Episode Description

Jeff Berry, CFO at BluWave, joins Sean Mooney, Lloyd Metz, and Doug McCormick to explain how AI is creating practical ROI inside the office of the CFO. He breaks down the foundations that matter most—clean data, mapped processes, clear policies, prompting discipline, and AI-enabled tools that can reduce manual work without sacrificing control. The conversation covers real use cases across AP, AR, FP&A, reporting, forecasting, process documentation, and executive decision-making. This is a tactical look at how private equity-backed companies can turn AI from experimentation into operating leverage—hit play.

Episode Highlights

• 1:13 - Moving past AI exhaustion toward practical ROI and real adoption
• 4:38 - Jeff Berry’s five-part framework for AI in finance and accounting
• 7:42 - Why structured CRM and ERP data creates better business insight
• 17:17 - Mapping finance processes before using AI to improve them
• 20:32 - Cutting 40–50 monthly hours from AP workflows with AI-enabled tools
• 26:05 - Using Claude Code to build FP&A models and debt schedules faster
• 38:14 - Shifting finance from producing data to acting on better insights

For more information on the podcast, visit bestbutneverfinal.buzzsprout.com and embark on your journey to private equity excellence today.

Visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-but-never-final-podcast/
Visit us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bestbutneverfinal/

For information on Oridian Capital Partners, go to https://oridiancapital.com/
For information on ICV Partners, go to https://www.icvpartners.com
For information on BluWave, go to https://www.bluwave.net

Episode Description

Mary Rachide, Managing Director at ICV Partners, and Bob Hund, Operating Partner at Oridian, join Sean Mooney, Lloyd Metz, and Doug McCormick to explain how operating executives help turn private equity value creation plans into results. They discuss how operating partners engage in diligence, align with founders and deal teams, and support portfolio companies through execution without losing trust. The conversation also covers process discipline, management assessment, stakeholder alignment, and the art of knowing when to coach versus when to push. This is a practical look at how modern private equity firms build better businesses—hit play.

Episode Highlights

1:52 - Mary Rachide’s path from McKinsey and executive roles into PE operations
3:33 - Bob Hund’s engineering, manufacturing, and process background before Iridium
6:45 - How operating partners support diligence, strategy, and execution
9:59 - Aligning founders and investors around realistic value creation plans
18:52 - Using process assessments to identify risk and unlock improvement opportunities
26:50 - Mary’s “glue, grease, grit, and glitter” framework for operating partner impact
41:06 - Why the best operating executives take joy in helping others succeed

For more information on the podcast, visit bestbutneverfinal.buzzsprout.com and embark on your journey to private equity excellence today.

Visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-but-never-final-podcast/
Visit us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bestbutneverfinal/

For information on Oridian Capital Partners, go to https://oridiancapital.com/
For information on ICV Partners, go to https://www.icvpartners.com
For information on BluWave, go to https://www.bluwave.net

Lloyd Metz (Partner, ICV Partners), Doug McCormick (Managing Partner, Oridian Capital Partners), and Sean Mooney (Founder & CEO, BluWave) are joined by James Aylward (Chief Product & Technology Officer, BluWave) and Nathan Plummer (Co-Executive Director, Venture Café Global Institute) to translate AI from concept into execution. The conversation moves beyond buzzwords to where firms are actually applying AI today—from coding and data strategy to real-time decision-making inside portfolio companies. They also address the practical barriers: data readiness, organizational adoption, and the risk of standing still. This is a clear look at what it takes to put AI to work in private equity—hit play.

Episode Highlights

1:30 - Why AI is shifting from buzzword to practical tool for operators

9:45 - ChatGPT as the inflection point that changed AI adoption overnight

13:00 - AI moves from “thinking partner” to executing tasks autonomously

18:30 - Applied AI in industries like biotech and robotics reshaping outcomes

23:10 - Data becomes the primary competitive moat across portfolio companies

30:15 - Why most companies struggle: fragmented, unstructured data systems

44:00 - Real-world example: automating hiring workflows with AI tools

For more information on the podcast, visit bestbutneverfinal.buzzsprout.com and embark on your journey to private equity excellence today.

Visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-but-never-final-podcast/
Visit us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bestbutneverfinal/

For information on Oridian Capital Partners, go to https://oridiancapital.com/
For information on ICV Partners, go to https://www.icvpartners.com
For information on BluWave, go to https://www.bluwave.net