Sean Mooney chats with John Hodge, Partner at Rubicon Technology Partners, to explore his inspiring journey from Buffalo, NY, to founding one of the premier private equity firms in enterprise software. John dives into the importance of culture, operational excellence, and aligning with portfolio companies to create value while sharing personal insights on leadership, humility, and change management. Whether you’re a private equity leader or an aspiring entrepreneur, John’s stories, strategies, and advice offer practical wisdom for navigating today’s fast-evolving investment landscape.

Episode Highlights

1:09 – John Hodge's Buffalo upbringing, competitive swimming career at Stanford, and the values that shaped his leadership philosophy.

7:56 – How early advice from an industry leader shaped his career path: the leap from biology to tech-focused investment banking.

19:53 – The founding of Rubicon: Why culture, operational discipline, and alignment are the foundation.

29:03 – Rubicon’s hands-on operational model and unique approach to value creation.

40:16 – AI in enterprise software: Driving productivity and advancing product roadmaps.

53:01 – Life lessons: The importance of waking up early, keeping a positive attitude, and never taking yourself too seriously.

For more information on Rubicon Technology Partners, go to https://www.rubicontp.com/

For more information on John Hodge, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/jchodge/

For more information on BluWave and this podcast, go to https://www.bluwave.net/podcasts