My Friday, February 13, 2026 was spent at the Yale SOM Private Equity & Venture Capital Conference, an amazing day full of dynamic speakers across 10 sessions (!) connecting with an audience of students, alumni, and industry folks. Sessions covered a wide-ranging topics, providing something – somethings – for everyone. What struck me most across the varied speakers and topics were the three consistent key themes reiterated throughout the day:
- Relationships matter and are critical to success
- Embrace that change is inevitable
- Have a POV and stay true to what motivates you
Relationships matter and are critical to success
This was the number one message across every session I attended, from the keynote speaker who built a career at Goldman Sachs, to the panelists who launched their own PE shops focused on the lower- and middle-markets, to those who invest in real estate, climate change, and the sports & media industries. They all talked about building relationships as the key to:
- Professional growth
Multiple speakers shared stories of pitches and projects that did not result in a deal, but did result in building trust and respect that led to future references, job opportunities, and deals. Those who launched their own PE firms relied on trusted friends with experience as sounding boards to develop a roadmap for success.
- Deal origination and fundraising
Whether sourcing deals through bulge bracket partners, convincing a small business owner to sell her life’s work to a PE firm, or attracting investors to a new fund, the human element of trust and respect is critical in sealing the deal.
- Driving returns in the portfolio
Multiple speakers shared that truly understanding the CEO of a PortCo was vital to determining if they had what it would take to drive success at the firm post-investment – this understanding only comes from developing a personal relationship beyond the finances.
Embrace that change is inevitable so stay informed
Change is the only constant. Interest rates rise and fall, AI roars onto the scene, public policies on real estate development and climate change are rewritten, consumer habits for media consumption change, and an aging population has macro-economic impact throughout multiple sectors. While expressed differently across the panels, the key take-away was to acknowledge change and seek out diverse perspectives on change to see opportunities in the disruption. Specific examples and advice included:
- Talk to people across all generations, walks of life, and more.
Learn how they are functioning in their lives, accommodations they are making, and new ideas they are embracing. This can drive your ability to see future possibilities others miss.
- Talk to professionals in and beyond your network.
This expands your knowledge base, leads to developing those new vital relationships, and may uncover future opportunities. If reaching out to a new-to-you contact, best if you have a warm intro from a mutual contact, but not necessary. What is necessary is being specific in the reason you are asking to connect and why you are asking them personally for their time.
- Consider multiple impacts of change.
For example, multiple speakers observed different impacts and opportunities from AI ranging from:
- Investing in organizations least impacted by AI change
- Developing real estate in communities heavily populated by those in roles least likely to be lost to AI
- Both the pros and cons of AI and data centers on energy usage and climate change solutions
- Focusing on building out the experiences surrounding live-entertainment as humans like to gather, while simultaneously taking advantage of the potential rise in simulated sports individuals can join in from their screens.
Have a POV and stay true to what motivates you
Starting with the keynote speaker and continuing throughout the day, professionals shared the value of knowing what motivates you personally and staying true to a point of view as ways to navigate opportunities and build expertise and trust in this industry.
Being true to your motivations (money, the work, the industry, etc.) and having a specific point-of-view allows you to stay focused. It is vital when assessing what to say “No” to early on when pursuing returns for investors. It also allows you entry into certain discussions and networks that can drive your professional growth. Finally, a unique point-of-view allows you to stand out in a crowded field.
Examples of ways the speakers honed their focus ranged, but all served them well:
- Investing only in PortrCo founders who were personally extremely compulsive about their work
- Focusing on privately held companies that have never taken institutional dollars
- Embracing climate change initiatives rooted in hardware, taking to market a physical solution to physical problems
Bottom line
The Yale SOM Private Equity and Venture Capital Conference was an amazing day to learn from professionals across a spectrum of interests and experiences. While much of the discussions were focused on examples unique to these industries, the key themes of the day transcend PE & VC to all professional spheres. Relationships matter, seeking out perspectives and information helps address inevitable change, and a true personal point-of-view can focus energies and build a career.
