Gail McManus on the value of inclusive hiring in private equity
Gail McManus, our Founder and Director, shared insights with Private Equity International (PEI) on the critical role of hiring diverse operating partners within private equity firms.
"Challenge your biases and create an objective hiring process that focuses on competencies rather than shared backgrounds."
Gail McManus, Founder Director
The power of diverse operating partners in private equity
Gail McManus highlights the importance of hiring diverse operating partners within private equity firms, emphasising how diversity can enhance the success of investments. Gail points out that firms often struggle between minimising risks by sticking to what they know or taking a chance on the potential upside that diverse hires can offer.
She identifies two primary obstacles to diverse hiring: a limited talent pool and entrenched perceptions. Gail urges firms to overcome these biases, focus on competency-based hiring, and work with recruiters to find talent from less obvious places.
She identifies two primary obstacles to diverse hiring: a limited talent pool and entrenched perceptions. Gail urges firms to overcome these biases, focus on competency-based hiring, and work with recruiters to find talent from less obvious places.
Diverse operating partners, particularly those from non-traditional backgrounds, offer essential qualities like emotional intelligence, humility, and resilience, which facilitate connections with management teams and foster innovation.
Gail also points out that valuing diversity at the leadership level promotes inclusivity and enhances employee engagement, ultimately strengthening the alignment between portfolio companies and private equity firms post-investment.
Read the full PEI interview here
Click below to read Gail's profile and find her contact details.
Gail's profile
