In this episode of The Private Equity Podcast, Alex Rawlings speaks with Daniel Pianko, Co-Founder of Achieve Partners, about Achieve’s talent-led investment strategy, its $465 million exit of Optimum, and how the firm reached top 5% performance for DPI in Cambridge Associates’ US buyout benchmark.

Daniel shares how Achieve Partners invests in businesses where the biggest growth constraint is access to trained talent. Rather than simply competing for experienced hires, Achieve builds apprenticeship-style programmes inside portfolio companies, creating new talent pipelines that drive revenue, margin expansion, retention, and differentiated value creation.

The conversation explores the relationship between private equity firms and operators, why data-driven decision-making matters, how Achieve partners with universities and underrepresented talent pools, and why doing good and generating alpha do not need to be in conflict.

Key Takeaways:

Private equity firms should empower operators to challenge assumptions with data.
Achieve invests where talent shortages can be solved through focused training.
Apprenticeships can increase capacity, margins, retention and scalability.
Optimum shows how training pathways can unlock healthcare IT growth.
Strong impact and strong returns can reinforce each other.

Timestamps:

00:03 – Introduction to Daniel Pianko and Achieve Partners
00:29 – Daniel’s career path and linking social impact with financial return
01:52 – The mistake PE firms and portfolio companies make in the boardroom
03:44 – How to avoid PE investors driving strategy without enough data
05:10 – Achieve’s unique strategy: investing where talent shortages constrain growth
06:38 – Building apprenticeship programmes to solve supply-demand talent gaps
07:08 – Daniel’s Goldman Sachs training experience and how it shaped Achieve’s model
08:25 – Rebuilding the talent pyramid in lower middle market companies
09:49 – Why Achieve focuses on business services, tech services, and healthcare services
11:12 – Building talent programmes at the portfolio company level
12:10 – Solving the gap between university education and first jobs
13:04 – Why companies should stop searching for “purple squirrels”
14:58 – Partnering with universities and building access to talent
16:44 – The Optimum exit: $465 million sale to Infosys
17:12 – Optimum’s healthcare IT thesis and value creation plan
19:00 – Building healthcare IT training pathways with universities and industry bodies
20:56 – Challenges in expanding Optimum beyond its historic core
22:24 – How Achieve reached top 5% DPI performance
22:50 – Why Achieve sells when the underwriting target is achieved
23:42 – How training programmes create a natural exit point
25:07 – Aligning impact with alpha creation
27:31 – Talent arbitrage, underrepresented communities, and overlooked graduates
29:40 – Why solving major social problems can create superior returns
30:08 – Daniel’s recommended podcasts, books, and shows
31:57 – How to contact Daniel Pianko
32:23 – Closing remarks

Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.

🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/
🌐 Visit Raw Selection www.raw-selection.com