do-no-harm” approach to health plan focused value creation (operating partners only)
    60 mins
    This working lunch session designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. Why a standardized process will be more effective than a standardized pr …
  3. Networking Lunch
    60 mins
2:20 PM
  1. Track 01 The Chief of Staff as a value creation engine in private equity
    40 mins
    The execution gap in PE portfolios: why value creation plans often stall post-close due to stretched leadership teams, lack of cross-functional ownership, and limited change management capacity The Ch …
  2. Track 02 Commercial due diligence today: a driving force for value creation
    40 mins
    How are you getting what is needed to do the best commercial diligence? What are the most important pre-deal commercial related factors that you are looking at? How do operating partners work with dea …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Kush Tulsidas
    Kush Tulsidas, Operating Partner - One Rock Capital Partners
  3. Track 03 Modernization gets you to the table — embedding AI into product gets you the multiple
    40 mins
    Most PortCo AI work is still bolted on — copilots, chatbots, internal productivity experiments. The IRR move is embedding AI into the product and operating fabric itself, where it shows up in customer …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for David Tingle
    David Tingle, Head of Platform Operations - Georgian
    Speaker image for Ken Yagen
    Ken Yagen, Principal & Operating Executive - Product, AI & Technology - Norwest
  4. Track 04 Beyond the LOI: using AI to find, size, and capture procurement value at every stage of the deal
    40 mins
    AI-powered due diligence: sizing the procurement prize before you sign — how operating partners are using AI to analyze spend data, benchmark supplier contracts, and model savings potential during dil …
    Moderator
    Speaker image for Virginia Lantz
    Virginia Lantz, Managing Director - Accenture
  5. Track 05 The fundamentals of value creation for mid-market PE
    40 mins
    What are the real fundamentals of mid-market value creation? What are the value creation constraints of middle-market funds and how do you overcome them? How are mid-market PE Firms unlocking opportun …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Ariel Garcia
    Ariel Garcia, Partner - OceanSound Partners
    Speaker image for Michael Magliochetti
    Michael Magliochetti, Operating Partner - Riverside Partners
3:00 PM
  1. Track 06 The evolution of human capital in the AI revolution: dissecting past, present, and future
    40 mins
    How is AI rapidly changing the human capital function in PE? Practical use cases in the human capital AI revolution: what you should be thinking about today to drive AI adoption What are the greatest …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Jimmy Holloran
    Jimmy Holloran, Partner, Head of Talent - American Industrial Partners
  2. Track 07 Case study: best practices for capturing the full value from pricing programs
    40 mins
    Reasons why pricing upside is not fully captured at most companies, and approaches to make it happen Describing the overlooked value creation upside in the last 12-18 months of ownership Sharing best …
  3. Track 08 AI has a cost problem: the opportunity is enormous, so is the bill
    40 mins
    How can operating teams distinguish effective AI investment from an uncontrolled new cost base How is AI reshaping the economics of software, cloud, services and headcount - what does that mean for po …
    Moderator
    Speaker image for Freddi Muelke
    Freddi Muelke, VP Go-to-Market - Vertice
  4. Track 09 The cash trapped in your portfolio: a playbook for unlocking working capital
    40 mins
    How to scale a portfolio-wide O2C playbook: TPG and Stuut show how the lessons from DIRECTV can scale across a fund The biggest cash opportunity in your portfolio may be hiding in receivables: TPG sha …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Tim Eng
    Tim Eng, Field Operations Advisor – Finance - TPG
    Speaker image for EdaBeth Ward
    EdaBeth Ward, Head of Order to Cash - DIRECTV
  5. Track 10 The new and revised 100-day VCP playbook: what has changed and what must stay
    40 mins
    What has changed the most in recent years when it comes to 100-day VCPs? How has the way operating partners operate in the first 100 days changed and evolved? Dos and don’ts for operating partners: wh …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Seavron Banus
    Seavron Banus, Operating Director, Portfolio Support - Berkshire Partners
3:40 PM
  1. Break
    10 mins
3:50 PM
  1. Track 11 Assessing and building high-performance management teams
    40 mins
    What does a highly aligned management team look like? What are the biggest challenges associated with alignment and effectiveness? What are the most important (non-AI) skills required and how do you i …
  2. Track 12 Commercial excellence 100-day to year one plans: getting it right
    40 mins
    Creating a repeatable 100-day commercial value creation acceleration engine to accelerate growth in year one Getting your data in shape to unlock commercial transformations early How is AI impacting a …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Avra Schaaf
    Avra Schaaf, Operating Partner, GTM - Tritium Partners
    Speaker image for  Alexis Underwood
     Alexis Underwood, Managing Director - Wynnchurch Capital
  3. Track 13 Cyber challenges in the age of AI: the operating partner guidebook
    40 mins
    Being prepared for the rapidly evolving AI threat environment: what are operating partners doing? What are the most important AI cyber threats and challenges you are dealing with today? How are operat …
    Moderator
    Speaker image for Adam Malone
    Adam Malone, Global Head of Strategy and Execution - Cyber Data & Resilience - Kroll
  4. Track 14 Office of the CFO’s perspectives on AI transformation
    40 mins
    How is AI for finance actually being applied and where are the efficiency gains?  What kind of workflows do CFOs see as most useful or have turned entirely over to AI? What do we expect to see in the …
  5. Track 15 First 100 days: from chaos to clarity — building the data foundations that make AI work in PE portfolios
    40 mins
    What operating partners should be assessing in their first 100 days: the data health checklist that determines whether AI initiatives will deliver value or become another expensive experiment How most …
4:30 PM
  1. Track 16 What makes a great Chief AI Officer at your portfolio companies?
    40 mins
    Progressive approaches to hiring and assessing AI talent at your companies What are the most important responsibilities, skills, and functions of Chief AI Officers needed today? What are the biggest c …
  2. Track 17 Leveraging AI for commercial value creation and growth
    40 mins
    What are the most reliable AI levers for commercial impact and growth in portfolio companies? Understanding data foundations and AI tools to transform RevOps and go-to-market functions How are you unl …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Kirk Goodman
    Kirk Goodman, Head of Go-To-Market - AEA Elevate
  3. Track 18 Spotlight interview: What I learned as a tech operating partner in 10+ years
    40 mins
    How is AI changing the role of the tech and digital operating partner? What comes next? Sharing genuine career advice from 10+ years to help tech and digital operating partners on their journey What a …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Ashish Chandarana
    Ashish Chandarana, Partner, Head of Portfolio Optimization - Veritas Capital
  4. Track 19 Case study: Portfolio company reporting and FP&A in the AI era
    40 mins
    Evolving benchmark for portfolio monitoring: "what good looks like" in the AI era Where is AI replacing vs. augmenting Excel Success stories of value creation teams and portcos working together to str …
  5. Track 20 Sharing successes and wins of value creation initiatives in different sectors
    40 mins
    Operating partner value creations war stories across companies in different sectors What is replicable across sectors? What makes your sector unique in delivering value creation vs others? What are th …
5:10 PM
  1. End of day one and grand reception
    70 mins
    Join us on the lower-level floor in Hall 1 for our grand reception. Expand your network and hear what is on everyone’s mind after a full day of valuable insights.
7:45 AM
  1. Registration and breakfast
    15 mins
8:00 AM
  1. Think Tank 06 New Operating Partners (1-2 years in PE) (operating partners only)
    45 mins
    These closed-door discussions led by your peers will allow you to learn and share best practices of successful operating partners.
  2. Think Tank 07 Advanced Operating Partners (3+ years in PE) (operating partners only)
    45 mins

    These closed-door discussions led by your peers will allow you to learn and share best practices of successful operating partners.

  3. Think Tank 08 Senior Operating Partners (10+ years in PE) (operating partners only)
    45 mins
    These closed-door discussions led by your peers will allow you to learn and share best practices of successful operating partners.
8:45 AM
  1. Breakfast deep dive discussion 11 | Navigating extended hold periods: key steps to best position your companies (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This deep dive interactive breakfast session designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. How have extended hold periods impacted your role as a …
  2. Breakfast deep dive discussion 12 | What does a high impact AI portco commercial leader look like? (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This deep dive interactive breakfast session designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. How has the role of CROs, CMOs, and commercial leaders …
  3. Breakfast deep dive discussion 13 | Redesigning white-collar workflows with AI: a working session for operating partners (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    Every PE fund with professional services portfolio companies in tax, legal, consulting, and financial services is living some version of the same problem at two altitudes. At the fund level, it is a v …
  4. Breakfast deep dive discussion 14 | A step by step guide to unlocking value in carve-out transactions (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This deep dive interactive breakfast session designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. What are the biggest challenges, risks, and opportunit …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Ranjan Rath
    Ranjan Rath, Operating Executive - Vector Capital
  5. Breakfast deep dive discussion 15 | Aligning with CEOs: operating partner insights and guidelines (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This deep dive interactive breakfast session designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. What are the biggest challenges for operating partners …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Jason Friedrichs
    Jason Friedrichs, Partner, Portfolio Growth - AEA Elevate
9:25 AM
  1. Chairman’s welcome
    5 mins
9:30 AM
  1. Keynote: how macro trends are shaping private equity and value creation
    40 mins
10:10 AM
  1. Spotlight interview: What I learned as an operating partner in 10+ years
    40 mins
    This dynamic interview will allow our audience to hear insights from Cory Eaves’ journey in value creation. The audience will also be allowed to submit questions about what they would like to hear. Sh …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Cory Eaves
    Cory Eaves, Partner and Head of Portfolio Operations - BayPine
10:50 AM
  1. Networking break
    20 mins
11:10 AM
  1. Investment partner and operating partner views on VCP alignment
    40 mins
    How are deal partners most effectively working with operating partners? How are operating partners most effectively working with deal partners? What are best practices in working together from diligen …
    Moderator
    Speaker image for Sean Mooney
    Sean Mooney, Founder and CEO - BluWave
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Avishee Gupta
    Avishee Gupta, Director, Strategy & Operational Excellence - Grant Avenue Capital
    Speaker image for Todd Markson
    Todd Markson, Partner, Tech Opportunities - Bain Capital
11:50 AM
  1. Heads of value creation teams: how are you thinking about the future?
    40 mins
    As a head operating partner, what are you doing when it comes to performance measurement of operating partners and your teams? How is your team model evolving and which areas are growing/evolving the …
12:35 PM
  1. Interactive Working Group 06 | Human capital operating partner views on talent acquisition and retention today: challenges and opportunities (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This interactive discussion designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. What are the biggest recruitment challenges, risks, and opportunities t …
  2. Interactive Working Group 07 | Empowering change with Chief Transformation Officers and VPs of Transformation (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This interactive discussion designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. What makes a great transformation specialist at your portcos? Can you s …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Bernardo Arrospide
    Bernardo Arrospide, Operating Vice President - Accel-KKR
  3. Interactive Working Group 08 | Optimizing technology spend across your portfolio for financial impact (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This interactive discussion designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. Swapping notes on IT cost optimization initiatives across portfolios: w …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Michael Frain
    Michael Frain, Managing Director - Warburg Pincus
  4. Interactive Working Group 09 | Operating partner-LP dynamics: dos and don’ts (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This interactive discussion designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. How are you showcasing value creation and operating partner performance …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Stirling Keen
    Stirling Keen, Operating Partner - Aware Super
  5. Interactive Working Group 10 | Measuring operating partner performance: comparing scorecards (operating partners only)
    40 mins
    This interactive discussion designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. How are you measuring the ROI of operating partners across functions? P …
1:15 PM
  1. Lunch discussion 3 | Bridging deal partners and operating partners: creating better investments through earlier collaboration (operating partners only)
    45 mins
    This interactive lunch discussion will focus on practical experience rather than prepared presentations, encouraging open dialogue: How to create alignment and synergies with investment partners Shari …
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Shirley Choo
    Shirley Choo, Investment Director and Investment Committee Member - Convergence Partners
  2. Lunch discussion 4 | The modern portco CTO: uncovering excellence in the age of AI (operating partners only)
    45 mins
    This working lunch session designed solely for operating partners will engage the audience with designated expert facilitators. Dissecting the evolution of the CIO/CTO role in the AI revolution: can y …
  3. Networking Lunch
    45 mins
2:00 PM
  1. Closing plenary session
    40 mins
2:40 PM
  1. End of conference
    5 mins