Expanding the Team: Integrating Business Development and Research to Accelerate Our Sourcing Machine
We’ve spent the last year building the research and sourcing practice here at ParkerGale. We expanded our software stack, adding company research platforms, expert transcript libraries, email marketing tools, and a revamped CRM. We developed a framework to break down industries and meet people to help us foster ideas. We also hired our first group of research interns, which helped us expand the number of industries we cover and gives students early exposure to a career in private equity. Reflecting on what we’ve built reminded me of a ParkerGale core value — curiosity. We enjoy learning about new industries and coming up with places to look for new deals. And now we can confidently say we’ve built a process to back up our natural aptitude and enthusiasm. No process runs itself. And we’ve quickly realized that to improve our sourcing process, we’re going to need some help. That’s the reason we’ve decided to expand our team to include a Business Development Associate.
Last winter, the team sat down to brainstorm. We needed to discover how to create a personalized experience at scale to the intermediaries, founders, and executives that we approach. Early in our conversations we agreed that we need a team member to help us harness and direct our natural strengths. We believe the role would be vital in fueling our “idea machine” and keeping our sourcing process on track when we get bogged down with other work. Sourcing is a full-time job – and we all recognize that because of our work inside the portfolio, we can’t devote the time or attention it deserves. Secondly, we are looking for someone that is authentic and can speak the language of private equity. This role requires someone who is relationship driven and is comfortable communicating with different audiences. And lastly, we want someone scrappy and driven by a desire to learn.
The business development associate will be tasked with managing our CRM, engaging with key stakeholders, and keeping us accountable by reporting on the activities we do. Once you help us get a grip on our research and sourcing rhythm, we’ll start to rely on you more – to suggest improvements to our processes, to take on special projects, and to use what we learn from working with our portfolio companies to engage the market in which we play. The ability to quickly grow into more responsibility, shape how a key process inside our firm works, and become part of the unique culture we’ve built here at ParkerGale all add up to what we believe can be an unmatchable experience for the right person. You will be vital in our quest to stay ahead of the curve, helping not only with outreach but how we decide which industries we should spend time and ultimately deploy capital. This role demands not just a knack for relationship-building but a genuine passion and a commitment to uncovering new perspectives. If you don’t like cold calling but love talking to people, are curious and driven by process improvement, this role is for you.
At ParkerGale we are intentional in the way we hire and think about the roles we create for our small team. You can get a taste of this when you read the performance profile below or the hiring handbook which describes our approach. By introducing this role, we're not just expanding our team; we're investing in the future of our sourcing abilities and investment strategy. This addition signifies our belief in the power of collaboration and our dedication to maintaining a competitive edge in the private equity landscape. As we search for our first Business Development Associate, we look forward to the fresh ideas, perspectives, and energy they will bring to our firm, helping us to uncover new horizons and propel our idea machine to new heights.
If this is a role that sounds exciting and you are interested in joining a team that does private equity differently, I invite you to visit our website, read the performance profile, and reach out to me, david@parkergale.com.
