Lindsey O’Hern is Chief Talent Officer at Transom, a role in which she dedicates her time to building high-performing teams and strengthening portfolio company partnerships.
In a recent conversation with Lindsey, she told us about the unique culture at Transom, what it takes to build lasting partnerships, and the important lessons learned throughout her career journey.
What first drew you to private equity—and what keeps you excited about it today?
LO: I spent my early career in consulting/recruiting, and many of my clients were private equity owned businesses. I always thought it seemed interesting on the private equity side of things to work with multiple companies at once—each unique but all under the same umbrella!
What keeps me excited today is seeing the tangible success across our management teams and knowing I’ve helped build cohesiveness across all the different stages of their journeys.
What do you think makes a great portfolio company partnership?
LO: Open dialogue, clear goals, and pathways to get to those goals.
An important part of my role is finding ways to facilitate high-performing management teams. Our most successful teams are great at pulling us in for help when they need it and driving the business forward with our input.
Transformational leadership skills like emotional intelligence, strategic flexibility, and a genuine appetite for learning further enhance the partnership between us and our portfolio companies, creating strong and long-lasting results.
What excites you the most about being on the Transom team:
LO: When it comes to talent, Transom truly distinguishes itself from other middle market private equity firms. This is especially true in the way we talk about “talent” in both Board and Operating meetings as a matter of course.
All members of the leadership team are equally encouraged to contribute and generate ideas, no matter what functional expertise they bring to the table! This supportive collaboration is what makes me look forward to coming to work every day.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
LO: The most important career lesson I have learned is to meet people where they are at. Every person is different and understanding that is the key to building trust and creating meaningful impact.
What’s a hobby, interest, or passion you pursue outside of work?
LO: As many Transom people know, I am a semi-competitive CrossFit athlete in my spare time, with most of my mornings starting in the gym at 3:30 A.M. I placed 40th worldwide out of hundreds of thousands of athletes this year, which was an incredible milestone for me.
I also enjoy a good true crime or mystery book, movie, or TV show.
Emily Steckhan, for Transom Capital
Email: emily.steckhan@fgsglobal.com
(631) 702-0111
