When private equity firms begin a new investment, value creation strategies are already in motion – built on robust theses, proven frameworks, and ambitious targets. But none of that matters without one crucial ingredient:

Alignment.

Why early alignment with PortCo leadership is key

Too often, misalignment between PE sponsor and Portfolio Company leadership creates friction, stalls momentum, and leads to missed milestones. The truth is: even the best strategy fails if your PortCo leadership team isn’t bought in.

In this blog, we explore the latest best practice from our Bridging Theory & Practice Series – Supporting smoother transitions to collaborative value creation management [download the guide in full here 📥 ].

One of the first areas to address, is finding a common language.

For value creation to succeed, CEOs, CFOs, and management teams must not only understand the strategy—they need to co-own it. But here’s the real challenge:

• PE sponsors often approach the partnership with a financially driven mindset
• PortCo leaders may operate from a vision or product-led perspective
• Without shared language, clarity, and transparency, progress stalls.

Three best practices for early alignment

1. Collaborative Planning

Bring leadership into the strategy development process. Their perspective isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. When they help shape the plan, they’re far more likely to champion it.

2. Transparent Communication

Explain the “why.” Go beyond the investment thesis and articulate the tangible benefits of the strategy—competitive advantage, scalability, efficiency. Help leadership see what’s in it for them.

3. Link Strategy to Execution

Avoid the 10,000-foot view trap. Ensure the strategic plan is broken down into actionable initiatives that can be understood and executed across business functions.

Creating the conditions for shared success

The takeaway is clear – alignment accelerates value creation. Early stakeholder buy-in creates the conditions for shared success, clearer communication, and confident execution.

Unlike generic project management tools, Maestro was purpose-built for value creation partnerships, where everyone has access to the same roadmap—and the tools to act on it.

📥 Download the full Best Practice Guide for all five strategies to drive smoother value creation collaboration, here.

Next in this blog series, we’ll look at how to transition from financial-only metrics to a performance-focused mindset—without overwhelming your PortCo teams.