2025 Kellogg PEVC Conference Workshop: Private Equity (PE) 101 Workshop [Food Provided]

PEVC Conference 101 Workshop Series
Join us for the first event in our PE 101 Workshop Series. This three-hour interactive session is designed to help you maximize your experience at the main conference by providing a practical introduction to private equity. The workshop will cover industry structure, deal mechanics, value creation, and career pathways, with actionable insights from faculty and alumni practitioners.

1:30 – 2:30 pm: Private Equity Overview and Market Trends
This session will provide an introduction to the fundamentals of private equity, from fund structures and the investment process to value creation levers, including sourcing, diligence, post-acquisition playbooks, and exits.

Speakers:
• Professor José María Liberti, Clinical Professor of Finance at Kellogg
Professor Liberti is a Clinical Professor of Finance at Kellogg and the Joseph Jr. and Carole Levy Chair in Entrepreneurship. He is also affiliated with the Heizer Center for Private Equity and Venture Capital and serves as the academic director of the Advanced Private Equity Experience (APEX), where he specializes in buyouts, M&A, and corporate restructuring.
• Brian Wolfe, Founder of Funded Ventures
Brian Wolfe is an investor, lawyer, and educator. He leads Funded Ventures, a private investment firm, and teaches courses on private equity and M&A at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and the University of Chicago Booth. A retired partner at Kirkland & Ellis, he spent 17 years at the firm. He serves on numerous boards, including Chicago Public Media and the Economic Club of Chicago.
• Amanda Horowitz, Operating Executive at Alpine Investors and CMO at Midwest Vision Partners
Amanda Horowitz is an Operating Executive at Alpine Investors and the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Midwest Vision Partners, leading the Sales, Marketing, and Pricing teams. Amanda is a Kellogg School of Management alumna. Alpine Investors is a private equity firm that invests in and builds software and services businesses. Midwest Vision Partners is a growing eye care services organization with over 100 locations across the Midwest and Northeast.

2:30 – 3:30 pm: Industry Alumni Panel - Paths into PE
This panel will offer industry insights from the perspective of EQT's global private markets and West Monroe's transaction advisory expertise. The discussion will cover fundraising conditions, diligence rigor, portfolio value-creation levers, and current sector themes in private equity. Panelists will also share their personal career journeys, providing practical guidance on role targeting, skill signaling, networking strategy, and interview preparation.

Speakers:
• Scott Jerge, Vice President, Client Relations & Capital Raising at EQT Group
Scott is a capital-raising professional responsible for fundraising across the Americas, covering buyout, venture capital, growth equity, infrastructure, and real estate. EQT Group is a leading global alternatives platform that invests thematically across Private Capital, Infrastructure, and Real Estate.
• Patrick Peterson, Senior Manager - M&A Advisory, West Monroe
Patrick is an M&A advisory lead who focuses on transaction strategy and value capture. West Monroe is a national consulting firm that began with a foundation in technology and built its business on partnering with companies in transformative industries to deliver tangible, measurable results.
• Anjali Puthanangady, Senior Consultant - M&A Advisory, West Monroe
Anjali is a senior M&A advisory consultant with a focus on the high-tech and software private equity group. She works for West Monroe, a national consulting firm that delivers real, measurable results by partnering with companies in transformative industries.

3:30 – 4:30 pm: Fireside Conversation with Industry Leaders
This conversation will feature two industry leaders offering their unique perspectives. Andrew will share insights on PE commercial diligence, corporate M&A rigor, and post-acquisition strategy. Travis will provide his expertise on investing in middle-market private equity and the healthcare industry.

Speakers:
• Andrew Grieve, Senior Partner, Bain & Company
Andrew is a Senior Partner in Bain’s Private Equity Group. He co-leads the North American Industrials PE practice and Bain’s NA Transportation and Logistics practice. In this role, he helps financial and corporate acquirers achieve superior returns through strategic and operational diligence and post-acquisition value creation. He is a Kellogg School of Management alumnus (MBA ’01) with nearly three decades of experience.
• Travis Hughes, Managing Partner, Hughes & Company
Travis is a Kellogg School of Management alumnus (MBA '04) and the Managing Partner at Hughes & Company. He founded the firm in 2011 with the goal of bringing domain expertise, people, and capital to small and lower middle-market healthcare companies. He has been an active private equity investor for over 16 years, with a majority of his investing career focused on healthcare. Prior to founding Hughes & Company, he was an investment professional at JMI Equity, Wind Point Partners, and Madrona Venture Group.

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