Dec 4, 2024
How can limited partners play a more strategic role beyond capital?
Michelle McKinnon, a senior portfolio manager in alternative investments at Loews Corporation, sits down with Chris Sugden to share how to think about the role investors can play in helping companies grow.
Together, Chris and Michelle dive into the nuances of
being an effective limited partner. From their conversation, you’ll
understand how to think about selecting fund managers, how CEOs are
evaluated, and what it means to navigate long-term investments. If
you’re curious to foster better relationships between capital
providers and operators, then this is one you’ll want to save.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How limited partners (LPs) like Michelle McKinnon evaluate investment opportunities
Why the relationship between LPs and general partners (GPs) is key to successful growth investments,
How diverse industry experience—across tech, media, and corporate pensions—gives LPs a unique perspective for helping companies scale
Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Meet Michelle McKinnon, senior portfolio manager at Loews
(01:00) Understanding the role of limited partners (LPs)
(02:00) Key types of LPs: pensions, endowments, and insurance firms
(04:30) How different LPs approach investments
(06:30) Michelle’s career path: banking, SiriusXM, Loews
(09:00) Lessons from SiriusXM on company culture
(12:00) Why strong management is essential to investment success
(15:00) Building a “gut” for evaluating people and deals
(17:30) What “value creation” truly means for LPs
(20:00) How LPs choose the right fund managers