Podcast
Microcap Moments
Hosted by Shore Capital Partners · EN
A podcast that captures the key issues, successes, challenges, and lessons learned in the microcap space through in-depth interviews with high-level leaders across Shore Capital and our portfolio companies.
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Why Acquisitions Fail on the People Side (and How to Fix It) - Raw Talent
3w ago00:21:49Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Jackson Sprayberry, Anderson Williams, and Cynthia Hiskes close out Season 2 with the widest lens of the series: why acquisitions fail on the people side and what to do about it. They explore how a lack of early communication creates anxiety that turns into headwinds before integration even begins, why clarifying the founder's role is critical to the entire organization's stability, and the difference between change (what happens externally) and transition (what happens internally). The conversation shifts to how talent strategies need to evolve over the hold period, from hiring athletes early on to developing specialists and frontline managers at scale. The episode wraps with a direct call to action: don't let another 5% of the hold period go by without having the conversations that matter.Key Takeaways:The biggest integration failures start with silence. Communicating what you know and what you don't know early prevents months of unnecessary anxiety.Clarifying the founder's role isn't just about the founder. It cascades through every team member who used to look to that person for answers.Change is the event. Transition is the emotional and psychological recalibration that follows. If you don't manage the transition, resistance will stall the integration.Talent strategies have to evolve with the business. What you need at launch (athletes and generalists) is different from what you need at scale (specialists and skilled frontline managers).Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:47 - What Makes Integration Succeed or Fail06:45 - Change vs. Transition10:58 - When Your Talent Strategy No Longer Fits17:19 - Why Talent Strategy Is Business StrategyListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou'll also find other Raw Talent episodes, alongside our Bigger. Stronger. Faster., Microcap Moments, and Everyday Heroes series, highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.Other ways to connect:Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.
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Stop Hiring Reactively. Build a Real Talent Strategy - Raw Talent
3w ago00:25:14Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Jackson Sprayberry, Anderson Williams, and Cynthia Hiskes step back from individual people decisions and ask whether the organization has a talent strategy at all. Without one, every hiring decision feels urgent, personal, and reactive. The conversation covers what a real talent strategy includes, the unique challenge of working with both selected and inherited talent in an acquisition-driven environment, and why someone has to own the strategy even if there's no HR leader in seat yet. They explore how org design should match the stage of the business, why not every role needs a top-of-the-nine-box performer, and how ongoing career conversations give leaders better information than annual reviews ever could. The episode makes the case that talent strategy is not a hiring plan. It's how you attract, retain, and engage the people who will build the business.Key Takeaways:If you don't have a talent strategy, every hiring decision will feel reactive. A clear direction helps you know when you're veering off course.In acquisition-driven growth, you're working with both the people you select and the people you inherit. Your strategy has to address both.Someone has to own the talent strategy. If ownership is assumed to live everywhere, it will live nowhere. You don't need an HR leader to get started.Not every role needs a top performer. What matters is having the right talent profile in the right seat at the right stage of the business.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:33 - What a Talent Strategy Actually Looks Like05:02 - Building a Strategy in an Acquisition Model12:46 - Who Owns the Talent Strategy16:27 - Org Design and Stage Relevance19:54 - When to Look Outward vs. Build From WithinListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou'll also find other Raw Talent episodes, alongside our Bigger. Stronger. Faster., Microcap Moments, and Everyday Heroes series, highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.Other ways to connect:Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.
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Beyond KPIs: The People Metrics That Predict Success - Raw Talent
3w ago00:21:37Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Jackson Sprayberry, Anderson Williams, and Cynthia Hiskes tackle what performance management systems actually measure and what they miss. They make the case that an output-only mindset is dangerous, especially in a fast-moving environment where how someone delivers results matters just as much as whether they hit the number. The conversation covers how to embed values into performance reviews, why human capital metrics belong on the same dashboard as financial data, and the real cost of turnover that most companies never calculate. The episode closes with a direct challenge: if leaders say their people are the most important part of the business, the dashboard should reflect that.Key Takeaways:Measuring only what someone delivered without evaluating how they delivered it creates blind spots that erode culture and team performance.Performance management systems should be treated as a database for future action, not just a backward-looking scorecard.Human capital metrics like engagement, turnover, and promotion rates belong on the business dashboard alongside financial results.Manager consistency matters. If one manager's reviews all look green but performance is slipping, the system isn't telling the truth.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction03:55 - Embedding Values Into Performance Management08:27 - Metrics Beyond the Scorecard13:23 - People Metrics on the Business Dashboard19:23 - Connecting the Dots to Talent StrategyListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou'll also find other Raw Talent episodes, alongside our Bigger. Stronger. Faster., Microcap Moments, and Everyday Heroes series, highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.Other ways to connect:Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.
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Is It the Employee or You: How to Find the Real Problem - Raw Talent
3w ago00:15:56Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Jackson Sprayberry, Anderson Williams, and Cynthia Hiskes slow down to do the diagnostic work most leaders skip. Before deciding that someone is the problem, have you actually done your own work first? The conversation walks through the five whys approach, the will, skill, and fit framework, and why leaders so often project their frustrations onto the situation rather than diagnosing it clearly. They explore the difference between technical problems (which have known solutions) and adaptive challenges (which require the person themselves to change), and why coachability may be the single most important factor in these conversations. The episode closes by identifying when individual people problems start to signal something bigger: a system problem.Key Takeaways:Before diagnosing people as the problem, leaders need to ask whether they provided clarity, coaching, and the right environment for success.The five whys approach forces leaders to move past emotion and drill down to what's actually driving underperformance.Will, skill, and fit often blur together. Leaders make better decisions when they separate the three and have honest conversations about each.When you see the same patterns across different people or teams, it's no longer a people problem. It's a system problem.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:01 - Have You Done Your Own Work First?04:41 - Will, Skill, and Fit07:16 - Technical vs. Adaptive Change09:36 - When People Problems Become System ProblemsListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou'll also find other Raw Talent episodes, alongside our Bigger. Stronger. Faster., Microcap Moments, and Everyday Heroes series, highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.Other ways to connect:Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.
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When to Develop an Employee vs. When to Replace Them - Raw Talent
3w ago00:16:49Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Jackson Sprayberry, Anderson Williams, and Cynthia Hiskes kick off Season 2 of Raw Talent with one of the bluntest questions leaders face: when do you invest in the talent you have, and when is it time to move on? They explore why most leaders answer that question too quickly, driven by frustration or loyalty rather than real diagnosis. The conversation unpacks how high-growth environments amplify the pressure, why the "messy middle" performers are the hardest to evaluate, and how a lack of role clarity often masquerades as a people problem. The episode makes a clear case that this decision should never be a gut call. It depends on how critical the role is, how urgent the need is, and whether the person has the coachability to close the gap in time.Key Takeaways:Most leaders default to keep or move on too quickly, driven by emotion rather than diagnosis.In high-growth environments, job descriptions go stale fast. Leaders have to continuously reset expectations so performance conversations stay grounded.The hardest calls aren't the top performers or the clear misses. They're the messy middle, where will, skill, and fit blur together.A strong performance management cadence makes the develop-or-replace decision feel like a natural next step, not a last-minute crisis.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:56 - Why This Question Keeps Surfacing05:35 - High-Growth Pressure on People Decisions10:36 - The Founder Dynamic11:52 - Performance Management and ClarityListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou'll also find other Raw Talent episodes, alongside our Bigger. Stronger. Faster., Microcap Moments, and Everyday Heroes series, highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.Other ways to connect:Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.
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Building Trust at Scale: Joe Rice and the CXponent Story
Jun 1700:27:02Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Joe Rice, CEO of CXponent, shares how watching his father run a business sparked a lifelong pull toward entrepreneurship and building something of his own. He describes how CXponent cuts through the overwhelming noise of technology vendors and AI tools to help mid-market companies make better decisions, and why trust, not technology, remains the foundation of every client relationship. Joe reflects on his first company, what he learned from that exit, and what drew him back to build again. He talks candidly about what founders should weigh before joining a platform, the importance of readiness and timing, and why Shore's focus on stacking talent and investing in organic growth made it the right fit. Throughout the conversation, Joe makes clear that even in a market being reshaped by AI, the work still comes down to people, presence, and being a partner clients can count on.Key Takeaways:The technology landscape has never been more crowded. The advisors who win are the ones who cut through the noise and bring clients certainty, not just options.You cannot fake trust. Building the kind of client relationships that lead to board-level work takes time, expertise, and a willingness to get into the details.Joining a platform is not an exit. It is a choice to go further, faster, with peers who are still building.Once you get a taste of creating opportunity and space for other people, you are probably forever addicted. The best founders are not looking for a way out. They are looking for a way to keep going.Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction10:05 – Joe's Origin Story11:28 – Building CXponent with Shore14:29 – Founder Readiness and Timing19:40 – What's Ahead for CXponentListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou'll also find other Microcap Moments episodes, alongside our series Everyday Heroes and Bigger. Stronger. Faster., highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.Other ways to connect:Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.
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The Builder Mindset: Ryan Resch on First Principles and AI - Bigger. Stronger. Faster.
Jun 400:32:30Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Anderson talks with Ryan Resch, Principal of Operations at Shore Capital Partners. Ryan spent over a decade in basketball, from student manager at Baylor to Chief of Staff with the Phoenix Suns, before joining Shore nine months ago. He shares how first-principle problem-solving became the common thread across every career he has built, why the shift from the zero-sum world of professional sports to private equity changes how teams operate, and how that same builder mindset now drives Shore's internal AI enablement efforts. Ryan also discusses why AI is a platform-level shift, not just an operational initiative, and what it takes to build something transformational from the ground up.Key Takeaways:First-principle problem-solving makes skills transferable across industries. Break any challenge into its parts, and the path forward becomes clear.AI is not a tool. It is a platform-level shift, and the organizations building AI capability now are building a durable advantage.Talent wins games. Coordination wins championships. The real challenge is aligning people, roles, and resources toward a shared mission.Focus is a discipline, not a default. In an unbounded environment, saying no to good ideas is what protects your ability to execute on the right ones.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction02:09 - From Baylor to the NBA06:22 - What Brought Ryan to Shore10:47 - Building AI Enablement at Shore18:01 - Operating Systems, Scouting, and Focus25:17 - What's AheadListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.Other ways to connect:Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.
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From Bulldog to Skycrest Roof: Ryan Burke on Founding, Growing, and Partnering
May 1400:29:58Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Ryan Burke reflects on his journey from selling roofs in Colorado Springs to founding Bulldog Roofing at 23 and partnering with Shore Capital to help build Skycrest Roof. He shares how frustration with bad actors in the industry and a belief that customers and employees deserved better pushed him to take the leap and start the business out of his living room. Ryan discusses the rapid growth that followed, the chaos that came with it, and the hard lessons of moving from hustle to structure as the business scaled to sixty people and $30M in revenue. He talks candidly about his initial fears around private equity, why protecting his team of family and friends was his top priority, and how meeting the people at Shore shifted his perspective on partnership. Ryan highlights the importance of readiness, the value of building real processes and resilience into a business, and what Skycrest is looking for in the next generation of founders as it continues to grow.Key Takeaways:Frustration with bad actors and a belief that customers and employees deserve better can become the foundation for building a business with real integrity and lasting culture.Moving from hustle to structure is the hard but necessary work of scaling, where documented processes, defined roles, and clear procedures turn chaos into resilience.Readiness to partner is not just about age or financial outcomes, but about understanding what you want, knowing your team, and finding a buyer who treats your people and your legacy with care.The right partnership brings creativity to the deal, expertise to the table, and a shared commitment to growing the business without losing the culture and people that built it.Chapters:00:00 – Introduction02:51 – Founding Bulldog Roofing05:49 – From Hustle to Structure08:39 – Readiness and Finding Shore17:40 – Evolving as a Leader21:14 – Building Skycrest RoofListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou'll also find other Microcap Moments episodes, alongside our series Everyday Heroes and Bigger. Stronger. Faster., highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.Other ways to connect:Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.
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AI and the Data Foundation: Ross Koenig on Why Data Matters - Bigger. Stronger. Faster.
May 600:24:18Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I follow up with Ross Koenig, Chief Data Officer at Shore Capital Partners and one of our earliest podcast guests. Ross reflects on how his role has evolved over the past three years, from leading the Data Center of Excellence supporting portfolio companies to focusing on Shore's own investment process data and cross-portfolio insights. He shares why Shore's longstanding commitment to process and documentation has become a powerful foundation in the age of AI, and how nearly 1,000 codified executive hires now enable pattern recognition that few firms can match. Ross also discusses why "garbage in, garbage out" matters more than ever, how AI is breaking down walls between executives and data, and why business owners who ignore AI risk being left behind.Key Takeaways:Build the data foundation first because AI only works as well as the process, documentation, and discipline behind itCodify what you know across people, processes, and decisions so you can spot patterns, learn from past outcomes, and make smarter choices going forwardRecognize that AI's biggest unlock is accessibility, putting information and analysis directly in the hands of executives who used to be blocked by technical wallsEngage with AI now regardless of size or industry because the cost barriers have fallen and the businesses that ignore it will quickly fall behindChapters:00:00 – Introduction01:36 – Building the Data Foundation06:36 – Codifying Knowledge at Scale12:15 – Accessibility and the Power of AI15:31 – Why Every Business Owner Should Engage with AI NowListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsYou’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.Other ways to connect:Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-universityThis podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.
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Perpetual Optimism is a Force Multiplier | Garret Dillon - Everyday Heroes
Mar 2500:20:58Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Garret Dillon shares his journey from the 101st Airborne Division to Director of Integrations at Agentis Longevity, and the military-forged mindset that drives his work. Through Shore Capital's Military to Operations program, Garret found a path to channel his leadership, grit, and relentless optimism into building a fast-growing healthcare company from the inside. He reflects on how the discipline of military life translates to the ambiguity of a startup, why veterans shouldn't discount their experience, and how a Colin Powell quote became his operating philosophy. The episode paints a picture of how one person's energy and mindset can shape a team's culture and a company's trajectory.Key Takeaways:Staying optimistic isn't just nice to have. It's what makes big goals possible with a small team.The skills veterans build in the military carry over to business more than they might expect.Not having a playbook is tough, but it's also the most rewarding part of building something new.Great culture doesn't happen by accident. It comes from people who show up every day with energy and purpose.Chapters:00:00 — Introduction03:00 — From the Military to Agentis07:12 — Optimism in Action10:36 — Building Culture14:08 — Advice and Motivation19:05 — What Makes Garret a HeroListen to our podcasts at:https://www.shorecp.university/podcastsThere you will also find our other Everyday Heroes episodes, alongside our series Microcap Moments and Bigger. Stronger. Faster., highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.Other ways to connect:Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blogShore University: https://www.shorecp.university/Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blogThis podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, nor a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.
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