The modern private equity COO: how Federated Hermes drives value behind-the-scenes, with Karen Sands

💼🌍In this episode, Ross Butler talks with Karen Sands, COO of Federated Hermes' private equity division which manages some $6bn of AUM . She shares how Federated Hermes strategically expanded into private markets, their strong ESG focus, and her role in driving operational excellence. The conversation touches on scalable infrastructure, evolving investor dynamics, and the operational hurdles that private equity firms face today. 🌍 Federated Hermes and Private Markets: Federated Hermes entered private markets in 2018 through the acquisition of Hermes, expanding into lower mid-market private equity and enhancing their ESG offerings. With roots in mutual funds and money markets, this move diversified their investment portfolio. 🤝 The COO's Role in Private Equity: Karen explains that the COO role in private equity is multifaceted, involving collaboration with investment and sales teams. Operational efficiency, fund performance, and a strong infrastructure aligned with investor needs are central to maintaining trust and delivering top-tier service. 📊 Importance of Data-Driven Operations: Karen highlights Federated Hermes’ use of a “target operating model” that integrates data across systems, providing a full view of fund, asset, and investor information. This infrastructure allows for nimble responses to investor queries and efficient operations. 💼 Risk Management and Investor Relations: Operational risk, liquidity management, and transparency are critical. Karen discusses handling macroeconomic risks like the Silicon Valley Bank crisis and stresses the importance of strong systems to manage cash flow and investor demands. 💡Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: Beyond technical skills, Karen emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and relationship-building in leading operational teams. She believes in fostering diverse perspectives and nurturing empathetic leadership for long-term success. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #PrivateEquity #FederatedHermes #PrivateMarkets #COOInsights #FundOperations #FundShack #ESGInvesting #ClientRelations #RiskManagement #PrivateCapital #OperationsManagement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Fund Shack on Your Preferred Platform: 🔗 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/fund... 🎧 Spotify https://open.spotify.com 🍏 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com 🎶 Amazon Music https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fc5... 📚 Audible https://www.audible.co.uk/podcast/Fun... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fund Shack is a private equity podcast and global media channel for alternative investment professionals, produced by Linear B Group. Contact: Katie Mitchell 📧 Email: [email protected] 🌐 Linear B Group 🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹 🤝 Connect with Ross Butler Founder and Host Fund Shack 🌐 www.fund-shack.com 🔗 CONNECT on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/rossbutler1/ Suggest a guest: Katie Mitchell Fund Shack Operations Director 📧 [email protected] 🔗 CONNECT on LinkedIn   / katie-mitchell2018   🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹 📘 Pre-order Ross Butler’s book 👉 Invest Like a Barbarian: Share in the spoils of the Private Markets revolution ♾️ http://q-r.to/Invest-Like-A-Barbarian #investlikeabarbarian 🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹 Fund Shack is the private markets podcast featuring in-depth conversations with GPs, LPs, advisers and the voices shaping the future of private equity, private credit and real assets. A long-form, independent space where institutional private-markets thinking meets the rapidly expanding wealth channel. 🔗 More episodes www.fund-shack.com 📩 Subscribe to our Substack: https://privateequitypodcastfundshack... 🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹