As Alpine celebrates its 20th anniversary, I reflect on my 27 years in private equity and the history of the industry as told through five deals: a greeting card company, the deal that inspired Barbarians at the Gate, a $700 mm pig farm, Chainsaw Al, and a tow truck company bought by two young Stanford search funders.

How attributes over experience, extreme empowerment, and building lifetime relationships helps us hire—and retain—the best of the best.

Learn to say “no” and narrow your focus, then scale your bright spots to determine where best to spend your energy.

Addressing our own privilege as we listen and learn while finding our role in fighting racial injustice.

Lessons learned early in my career and a few Wall Street low points that shaped Alpine’s intentional, people-driven culture.

Every month I’ll share perspectives, methods, and exercises as well as stories from others.