Building Better Together: People-Based Private Equity w/ John Block

People Business w/ O'Brien McMahon

John Block is the CEO and Co-Founder of Unity Partners, a principles-based private equity firm that partners investors and operators to build better together. John serves in multiple senior leadership roles across the firm and is responsible for helping drive Unity’s Partner & Propel investment strategy while working with the firm’s investment teams to identify strong, ambitious leaders in attractive markets. Based in Dallas, Texas, Unity’s core principles provide a key foundation for the firm to build outstanding people-based services and technology organizations.

Mentioned on the Show

• Learn more about Unity Partners: https://unitypartnerslp.com/
• Connect with John Block on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnablock
• Start with Why by Simon Sinek (book): https://a.co/d/gC05b7C
• Radical Candor by Kim Scott (book): https://a.co/d/3rGAZff

Timestamps
(2:16) - Welcoming John.
(3:07) - How did Unity Partners come to be?
(7:14) - Where did Unity's operating framework come from?
(12:30) - What does it mean to "be the best at getting better"?
(14:51) - How do you push yourself to be better every day?
(17:33) - What does abundance look like in a private equity firm?
(19:42) - How are you impacting motivation and performance?
(22:01) - How do you balance the spirit of abundance with accountability?
(23:25) - How do you set a culture of accountability?
(26:10) - How do you create a psychologically safe environment?
(27:46) - How do you fight (disagree) at Unity?
(31:15) - Define the difference between group thinking and team thinking.
(33:05) - How are you evaluating the leaders of businesses?
(40:32) - What would be a red flag that would turn you off to somebody?
(43:08) - What do you mean that "being boringly consistent doesn’t mean you are boring"?
(46:10) - Where do you see private equity going as an industry?
(52:42) - What is the purpose of business?
(53:30) - Where can people find you?