Bridging the Tech Skills Gap: Udacity CEO Gabriel Dalporto

In this episode we speak with Mike Ettling, the CEO of Unit4, a software company that specializes in the professional services, public services, education, and nonprofit sectors.  Mike was recognized by The Software Report as a Top 50 SaaS CEO of 2023. Unit 4’s integrated suite of AI-powered ERP software solutions built on a robust platform helps elevate businesses, delivering visibility and control over finances, projects, procurement, reporting, forecasting and payroll. The company has 2,700 colleagues across the globe and serves more than 5,100 customers. Mike is a CEO, investor, builder of world class teams, champion of diversity and continuous learner, and he’s passionate about people.  From his first leadership role in the Boy Scouts, to exec positions in the tech industry, his career has revolved around elevating, engaging and enabling people. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode we speak with Peter Chung, CEO and Managing Director of leading global growth investment firm Summit Partners.  For over 40 years, Summit has partnered with profitable, category-leading companies and their leadership teams seeking to build best-in-class businesses by leveraging their deep industry expertise and their Peak Performance Group value enhancement platform. With over 80 growth equity investment professionals in their offices across North America and Europe, Summit has invested in more than 550 companies in the technology, healthcare, financial services, business services and consumer sectors. Peter joined Summit Partners in 1994 and during his tenure has invested in more than 30 companies, including 18 currently or formerly publicly traded companies. He has served as the Firm’s CEO since 2015. Summit Partners was recognized by GrowthCap as a Top Private Equity Firm and Top Growth Equity Firm of 2024. Peter supports Salvation Army, Mercy Ships and Athletes in Action. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode we speak with Jim Quagliaroli, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Silversmith Capital Partners, a Boston-based growth equity firm focused on partnering with, and supporting, the best entrepreneurs in growing technology and healthcare companies.  Founded in 2015, the firm has $3.3 billion under management across four funds. Jim has served as Managing Partner of the firm since inception.  He partners with passionate founders of growing SaaS companies focused on product leadership.  Over his career, he has served on the board of over 25 tech companies and over 15 boards as the first institutional investor. Jim has been recognized by GrowthCap as a Top Software Investor in each of the last four years.  Silversmith currently sits at the top of GrowthCap’s Leaderboard for Best Growth Investment Firms. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Chris Crosby, the CEO of Compass Datacenters, a company that designs and constructs data centers for some of the world’s largest hyperscalers and cloud providers on campuses across the globe. The company has taken in over $4 billion of capital and is backed by Ontario Teachers and Brookfield, among others. In 2011, Chris’ vision was to focus on greenfield projects and deliver customizable, scalable, sustainable, and low-cost data centers in an expedited time frame.  Since its inception, Compass Datacenters has embraced sustainability with the efficient use of land, green energy, water-free cooling, and building materials. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode click to follow.

In this episode we speak with Mike Uchrin, CEO & Co-Founder of Monogram Health, a leading multispecialty value-based provider of in-home, evidence-based care and benefit management services for patients living with polychronic conditions, notably, chronic kidney and end stage kidney disease. Backed by Frist Cressey, Norwest, and TPG Capital, Monogram Health has numerous value-based partnerships with leading health plans, integrated delivery systems, and risk-bearing primary care platforms to care for patients across 35 states and all insurance products. Previously, Mike led the growth of Health Choice, the managed care and insurance business unit of private equity sponsored IASIS Healthcare. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode we speak with Petri Oksanen, a Partner with Francisco Partners and Co-Head of the firm's European investing efforts focused on enterprise application software companies, with a particular interest in industrial, manufacturing, and other vertical sectors.  Based in London, he joined the firm in 2005.  Petri previously held positions at Morgan Stanley and Microsoft. Francisco Partners is a leading global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology and technology-enabled businesses. With approximately $45 billion in capital raised, the firm invests in opportunities where its deep sectoral knowledge and operational expertise can help companies realize their full potential. Francisco Partners was recognized by GrowthCap as among the Top Private Equity Firm of 2024. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode we speak with Frank Rotman, a Founding Partner and the Chief Investment Officer of QED Investors, a premier venture capital firm focused on the fintech ecosystem.  QED has invested in 200+ companies over the past 15 years and currently has $3.6 billion under management. Prior to QED, Frank was one of the early architects who helped create what became Capital One. In his 13-year Capital One journey, Frank was responsible for many “firsts” that helped lay the foundation for what Capital One is today. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with David Anderson, General Partner at Ampersand, a Boston-based, middle-market private equity firm dedicated to growth-oriented investments in the healthcare sector with $3 billion of assets under management. Ampersand invests in companies that support the life sciences ecosystem, including laboratory products and services, contract manufacturing, pharma services and specialty pharma. David joined Ampersand in 2010. Previously, David spent six years with Covington Associates, a specialty investment bank focused on middle-market M&A in the healthcare sector. Prior to Covington, he spent five years as a consultant for Boston Healthcare Associates. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode we speak with John Clendening, the Founder and CEO of Earned Wealth, a tech-enabled financial services firm focused exclusively on the needs of medical professionals. Because Earned understands the ins and outs of a doctor's career, clients benefit from specially trained fiduciary advisors and technology that plans and adjusts for changes throughout a doctor's working life.  Earned also provides medical practice solutions including tax, accounting, payroll, and retirement plan solutions. John brings over two decades of CEO and President experience in innovative financial services.  He most recently served as CEO of Blucora, a publicly traded technology-driven financial services firm offering tax-smart wealth management outcomes for consumers, where he helped to steer the company into new products and to financial success. John supports Feed the Children. To learn more about this organization click here. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode we speak with Larry Cheng and Sean Cantwell, Co-founders and Managing Partners at Volition Capital, a Boston-based growth equity firm that invests in founder-owned companies in the software, internet, and consumer sectors. The firm was founded in 2010 and has over $1.7 billion in assets under management. Larry focuses on investment opportunities in transactional internet applications, e-commerce, digital health, and next-generation consumer brands, while Sean focuses primarily on companies in the software and tech-enabled services sectors. In this episode we speak with Larry Cheng and Sean Cantwell, Co-founders and Managing Partners at Volition Capital, a Boston-based growth equity firm that invests in founder-owned companies in the software, internet, and consumer sectors. The firm was founded in 2010 and has over $1.7 billion in assets under management. Larry focuses on investment opportunities in transactional internet applications, e-commerce, digital health, and next-generation consumer brands, while Sean focuses primarily on companies in the software and tech-enabled services sectors. Larry supports Wycliffe Bible Translators. To learn more about this organization click here. Sean supports Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts. To learn more about this organization click here. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.