Wisdom from Grandparenting: Lessons for Nurturing Portfolio Companies
As a grandparent, the joy of watching grandchildren grow and succeed is unparalleled. Through this rewarding journey, valuable lessons emerge that can be applied to nurturing and improving portfolio companies.
Here are some key insights:
Patience and long-term vision
Just like raising children, fostering portfolio companies requires patience and a long-term vision. Building a solid foundation, providing support through challenges, and celebrating milestones are essential for both grandchildren and businesses. As a grandparent, you understand the importance of investing time and effort for sustainable growth, which translates well into guiding portfolio companies focusing on long-term success.
Adaptability and flexibility
Grandparenting teaches the importance of adaptability and flexibility in different situations. Similarly, portfolio companies need to be agile in responding to market changes, customer needs, and industry trends. Being open to current ideas, embracing change, and encouraging innovation are vital aspects that can be instilled in both grandchildren and businesses for continued growth and relevance.
Effective communication and relationship building
Communication is key in any relationship, whether it’s with grandchildren or portfolio companies. As a grandparent, you learn to listen actively, offer guidance, and nurture trust-based relationships. These same principles apply to working with portfolio companies — fostering open communication, understanding their needs, and building strong relationships can lead to better collaboration, problem-solving, and improved business performance.
Celebrating diversity and individuality
Every grandchild is different, with their own strengths, interests, and personalities. Embracing this diversity and nurturing individuality is crucial in fostering a supportive growth environment. Similarly — in managing a portfolio of companies — recognizing and celebrating the strengths and characteristics of each business can lead to a more robust and versatile portfolio. Encouraging diverse thought, fostering an inclusive culture, and leveraging the strengths of each company can drive innovation and competitiveness.
How we can help
The experiences and lessons learned as a grandparent offer valuable insights that can be applied to improving and nurturing portfolio companies. At CLA, will we get to know you and help you develop a plan incorporating principles of patience, adaptability, effective communication, and celebrating diversity, so you can play a pivotal role in guiding businesses towards sustainable growth, success, and resilience in an ever-evolving market landscape. Just as a grandparent invests their time, love, and wisdom in their grandchildren, you can invest in the success and prosperity of the portfolio companies you support.
Craig Arends is a principal at CLA and is the managing principal of CLA's private equity practice. Craig brings a concentration of experience in providing accounting and transaction structuring advice for leveraged recapitalizations, purchase accounting and SEC reporting, assessing quality of earnings, and GAAP accounting. He has far-reaching experience with critiquing financial models and reviewing target companies' financial performance to identify cost reductions and/or operating efficiencies Craig has more than 30 years of experience in public accounting serving public companies, private equity groups, and companies, including a term as principal in charge of a Big Four Capital Markets Group in Moscow, Russia. He has led financial accounting due diligence projects for private equity investor groups and venture capital funds, primarily in the technology, communications, and manufacturing industries, as well as assisting with Foreign Corrupt Practice Act matters ranging from investigation of payments made, validation of compliance with corporate policies, and review of proposed transactions to ensure compliance. When not working, Craig enjoys watching any sports, but his most favorite are baseball, football and soccer.
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