Accessing the Pipeline

At the Intersection of Purpose and Profit, with Garrison Jones

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0400

How do we find opportunities where others are not finding them and how can we create an investment strategy where others have not found the value?" That question drives Garrison Jones, founder and CEO of Wailes Capital, a private equity firm focused on people-first businesses across B2B software, education, and healthcare. Garrison reflects on how he has crafted a career “at the intersection of purpose and profit,” and McGuireWoods partners and hosts Abdul Lediju and Dan Howell congratulate him for the newest signpost on that intersection: WCM Holdings, a tech-enabled nonprofit fundraising and administrative software and services platform. Tune in for Garrison’s candid insights about why you should build a success ecosystem before taking the leap, why fundraising is as much about who's involved as what you're pitching, and how resilience and mentorship can make all the difference in your career.

Connect and Learn More

☑️ Garrison Jones | LinkedIn

☑️ Wailes Capital on LinkedIn

☑️ Abdul Lediju | LinkedIn

☑️ Dan Howell | LinkedIn

☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

This podcast was recorded and is being made available by McGuireWoods for informational purposes only. By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that McGuireWoods makes no warranty, guarantee or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in the podcast. The views, information or opinions expressed during this podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily reflect those of McGuireWoods. This podcast should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state and should not be construed as an offer to make or consider any investment or course of action.

Right Deal, Right Buyer, Right Fit: The Ernie Lyles Playbook

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Growing up in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, Ernie Lyles found his Wall Street inspiration when he watched the news one day to see “this Black man on the golf course just hanging out with the president.” It turned out to be Vernon Jordan, then an advisor to President Bill Clinton. That inspiration propelled Ernie through Howard University School of Law and onto an Amtrak train to New York, where he met an HR executive in banking over coffee. Today, as founder and CEO of HiGro Group, Ernie has completed 15 to 20 acquisitions across five platforms over 10 years. In this conversation with McGuireWoods hosts Abdul Lediju and Dan Howell, Ernie shares his investment philosophy built on a three-legged stool: right deal, right buyer, right fit.

Connect and Learn More

☑️ Ernie Lyles | LinkedIn

☑️ HiGro Group | LinkedIn

☑️ Abdul Lediju | LinkedIn

☑️ Dan Howell | LinkedIn

☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

How “Everyone Can Win” in the Independent Sponsor Market, with Chelsea Celistan

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Recording live from the 2025 McGuireWoods Independent Sponsor Conference, hosts Abdul Lediju and Dan Howell invite the podcast’s first repeat guest to reflect on her journey over the past few years. Chelsea Celistan is now head of Independent Sponsor Strategy at Avante Capital Partners, a capital partner to independent sponsors. “I think that the independent sponsor asset class is really exciting,” she says, adding: “I think one of the greatest things is that there's not a zero-sum game in this space. Everyone can win.”

Connect and Learn More

☑️ Chelsea Celistan | LinkedIn

☑️ Avante Capital Partners | LinkedIn

☑️ Abdul Lediju | LinkedIn

☑️ Dan Howell | LinkedIn

☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Why Demand, Not Policy, Powers Clean Energy Markets, with Will Demas

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0400

From Will Demas’ perspective, investing in clean energy is no longer about policy; “it’s a pure supply-demand and economic rational matter.” The Head of Americas for Macquarie Asset Management’s Green Investment Group, Will shares why current political rhetoric doesn't change the demand for clean energy in this conversation with McGuireWoods attorneys Abdul Lediju and Dan Howell. Tune in for his insights about Macquarie's 20-year commitment to renewable energy, their $18 billion deployment into the sector, and unprecedented opportunities in renewable energy due to data centers' insatiable power needs.

Connect and Learn More

☑️ Will Demas | LinkedIn

☑️ Abdul Lediju | LinkedIn

☑️ Dan Howell | LinkedIn

☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Catalyzing Growth and Diversity in Private Equity, with Demetrius Sidberry

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0400

New Catalyst Strategic Partners chose its name intentionally. “New Catalyst” means that the investment firm catalyzes fund managers’ ability to grow business. It also catalyzes the corporate finance industry by putting managers of “all shapes and sizes” into business.

“It’s really, really important that we practice what we preach,” says Demetrius Sidberry, the firm’s managing director and investment committee member. New Catalyst Strategic Partners focuses on the “next generation” of managers, particularly in the private equity space. In this conversation with hosts PJ Harris and Abdul-Rahman Lediju, Demetrius discusses the firm’s strategies for investing and guiding growth.

Connect and Learn More

☑️ Demetrius Sidberry | LinkedIn

☑️ New Catalyst Strategic Partners | LinkedIn

☑️ PJ Harris | LinkedIn

☑️ Abdul-Rahman Lediju | LinkedIn

☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

How Investing in Hotels Can Unlock Wealth with Kendra Plummer of Elise Capital

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 03:00:00 -0400

As a kid, Kendra Plummer dreamed of owning a boutique hotel. As she grew, she realized that hotels are more than just bricks and mortar. “Hotels are a real estate asset class, and they are very much an investment.”

Today, Kendra is the founder and CEO of Elise Capital. She helps all communities – especially those that are underrepresented in finance and capital allocation – unlock the hidden potential of hotel investments.

With McGuireWoods attorneys PJ Harris and Dan Howell, she outlines her path, from studying hotel management as an undergraduate to earning her MBA to launching Elise Capital, a firm dedicated to developing savvy hotel investors and educating a pipeline of potential investors. She reveals lessons she’s learned on her journey and how Elise Capital guides investors on theirs.

Connect and Learn More

☑️ Kendra Plummer | LinkedIn

☑️ Elise Capital | LinkedIn

☑️ PJ Harris | LinkedIn

☑️ Dan Howell | LinkedIn

☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Combining Real Estate Investing and Social Impact with Chris Grant of Yoke Management Partners

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 03:00:00 -0400

Is it possible to use real estate as a catalyst for attractive returns and meaningful social impact?

On this episode of Accessing the Pipeline, McGuireWoods attorneys Dan Howell and PJ Harris talk with Chris Grant, the founder of Yoke Management Partners. Yoke Management Partners is a diversified real estate investment firm with a focus on affordable housing in the DMV—whose mission is to generate the best returns and have a positive social impact on the community.

Tune in as Chris talks about the ins and outs of being an emerging manager including, his founder story, the challenges of the current real estate market, his journey in fundraising, the importance of alignment, and how Yoke Management Partners is executing its mission to generate returns and community impact.

Connect and Learn More

☑️ Chris Grant | LinkedIn

☑️ Yoke Management Partners | LinkedIn | Instagram

☑️ Dan Howell | LinkedIn

☑️ PJ Harris | LinkedIn

☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Building Relationships and Overcoming Challenges with Glenn Williams of Wayve Capital

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0400

When you focus on building relationships with founders of companies, it allows you to avoid the bidding wars that you sometimes get with brokers.

On this episode of Accessing the Pipeline, McGuireWoods partners Rubin Pusha III and Dan Howell, welcome guest Glenn Williams, Chief Operating Officer of Wayve Capital, a minority-owned asset management firm based in Philadelphia. A graduate of Duke University and Washington and Lee University School of Law, Glenn is a seasoned financial services attorney and investor with over a decade of experience in private equity, venture capital, and real estate.

Tune in to hear Glenn talk about his private equity and investment background and how that led him to start a private equity fund. Glen also talks about the challenges and complexities of being a first-time manager and running a first-time fund, as well as the role of diversity in the private equity space.

Connect and Learn More

☑️ Glenn Williams | LinkedIn

☑️ Wayve Capital | Instagram | LinkedIn

☑️ Dan Howell | LinkedIn

☑️ Rubin Pusha III | LinkedIn

☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Recession-Proof Sectors and the Future of Investments With Sylvester Burley

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0400

“I've always kind of abided by the principle of: it's good sometimes in life to get comfortable with being uncomfortable,” says Sylvester “Sly” Burley of his decision to join Avante Capital Partners in 2019. Up until that point in his career, Sly’s experience was in private equity. When he saw the opportunity to join a private credit platform that was sector agnostic and diverse, he couldn’t say no.

On this episode of Accessing the Pipeline, host and McGuireWoods partner Rubin Pusha III welcomes Sly, who recently was promoted from principal to partner at Avante Capital Partners, a woman- and minority-owned, lower middle market private credit firm. While Avante’s debt and equity investments span different industries, Sly particularly discusses the company’s success in the food and beverage sector, which seems to be a recession-proof industry.

Sly also discusses Avante’s goals for investments. Generally credit-focused, Avante looks for companies that provide good downside protection, a competitive advantage, diversification in its customer base and its vendor base, and stable and strong margins. For Sly, one of Avante’s biggest draws is its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Avante strives to invest in a diverse ecosystem of the future.

Tune in to hear Sly talk about trends in sectors, how other investors can make the right deals for themselves, and how putting your money where your mouth is really pays off.

Featured Guest

Name: Sylvester “Sly” Burley

What he does: As a Partner at Avante Capital Partners, Sly identifies, underwrites, executes and manages investment opportunities. Sly has over twelve years of investing experience, across both private equity and private credit.

Company: Avante Capital Partners

Where to find Sly: LinkedIn

Contact

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.

Subscribe to Accessing the Pipeline in your preferred podcast app so that you never miss an episode.

Supporting Businesses to Support Communities with Kenneth Saffold of o15 Capital Partners

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 14:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Accessing the Pipeline, host and McGuireWoods partner Rubin Pusha III welcomes Kenneth Saffold, co-founder and managing partner of o15 Capital Partners, to discuss disparities in access to private credit and how o15 works to solve them.

Kenneth shares o15’s overarching thesis: making lasting impacts on social, racial, and gender equity by funding businesses that target the lower middle market.

“[At o15], we're focused on healthcare, business services, and education,” says Kenneth. “As you think about impact, these businesses really lend themselves to more impact – as we define it – and opportunities. And we've certainly been the benefactor of that as well.”

While the company’s drive to have a positive impact on social issues is a noble aspiration, it doesn’t overshadow their focus on returns.

“We have over 60 years of private credit experience on the team, so we know the space well. We're non-concessionary in how we think about our investments. So, albeit every investment will have an impact element to it, every investment will also meet our target return threshold,” Kenneth assures.

Tune in to hear about where Kenneth foresees the market heading, how he sees their location in Atlanta as an advantage, and more about the company’s drive to solve social, gender, and racial inequities.

Featured Guest

Name: Kenneth Saffold

What he does: Kenneth is the co-founder and managing partner of o15 Capital Partners. His 20+ year career includes top-tier experiences in a variety of business and functional leadership roles. Kenneth puts his expertise in private transaction origination and execution, M&A, leveraged finance, underwriting, and portfolio management to good use at o15.

Company: o15 Capital Partners

Where to find Kenneth: LinkedIn

Contact

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.

Subscribe to Accessing the Pipeline in your preferred podcast app so that you never miss an episode.

Crossing the Finish Line: Closing Your First Deal with Austin Smoak of Grove Oaks Capital

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 03:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Accessing the Pipeline, a podcast from McGuireWoods featuring the voices of Black professionals in private equity and finance, host Rubin Pusha III welcomes Austin Smoak to the show.

Austin is the founder of the private equity firm Grove Oaks Capital (GOC), an investment partnership focused on acquiring privately owned businesses in the lower middle market space. GOC is backed by various investors, including CEOs, entrepreneurs, and institutional investors.

Austin and Rubin talk in detail about how Austin closed his first deal after opening GOC.

From the length of the deal from its inception to its closing, Austin doesn’t hold back on giving advice to other aspiring Black professionals in private equity. Austin also provides insight to what he sees as attractive verticals in the marketplace, as well as influential books that helped shape his own business practices.

“I know for a lot of independent sponsors, even for a lot of search funds, people are 12, 18, sometimes even 24 months into this thing where maybe they've had a deal or two under LOI, or almost got them under LOI and couldn't get it done. So, it’s no small feat that [Austin] was able to get that first deal done,” applauds Rubin of the work being done by Austin Smoak at Grove Oaks Capital.

Tune in to learn all about getting that first deal off the ground and forging professional relationships in the private equity sector.

Featured Guest

Name: Austin Smoak

What he does: Austin is the founder of Grove Oaks Capital, where he serves as managing principal and spearheads acquisitions and asset management, alongside his advisors and equity partners.

Company: Grove Oaks Capital

Where to find Austin: LinkedIn

Contact

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.

Subscribe to Accessing the Pipeline in your preferred podcast app so that you never miss an episode.

Betting on Yourself, Deal Alignments, and Taking Risks with Omar Simmons

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 13:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Accessing the Pipeline, a podcast from McGuireWoods featuring the voices of Black professionals in private equity and finance, host Rubin Pusha III welcomes Omar Simmons to the show.

Omar is the co-founder and president of Exaltare Capital Management, a consumer-oriented private equity firm with expertise in multi-unit and franchise businesses strategically partnering with lower middle market companies at inflection points.

Omar shares his journey in private equity from being one of a handful of Black or Brown professionals in the mid-90s to serving as a board member on multiple corporations, such as ECP-PF (Planet Fitness), EVG (Urban Air), and ECM-GF (The Good Feet Store).

While it has never been easy, Omar provides advice for other aspiring Black professionals in the private equity space. He has hopes that diversity will continue to flourish and representation will become even more inclusive.

Rubin and Omar talk about emerging managers, deal alignments and predictions for the remainder of the year. Omar also describes the ins and outs of a major portfolio company exit he recently oversaw.

Tune in to learn about M&As in a post-COVID world, the value of life balance, and how Black professionals can make a name for themselves in private equity.

Featured Guest

Name: Omar Simmons

What he does: Omar is the co-founder and president of Exaltare Capital Management and currently serves as a board member to ECP-PF (Planet Fitness), EVG (Urban Air), ECM-GF (The Good Feet Store), InXpress Global, and the International Franchise Association. Omar boasts a 20-plus year career in private equity and has closed over 20 principal transactions exceeding $3B in aggregate transaction value.

Company: Exaltare Capital Management

Where to find Omar: LinkedIn

Contact

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.

Subscribe to Accessing the Pipeline in your preferred podcast app so that you never miss an episode.

Seeking Diversity In Investments and Fundraising with 5th Century Partners’ Co-Founders (Part 2)

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 03:00:00 -0400

This is the second part of the conversation from episode two of Accessing the Pipeline, a McGuireWoods podcast for Black professionals in private equity and finance, where hosts Rubin Pusha III and Greg Kilpatrick are joined by 5th Century Partners’ co-founders Jessica Patton and Bruce Hampton. Jessica is a Principal at 5th Century Partners, and Bruce is a Managing Partner.

In this episode, Jessica and Bruce continue to talk about their professional journeys, how diverse managers in this space can be supported, and the importance of advocates in your career. They also share valuable advice they have received from mentors and thought leaders, offering listeners rich insights into their successful paths.

Featured Guests

Name: Jessica Patton

What she does: Jessica is the Co-Founder and Principal at 5th Century Partners. Throughout her career, Jessica has focused on bridging culture and technology by bringing more Black investors and founders into tech spaces. Jessica has worked with and advised companies at all stages of growth, most notably even starting her own company.

Company: 5th Century Partners

Where to find Jessica: LinkedIn

Name: Bruce Hampton

What he does: Bruce is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at 5th Century Partners. Throughout his career, Bruce has represented more than $2 billion in enterprise value, completing several buyout transactions across multiple industry sectors.

Company: 5th Century Partners

Where to find Bruce: LinkedIn

Contact

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.

Subscribe to Accessing the Pipeline in your preferred podcast app so that you never miss an episode.

Seeking Diversity In Investments and Fundraising with 5th Century Partners’ Co-Founders (Part 1)

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 03:00:00 -0400

Want to know what it takes to raise your first fund or how to evaluate if an opportunity aligns with your values?

In this second episode of Accessing the Pipeline, a McGuireWoods podcast for Black professionals in private equity and finance, hosts Rubin Pusha III and Greg Kilpatrick are joined by 5th Century Partners’ co-founders Jessica Patton and Bruce Hampton. Jessica is a Principal at 5th Century Partners, and Bruce is a Managing Partner.

During this episode, Jessica and Bruce walk listeners through their professional journeys. From earning their higher education at prestigious universities to running their own private equity firm, these two have a wealth of experience and knowledge to share.

They discuss their firm's investment strategy — which focuses on three main pillars — how their team came up with it, and what they look for in companies they plan to invest in as well as what they look for in limited partners (LPs).

As Black professionals who engage in fundraising, Jessica and Bruce do not shy away from discussing the value of diversity both internally at their firm, as well in the LPs and companies in which they invest. At 5th Century Partners, they are intentional about creating more opportunity and access where they can.

Tune into Part One of this episode to hear Bruce and Jessica share advice for those looking to raise their first fund and for other Black professionals who are interested in making a name for themselves in private equity.

Featured Guests

Name: Jessica Patton

What she does: Jessica is the co-founder and principal at 5th Century Partners. Throughout her career, Jessica has focused on bridging culture and technology by bringing more Black investors and founders into tech spaces. Jessica has worked with and advised companies at all stages of growth, most notably even starting her own company.

Company: 5th Century Partners

Where to find Jessica: LinkedIn

Name: Bruce Hampton

What he does: Bruce is the co-founder and managing partner at 5th Century Partners. Throughout his career, Bruce has represented more than $2 billion in enterprise value, completing several buyout transactions across multiple industry sectors.

Company: 5th Century Partners

Where to find Bruce: LinkedIn

Contact

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.

Subscribe to Accessing the Pipeline in your preferred podcast app so that you never miss an episode.

Building Networks and Working Relationships in Private Equity with Chelsea Celistan

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 03:00:00 -0400

Accessing the Pipeline, a brand new podcast from McGuireWoods, features the voices of Black professionals in private equity and finance. Hosted by Rubin Pusha III, each episode welcomes special guests to offer insight into the world of capital and deal making, while also striving to develop relationships among Black professionals in the private equity industry.

Rubin kicks off this series with guest Chelsea Celistan, vice president at Providence Equity Partners, to talk about how she sets herself apart as one of few Black women on a private equity investment team and get her perspective on investing more broadly and the value of sector specialization. Chelsea shares with listeners what she believes have been the crucial ingredients to her success: her grit, internal motivation, and a strong network of people with whom she surrounds herself.

Tune in to this episode to hear Chelsea’s perspective on the private equity space: market dynamics going into the second quarter of 2023, what Providence looks for in their investments, and general challenges and opportunities for minorities in the private equity space.

Meet Your Host

Name: Rubin Pusha III

Title: Partner at McGuireWoods

Specialty: Rubin’s practice focuses on healthcare transactional and regulatory matters for a variety of healthcare companies, investors and providers. He takes pride in getting to know his clients and utilizes savvy business strategies in order to help them achieve their goals.

Connect: LinkedIn

Featured Guest

Name: Chelsea Celistan

What she does: Chelsea is a vice president based in the New York office of Providence Equity Partners, where she focuses on making investments in tech, media, telecom, and education companies. Prior to joining Providence, she worked in software and healthcare private equity at Vista Equity Partners and The Vistria Group. Chelsea holds a Bachelor of Arts with honors from Harvard College and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

Company: Providence Equity Partners

Where to find Chelsea: LinkedIn

Contact

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.

Subscribe to Accessing the Pipeline in your preferred podcast app so that you never miss an episode.

Welcome to Accessing the Pipeline

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 03:00:00 -0400

Accessing the Pipeline is a podcast for Black Professionals in Private Equity and Finance brought to you by McGuireWoods. Join host Rubin Pusha III as he welcomes special guests offering insights into accessing capital, developing and expanding relationships, opportunities, and driving growth for Black-owned businesses. Tune in to access the possibilities!

McGuireWoods is a full-service firm providing legal and public affairs solutions to corporate, individual, and nonprofit clients worldwide for more than 200 years collectively. Our commitment to excellence in everything we do gives our clients a competitive edge in everything they do. Our law firm, over its 186-year history, has earned the loyalty of our many long-standing clients with a deep understanding of their businesses, and broad skills in corporate transactions, high-stakes disputes, and complex regulatory and compliance matters.

To learn more our discussion, please email host Rubin Pusha III at rpusha@mcguirewoods.com. To learn more about McGuireWoods or to contact us, please visit our website at mcguirewoods.com.

This series was recorded and is being made available by McGuireWoods for informational purposes only. By accessing this series, you acknowledge that McGuireWoods makes no warranty, guarantee or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this installment. The views, information or opinions expressed are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily reflect those of McGuireWoods. This series should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state and should not be construed as an offer to make or consider any investment or course of action.