ACCELERATING TIME TO VALUE

Leadership is a chronically overlooked lever of value creation. YSC Consulting – part of Accenture, works from the investment thesis to define the leadership required at various stages of the deal cycle. Leveraging commercial understanding and behavioral science, we provide investors and management teams with data-driven insights to make better talent decisions faster.

About YSC & Private Equity

We are a global, professionally independent leadership strategy firm with a dedicated Private Equity practice.

Better leadership and execution are key to transforming asset value, particularly in a competitive deal-making environment. Yet, creating value is not just about the performance of one person or one portfolio company.

What is most critical to driving the talent agenda in your assets and in your firm?

  • Identifying and filling critical roles that drive disproportionate value
  • Accelerating individual and team performance
  • Driving a performance culture

Using a combination of rigor and relationship capital, our global PE team partners with clients to ensure you have the right leadership in place through every stage of the investment period – from diligence to exit, and within the PE firm itself – to drive asset value.

OUR PRIVATE EQUITY CREDENTIALS

YSC has nearly two decades of experience working with investors across verticals. We work with more than 40% of the largest PE firms by AUM globally.

what our clients say

“I wanted to reach out to say thank you. We’ve known these people for years and your assessment was so thorough and accurate, it has really helped us consolidate our thinking and plan a way forward for the individuals and us as a collective.”

CEO, Private Equity Client

“I’ve learned a lot from YSC along the way. I appreciate the team helping me evaluate leadership candidates and helping our organization create a high-performance leadership framework. Thank you for sharing your brilliance, insight and warmth with the team and me. I’m looking forward to continuing our partnership.”

CEO, Private Equity Client

“YSC did a great job of creating a comfortable forum for open and honest communication. They were able to challenge us and be objective in a positive fashion. I learned a lot about myself and the other members of the executive leadership team.”

Management Team Member, Private Equity Client

“Thank you for getting us focused and unblocked. We’re now marching toward a common, achievable goal.”

Management Team Member, Private Equity Client

By the numbers

90%

of our new clients come from existing client referrals

97%

of leaders we have assessed report a positive experience during the assessment process

12 Months
faster

is the rate leaders participating in our development programs progress to new roles compared to those not involved

100%

of participants in a recent coaching engagement rated their coaching relationship favorably for providing action

OUR OFFERINGS

We partner with PE firms and their portfolio companies across the deal cycle: from talent diligence pre-deal, to leadership strategy, management team support and acceleration post-deal. Plus, we work with PE firms internally to support their leadership and culture initiatives.

Leadership Strategy

Early detection of locked or leaking value in the organization due to talent issues is game-changing. Based on the investment thesis, we help you articulate what leadership is required to drive asset performance in line with your business strategy. This becomes the underpinning to using talent as a lever for value creation. We put the strategy in place to identify and fill critical roles at various points in the hold period.

Individual Assessment

Our approach to leadership assessment involves triangulating data sources, including in-depth behavioral interviews and validated psychometrics, to more accurately predict fit for role and performance. Whether it be for selection or development pre- or post-close, the process is not a black box; we balance rigor with relationship building. We frame the assessment as a developmental discussion and provide actionable feedback to the individual to immediately improve effectiveness.

Succession Planning

Selecting a new executive leader is invaluable but needs to be sensitively positioned. There is a risk that role requirements are anchored too rigidly in current leadership – future business states need to be fully factored in. We clearly articulate how each participant would perform in the role and their leadership impact, based on deep knowledge of what ‘great’ looks like in a PE context. Then, in support of the candidates and the board, we partner with you to work through challenges and align on how to execute a successful transition.

Coaching

Our coaching approach ensures that leaders spend their valuable time and effort focused on the issues that matter most to their particular role and context – enabling them to integrate and deliver results quickly as leaders in portfolio companies or PE firms. We highlight and work through development opportunities that connect directly to the goals of the business and the expectations of stakeholders.

Top Team Acceleration

Team effectiveness is highly context-dependent. It is a journey that requires ongoing evaluation, behavioral and operational interventions, and impact measurement throughout the hold period; we bend the value curve early by setting teams up for success with the scaffolding they need and continuing to support them over time.​ We leverage our thought leadership, best practices gleaned from experience working with PE-backed companies across size and industry, and frameworks to define fit for purpose solutions.

Board Effectiveness

An effective board is a powerful tool of value creation in PE. As the link between the PE fund and portfolio company, Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) play a crucial role in achieving board effectiveness. It is therefore valuable for NEDs to understand the success factors in the role and context, and build the capabilities necessary for optimal performance.

Capability Building

PE leaders face unique developmental challenges. While the promotion path remains accelerated compared to corporate settings, most PE firms have not codified development and leadership programs to ensure investors develop a comprehensive set of skills that mirrors the needs of their career pathway. We work with investors to identify development areas for each level, then establish customized training programs to build capability at scale.

Diversity & Inclusion

PE looks for the best talent. However, the filters through which many PE firms funnel talent can often lead to homogenous workforces, lack of cognitive diversity and greater risk of group-think. Many PE firms are going through a changing of the guard from decades-long leadership. Coupled with demographic changes, there is an emerging mindset and growing momentum to shift cultures. Our core expertise is in leadership; we believe that culture and inclusion are first and foremost leadership issues. We are experts in creating environments where people can communicate with each other openly and honestly, while also responding sensitively to group dynamics.

RELATED CASE STUDIES

Conducting Executive Due Diligence

Overview

YSC was engaged by a mid-market investor to conduct executive due diligence on a UK-based target in the medical education sector. The investor was looking at taking a minority stake in the business, with a 3x return valuation creation stemming from the professionalization of the business and select M&A activity.

Solution

  • Pre-deal: Relationship cultivation and leadership strategy sessions to align CEO and Investment Manager, followed by assessment for development of the co-founders and CFO
  • Assessment for development of broader management team in first 100 days: individual assessments and aggregate insights
  • Team development session and targeted individual coaching

Challenge

Among a highly competitive environment, mid-way through exclusivity, the investor needed to understand the necessary shift for the target asset’s co-founders to best partner with investors, shape the strategy to deliver on the investment thesis and execute on the transformation. They needed to determine the leadership required, across the management team and beyond, to deliver through to exit.

Impact

  • YSC accurately predicted performance, as indicated by a significant correlation between multiple YSC measures and subsequent job performance as rated by the investor
  • Empowered and engaged management team who has successfully transitioned to a new organizational model and leadership challenges with on-going, fast-paced growth internationally
  • CEO has been able to step up to a more strategic role and position key leaders on his team to lead execution

Testimonial

“I wanted to reach out to say thank you. We’ve known these people for years and your assessment was so thorough and accurate, it has really helped us consolidate our thinking and plan a way forward for the individuals and us as a collective.”

CEO
See more PE case studies
Empowering A High-Performing CEO To Develop His Team

Overview

YSC was engaged by a healthcare technology company backed by a large-cap PE firm nine months after close. While the management team was meeting their metrics, the CEO recognized they needed to take a step back to reassess how the team was working together from an operational and behavioral perspective. YSC worked with the CEO and management team to accelerate both individual and collective team performance to maximize value in line with their growth opportunity.

Solution

  • CEO coaching and stakeholder feedback
  • Individual leadership assessments for selection and development
  • Top team acceleration, including aggregate profiles and facilitated team sessions

Challenge

Shortly after acquiring two large targets, the portfolio company was pursuing a third. The relatively new CEO needed to build a lean team who could manage the scale and complexity of acquisition activity, and once that team was assembled, reactivate them so they were set up to tackle the next phase of growth. While the CEO demonstrated potential, they had limited time to establish team cohesion.

Impact

  • CEO was rated as one of the top performers in the portfolio by the PE firm
  • Established recurring cadence between CEO and management team to foster relationships
  • Cross-sale to additional investors after an abridged holding period, given asset’s high performance

Testimonial

“I have learned a lot from you along the way. I appreciate the YSC team helping me evaluate leadership candidates and helping us create a high-performance leadership framework… Thank you for sharing your brilliance, insight, and warmth with me and our team. Looking forward to continuing to partner with you.”

CEO
See more PE case studies
Coaching And Development Of A Founder-Led Asset

Overview

Eight weeks after close, YSC engaged with a technology portfolio company to support the founder CEO to build a championship team who could deliver on their aggressive growth strategy. With a focus on M&A, the CEO and team were challenged to scale the business and reach the desired multiple while simultaneously maintaining the legacy culture and values that had enabled them to be successful thus far. YSC took a high-touch approach to deeply understand the individual and team dynamics at play, partnering with the CEO, management team and deal team to optimize ways of working, build strong relationships through the engagement model and plan for succession.

Solution

  • Individual leadership assessments for selection and development
  • Executive onboarding and transition coaching for all new management team members
  • CEO coaching and stakeholder feedback
  • Stakeholder interviews and profiles of success for the CEO and management team members
  • Top team acceleration, including aggregate profiles, facilitated team sessions and team observations

Challenge

To deliver on the investment thesis, the CEO sought out new talent for the management team, resulting in a turnover of over 50% in the first year. As an effective new team, they needed to re-establish what it meant to be a team, how they should work together and what processes were needed to encourage collaboration. In addition, the CEO was struggling to build trust with the new team members who did not share the same level of institutional knowledge.

Impact

  • Marked improvement in team effectiveness ratings against high-performing teams' model
  • Accelerated onboarding by aligning new team members with their line managers and peers and gathering pulse feedback
  • Delegated decision-making from CEO to management team members
  • Documented success criteria for CEO successor to lead the organization post exit

Testimonial

“Thank you for getting us focused and unblocked. We’re now marching toward a common, achievable goal.”

Management Team Member
See more PE case studies
Building A High-Performing Team Post Close

Overview

YSC was brought in six months after close to assess and develop the leadership of a consumer products portfolio company, which had experienced exponential organic and inorganic growth to retain majority market share. Alongside assessment of 30 leaders, including all C-suite executives and other critical roles, YSC worked hand-in-hand with the CEO and CHRO to problem solve on senior talent needs, including filling critical roles, assimilating new team members and accelerating team performance.

Solution

  • Individual leadership assessments for selection and development
  • Executive onboarding and transition coaching for all new management team members
  • CEO coaching
  • Top team acceleration, including aggregate profiles and facilitated team sessions

Challenge

Led by a first-time CEO, the portfolio company was comprised of three divisions that historically operated as separate business units. One of the key tenets of the investment thesis was to bring those divisions together to operate as one enterprise with a shared services model. With that, the management team faced an inflection point where they needed to come together on a shared purpose to be successful, enabled by cross-divisional processes and KPIs to drive collaboration.

Impact

  • Galvanized the management team around a common goal and developed a team charter
  • Improved ways of working based on the personalities and problem-solving and decision-making styles of the team
  • Coached and advised the CEO to build a centralized function and communicate the revised strategy to the business
  • Accelerated onboarding by aligning new team members with their line managers and peers and gathering pulse feedback

Testimonial

“YSC did a great job of creating a comfortable forum for open and honest communication. They were able to challenge us and be objective in a positive fashion. I learned a lot about myself and the other members of the executive leadership team.”

Management Team Member
See more PE case studies
Building Capability In Investors Through Programmatic Development

Overview

YSC was engaged by a large-cap PE firm to conduct a global, firm-wide leadership development program for their senior partners and executive leaders. The firm started working with YSC to conduct assessments for portfolio company leaders and felt partners should “practice what they preach” across their portfolio. By developing leadership ability to deliver the sponsor’s goals, they would be more credible and better able to position leadership development assessments with portfolio company leaders.

Solution

  • A CEO coaching intervention, raising awareness of their style, approach and impact as leaders
  • Development program for all global partners, including online assessments, deep individual interviews, and feedback
  • Team coaching for each partner’s team, including facilitated team sessions
  • Analytic study of whole population, assessing collective strengths and development areas with the view to increase the level of diversity

Challenge

The PE firm had developed two specific goals – to have three female partners before 2022 and to become a top decile performer. YSC was asked to provide leadership support and insights to all partners globally across the firm. The objective was to increase self-awareness about personal styles and team impact, and to provide guidance on how to work more effectively together.

Impact

  • Aggregated partner profile, illuminating the implications for reaching the 2022 objectives.
  • Measurably improved team dynamics, awareness and team effectiveness through identification of development opportunities.
  • Increased level of inclusion across the firm.
  • Programmatic and proactive development and succession planning for senior leadership.
See more PE case studies
Analyzing CEO Effectiveness

Overview

YSC conducted a research study of 70 CEOs across our client’s portfolio with the aim to identify the key traits that differentiate high performance. By analyzing YSC data collected during assessments (e.g., psychometric profiles, potential and leadership capability ratings) alongside individual performance data provided by the PE firm, YSC identified five key skills and behaviors that differentiate successful CEOs from the rest.

Solution

  • Individual leadership assessments for selection and development
  • Aggregate and correlational analyses to identify predictors of success
  • CEO profile of success

Challenge

Having the right CEO is key for the success of a portfolio company, but what do successful CEOs look like, and how does the role differ in corporate vs. PE backed companies? The PE firm needed to make faster, more accurate talent decisions regarding CEOs they invested in and placed.

Impact

  • Identified the key skills and characteristics that differentiate top performing CEOs in the portfolio
  • Increased predictive validity regarding hiring decisions
  • Accelerated on-boarding of newly placed CEOs, decreasing time to performance
  • More robust and frequent performance ratings
See more PE case studies

Dedicated private equity team

We’ve worked with more than three dozen PE firms and in more than two dozen countries. We’ve assessed well over 2,500 leaders, coached hundreds of executives and supported dozens of management teams.

With YSC PE, you have a dedicated team and a deep bench of experts with global reach.

PARTNER WITH US

Contact us to accelerate time to value in your organization today.