Accessing the Pipeline

Accessing the Pipeline is a podcast for Black Professionals in Private Equity and Finance brought to you by McGuireWoods. Join us as we welcome special guests offering insights into accessing capital, developing and expanding relationships, opportunities, and driving growth for Black-owned businesses. Tune in to access the possibilities!McGuireWoods is a full-service firm providing legal and public affairs solutions to corporate, individual, and nonprofit clients worldwide for more than 200 years collectively. Our commitment to excellence in everything we do gives our clients a competitive edge in everything they do. Our law firm, over its 186-year history, has earned the loyalty of our many long-standing clients with a deep understanding of their businesses, and broad skills in corporate transactions, high-stakes disputes, and complex regulatory and compliance matters.To learn more about McGuireWoods or to contact us, please visit our website at mcguirewoods.com.This series was rec

Accessing the Pipeline is a business podcast hosted by McGuireWoods, with 18 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

McGuireWoods hosts Accessing the Pipeline, a business show with 18 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #17

  Investing Early in Overlooked Black Founders, with Khadijah Robinson and Brahm Rhodes

  Sep 28, 202653 min

  In venture capital, the market systematically misprices Black founders — and for Fictive Ventures , that mispricing is precisely the opportunity. Co-founders and general partners Khadijah Robinson and Brahm Rhodes back these early-stage founders as early as "Idea+," structuring deals through SAFEs and CISAs. The partners walk through their constraint-based diligence, their hands-on role as advisors and builders, and a fund built for up to 250 LPs so small investors can participate. With Black founders receiving just 0.32% of venture capital, they tell McGuireWoods attorneys Abdul Lediju and Arrion Dennis why those who won't play shouldn't complain. Tune in for their candid insights on liquidity, market concentration, and the case for building with community. Connect and Learn More ☑️ Brahm Rhodes | LinkedIn ☑️ Khadijah Robinson | LinkedIn ☑️ Fictive Ventures | LinkedIn | Instagram | X ☑️ Abdul Lediju | LinkedIn ☑️ Arrion Dennis | LinkedIn ☑️ McGuireWoods | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X | YouTube ☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music This podcast was recorded and is being made available by McGuireWoods for informational purposes only. By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that McGuireWoods makes no warranty, guarantee or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in the podcast. The views, information or opinions expressed during this podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily reflect those of McGuireWoods. This podcast should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state and should not be construed as an offer to make or consider any investment or course of action.

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  Episode #16

  Bringing Out the Best for Under-Capitalized Communities, with BlackRock’s Ladell Robbins

  Apr 22, 202641 minS0

  <p>“When I first joined BlackRock,” Ladell Robbins recalls, “and I just saw the number of investment opportunities that flow through the platform – it's mesmerizing,” Today, Ladell is managing director of the BlackRock Impact Opportunities Strategy, BlackRock’s social impact investment platform that focuses on improving outcomes for under-capitalized groups. In this conversation with hosts Abdul Lediju and Dan Howell, he reflects on his journey to BlackRock, including investment banking at JP Morgan, Harvard Business School, and private equity in West Africa. Stay tuned in as he describes BlackRock’s landmark $25 million investment in a solar microgrid project for the Viejas tribe –...

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  Episode #15

  At the Intersection of Purpose and Profit, with Garrison Jones

  Mar 30, 202626 minS0

  <p>How do we find opportunities where others are not finding them and how can we create an investment strategy where others have not found the value?" That question drives Garrison Jones, founder and CEO of Wailes Capital, a private equity firm focused on people-first businesses across B2B software, education, and healthcare. Garrison reflects on how he has crafted a career “at the intersection of purpose and profit,” and McGuireWoods partners and hosts Abdul Lediju and Dan Howell congratulate him for the newest signpost on that intersection: WCM Holdings, a tech-enabled nonprofit fundraising and administrative software and services platform. Tune...

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  Episode #14

  Right Deal, Right Buyer, Right Fit: The Ernie Lyles Playbook

  Jan 20, 202643 minS0

  <p>Growing up in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, Ernie Lyles found his Wall Street inspiration when he watched the news one day to see “this Black man on the golf course just hanging out with the president.” It turned out to be Vernon Jordan, then an advisor to President Bill Clinton. That inspiration propelled Ernie through Howard University School of Law and onto an Amtrak train to New York, where he met an HR executive in banking over coffee. Today, as founder and CEO of HiGro Group, Ernie has completed 15 to 20 acquisitions across five platforms over 10 years. In this conversation with McGu...

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  Episode #13

  How “Everyone Can Win” in the Independent Sponsor Market, with Chelsea Celistan

  Nov 11, 202533 minS0

  <p>Recording live from the 2025 McGuireWoods Independent Sponsor Conference, hosts Abdul Lediju and Dan Howell invite the podcast’s first repeat guest to reflect on her journey over the past few years. Chelsea Celistan is now head of Independent Sponsor Strategy at Avante Capital Partners, a capital partner to independent sponsors. “I think that the independent sponsor asset class is really exciting,” she says, adding: “I think one of the greatest things is that there's not a zero-sum game in this space. Everyone can win.” </p><h2>Connect and Learn More</h2><p>☑️ Chelsea Celistan | LinkedIn</p><p>☑️ Avante Capital Partners | LinkedIn...

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