Key Takeaways
- • Michigan Ross School of Business hosted its second annual Private Equity and Alternative Investments Summit on November 6, 2025, at Hudson Yards in New York, attracting nearly 70 top alumni, industry leaders, and experts.
- • The inaugural panel, moderated by Ross PE Council member Susanna Nichols (MBA '88, Amity Search Partners), focused on talent acquisition and development in private equity, featuring speakers from Insight Partners, Apollo, and Michigan Ross faculty.
- • The summit highlighted the Michigan Ross Private Equity Council's pivotal role in identifying and recruiting speakers, demonstrating the school's growing influence and network within the alternative investments industry.
- • Key panelists examined resilience, performance drivers, and how the Ross alumni network serves as a prime talent source for private equity leadership positions across major firms.
Summary
On November 6, 2025, the University of Michigan Ross School of Business convened its second annual Private Equity and Alternative Investments Summit at Hudson Yards in Manhattan, solidifying the institution's growing presence in the alternative investments sector. The exclusive gathering drew nearly 70 attendees, including alumni, industry executives, and thought leaders, underscoring the event's significance as a networking and knowledge-sharing platform for the PE community.
The afternoon summit centered on talent development and recruitment strategies within private equity firms. Susanna Nichols, MBA '88 and managing partner at Amity Search Partners, moderated the lead panel, which featured Ian Sandler from Insight Partners, Mike Barger from Michigan Ross, and Tracey Byrne from Apollo. The discussion examined the competencies and characteristics that drive superior performance in PE teams and how educational institutions like Michigan Ross cultivate future leaders for the sector.
Joshua Cascade, Michigan Ross faculty member and private equity investor, emphasized the energy and collective strength evident at the summit. He credited the alumni-driven Private Equity Council with catalyzing the event's success, noting that assembling so many PE leaders in a single venue "showed our collective strength" and demonstrated that "Ross produces the true Leaders and Best in PE." The council's recruitment efforts extended to identifying and vetting speakers, reflecting the depth of institutional engagement within the Michigan Ross PE network.
The second annual summit represents a strategic initiative by Michigan Ross to deepen its positioning within the alternative investments industry. By convening practitioners and alumni from prominent firms including Insight Partners and Apollo, the school reinforced its brand as a talent pipeline and thought leadership hub for institutional investors and PE professionals. The event's consistent execution signals the school's commitment to building ongoing relationships with industry stakeholders.
The afternoon summit centered on talent development and recruitment strategies within private equity firms. Susanna Nichols, MBA '88 and managing partner at Amity Search Partners, moderated the lead panel, which featured Ian Sandler from Insight Partners, Mike Barger from Michigan Ross, and Tracey Byrne from Apollo. The discussion examined the competencies and characteristics that drive superior performance in PE teams and how educational institutions like Michigan Ross cultivate future leaders for the sector.
Joshua Cascade, Michigan Ross faculty member and private equity investor, emphasized the energy and collective strength evident at the summit. He credited the alumni-driven Private Equity Council with catalyzing the event's success, noting that assembling so many PE leaders in a single venue "showed our collective strength" and demonstrated that "Ross produces the true Leaders and Best in PE." The council's recruitment efforts extended to identifying and vetting speakers, reflecting the depth of institutional engagement within the Michigan Ross PE network.
The second annual summit represents a strategic initiative by Michigan Ross to deepen its positioning within the alternative investments industry. By convening practitioners and alumni from prominent firms including Insight Partners and Apollo, the school reinforced its brand as a talent pipeline and thought leadership hub for institutional investors and PE professionals. The event's consistent execution signals the school's commitment to building ongoing relationships with industry stakeholders.
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