Allocators and Warfighters: From the Cap Table to the Battlefield with Kevin Pavnica

Allocators and Warfighters: From the Cap Table to the Battlefield with Kevin Pavnica

A young lieutenant in Afghanistan once sat next to a 40-foot shipping container packed with robots nobody asked for — a warning about what happens when defense technology outruns the warfighter's actual needs. Kevin Pavnica now uses that lesson to help capital allocators avoid funding the next container of unused tech. Kevin Pavnica, partner at Blackrock Strategy and a U.S. Army veteran of the elite Asymmetric Warfare Group who still serves as a Major in the Indiana Army National Guard, joins host Joshua Wilson to translate the defense world for family offices and institutional investors. Kevin unpacks "modeling the middle" — the bureaucratic valley of death where promising technology dies — and explains why a contract that signals political movement can generate zero revenue. It's a practitioner's guide to traction quality, product-market fit, and mission alignment when the buyer is the Pentagon. What We Cover:  ⚔️ Asymmetric warfare and strategic overmatch, translated for business  🎯 "Modeling the middle" — mapping risk through the bureaucracy  💀 The valley of death and why great tech never reaches the field  📄 Contract stickiness vs. real revenue when evaluating traction  🏭 Manufacturing readiness and contract pathway as diligence signals  🤝 Why mission alignment beats investor-oriented product design  🔒 Clearances, security, and the "Deliver Uncompromised" paradigm  📚 Where to look: DoDI 5000 series, service signals, and Normal Accidents Connect with Kevin Pavnica:  Website blackrockstrategy.com [https://www.blackrockstrategy.com/] LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/kevin-pavnica [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-pavnica/] Special thanks to Jesse Pimental and team for the strategy and capability building prior to the creation and publication of this episode  Connect with Jesse: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-pimental-a4b43a45/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-pimental-a4b43a45/] About the show:  The Investor Relations Podcast is produced by One Iron Network. Learn more at oneironnetwork.com. Follow The Investor Relations Podcast:  Website theinvestorrelationspodcast.com  LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/the-investor-relations-podcast  YouTube youtube.com/@TheInvestorRelationsPodcast Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The content of this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, or compliance advice. All views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of any regulatory agency, organization, or employer. Listeners should consult their own legal counsel, compliance teams, or financial advisors to ensure adherence to applicable regulations, including SEC, FINRA, and other industry-specific requirements. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let’s Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/] To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/contact/ [https://www.theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/contact/]

The Psychology of Capital Allocation: How Investors Really Decide — Ashby Monk & Logan Yonavjak

What if the biggest edge in capital allocation isn't information — it's understanding how the people deploying $140 trillion actually think under pressure? In this episode, Stanford's Ashby Monk admits he was skeptical of behavioral assessment tools — until one read his eight-page profile and left him feeling "seen." Ashby Monk, who leads a Stanford research center focused on long-term investor decision-making, and Logan Yonavjak, Co-Founder and CEO of Readiness Engine, join Joshua Wilson to unpack the psychology behind how allocators, founders, and investment teams make high-stakes decisions. They explore how AI is reshaping talent in an industry built on apprenticeship, why emotional resilience and "developmental patterns" predict performance, and how the gap between knowledge, intelligence, and wisdom is becoming the defining edge in modern investing. What We Cover: - Why the investment industry still runs on apprenticeship — and what that misses - How AI turns knowledge into intelligence, and why wisdom still wins - The $140 trillion sitting inside asset owners, and how it gets deployed - Measuring emotional resilience through language and sentence structure - The "harmony bias" that stalls early-stage founders - Why investors fund the person, not just the deal - Matching complementary profiles: CEO/CTO, relational vs. cognitive complexity - Bias, gut instinct, and the science hiding inside "trusting your gut" - Building a "second brain" to lead as your best self, not your tired self - What Ashby's own assessment revealed about layered leadership Connect with Ashby Monk: Website theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/guests/ashby-monk Connect with Logan Yonavjak: Website theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/guests/logan-yonavjak About the show: The Investor Relations Podcast is produced by One Iron Network. Learn more at oneironnetwork.com. Follow The Investor Relations Podcast: Website theinvestorrelationspodcast.com LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/the-investor-relations-podcast YouTube youtube.com/@TheInvestorRelationsPodcast Recommended Readings and Resources: The Don't Get Fired Podcast by Stanford Long-Term Investing - co-hosted by Ashby Monk and Daniel Adamson, featuring chief investment officers on innovation Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dont-get-fired-podcast-by-stanford-long-term-investing/id1691603766 Stanford https://longterminvesting.stanford.edu/dont-get-fired-podcast The Technologized Investor Podcast - co-hosted by Ashby Monk and Dane Rook, on how investors use technology to improve outcomes Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-technologized-investor-podcast/id1833123638 Stanford https://longterminvesting.stanford.edu/technologized-investor The Technologized Investor (book) by Ashby Monk and Dane Rook - 2021 Axiom Business Book Award Silver Medal The Intuitive Investor: A Radical Guide for Manifesting Wealth by Jason Apollo Voss, CFA - on right-brain thinking and intuition in investment decision-making  Billions (TV series) - referenced by host Joshua Wilson for its portrayal of performance psychology in a hedge fund setting (mature audiences) Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The content of this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, or compliance advice. All views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of any regulatory agency, organization, or employer. Listeners should consult their own legal counsel, compliance teams, or financial advisors to ensure adherence to applicable regulations, including SEC, FINRA, and other industry-specific requirements. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let’s Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/] To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/contact/ [https://www.theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/contact/]

What VCs and PE Firms Get Wrong When Pitching RIAs with Gary Preisser

"What if I gave you a piece of my portfolio to manage?" Early in his career, Gary Preisser tried to answer that. Now he knows the only right response is a question: What is the money for, and when will you need it? EPISODE SUMMARY Gary Preisser, Managing Partner and co-founder of Stonebriar Wealth Advisors, joins Joshua Wilson for a sharp conversation on how registered investment advisors actually evaluate private equity, private credit, and venture capital for high-net-worth families. Drawing on 23+ years across accounting, tax planning, and wealth management, Gary explains why purpose and timing — not growth alone — determine whether an investment fits, how capital raisers can engage RIAs without triggering resistance, and why "functional wealth" beats accumulation. A practical listen for IR professionals, fund managers, and capital markets advisors targeting the RIA channel. What We Cover: 🎯 Why assets are tools, not trophies — and what "functional wealth" really means 🎯 The question every RIA asks before allocating: what is the money for? 🎯 How RIAs weigh private equity, private credit, and VC for client portfolios 🎯 The Cash Flow Clock framework for timing, liquidity, and volatility 🎯 Why a great investment at the wrong time is no longer a great investment 🎯 Tax alpha and asset location — the net-vs-gross mistake most portfolios make 🎯 How fund managers should approach RIAs the right way (and what kills the deal) 🎯 Why exclusivity and clear value-add open the RIA channel 🎯 The partnership mindset that turns one allocation into a long-term relationship 🎯 Inside the fractional family office model Connect with Gary Preisser: Website https://www.stonebriarwealthadvisors.com [https://www.stonebriarwealthadvisors.com] LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/garypreisser [https://www.linkedin.com/in/garypreisser] About the show: The Investor Relations Podcast is produced by One Iron Network. Learn more at oneironnetwork.com. Follow The Investor Relations Podcast: Website theinvestorrelationspodcast.com LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/the-investor-relations-podcast YouTube youtube.com/@TheInvestorRelationsPodcast Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The content of this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, or compliance advice. All views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of any regulatory agency, organization, or employer. Listeners should consult their own legal counsel, compliance teams, or financial advisors to ensure adherence to applicable regulations, including SEC, FINRA, and other industry-specific requirements. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let’s Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/] To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/contact/ [https://www.theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/contact/]

Learn To Become Incorruptible with Eric Ries

"Nobody can ever trust this company again." That's what Eric Ries told a young founder on the way to what looked like a celebration — but was actually a wake for a company's soul. In this special-release episode, Joshua Wilson sits down with Eric Ries — author of the New York Times bestseller The Lean Startup, founder of the Long-Term Stock Exchange (LTSE), and author of the new book Incorruptible — for a candid conversation on the gravitational pressure capital markets exert on mission-driven companies and what founders, boards, and IR leaders can do about it. Eric unpacks why he calls this era "extraction primacy," why a Harvard Law School study found only 20% of venture-backed founders are still CEO three years after IPO, and how a structure he calls the spiritual holding company has quietly powered some of the most enduring businesses in the world — from Costco to Novo Nordisk to Patagonia to IKEA. If you're navigating a capital raise, building toward an IPO, sitting on a public company board, or advising founders through governance decisions that will shape the next twenty years, this is essential listening. 🎯 What We Cover: - Why the financial system targets trusted companies — and how to build defenses before you need them - The "governance fortress" concept and why Costco's board treats activist investors as noise - Sol Price, FedMart, and Jim Sinegal — the origin story behind modern warehouse retail and the lesson most founders miss - How the Novo Nordisk foundation rejected a $20B merger — and why that decision made Ozempic possible - What "extraction primacy" means and how it differs from shareholder primacy - The spiritual holding company structure (mission guardian entity, perpetual purpose trust, industrial foundation) and why companies that use it are 6x more likely to survive 50 years - How to recognize toxic capital before it enters the cap table - Why "I just want to make money" founders are often more mission-driven than they admit - The discipline required to resist spending pressure when the bank account is full - Practical guidance for founders, boards, and IR teams thinking about long-term governance design 🤝 Connect with Eric Ries: 🌐 https://www.incorruptible.co/ 🌐 https://www.ericriesshow.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/eries/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow 📩 Connect with Joshua Wilson: Have a question about investor relations, capital markets, or building your IR strategy? Reach out directly. 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ 🌐 https://www.theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Investor Relations Podcast: 🌐 https://www.theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@TheInvestorRelationsPodcast Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The content of this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, or compliance advice. All views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of any regulatory agency, organization, or employer. Listeners should consult their own legal counsel, compliance teams, or financial advisors to ensure adherence to applicable regulations, including SEC, FINRA, and other industry-specific requirements. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let’s Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/] To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/contact/ [https://www.theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/contact/]

The IR Playbook Every Company Needs Before Activists Show Up — Aaron Bertinetti

There are only two types of public companies: those with activists, and those that will have activists. Aaron Bertinetti has seen it from every angle — issuer, advisor, and proxy — and he's blunt about what most boards get wrong before the gate is ever rattled. In this episode, Joshua Wilson sits down with Aaron Bertinetti, CEO of Investor Engagement at Computershare North America, for a candid conversation on what modern investor relations actually looks like at scale. Computershare serves more than 25,000 listed companies globally and counts roughly 58% of the S&P 500 as clients — giving Aaron a panoramic view of how capital markets, activism, and investor engagement are evolving in real time. With prior leadership roles as Managing Director and Head of ESG for IR at JPMorgan Chase and global head of research and corporate advisory at Glass Lewis, Aaron brings rare cross-disciplinary perspective on IR strategy, shareholder activism preparedness, investor targeting, SPAC communications, and the operational reality of running an IR function in a fragmented tooling environment. 🎯 What We Cover: * Why the IR role has shifted from earnings execution to C-suite strategic advisor * The diplomat-negotiator skill set every modern IR professional needs * Activism preparedness: building the playbook before the activist arrives * Why stock monitoring and engagement intelligence are non-negotiable * The 1-in-300 problem with traditional investor targeting — and how to fix it * Why microcaps should hunt aspirational investors, not their competitors' holders * How to bring CEOs and CFOs back actionable intelligence from the road * SPAC IR: building a public company narrative from day one * Tailoring messaging to institutional, family office, and retail audiences * Why operationalizing investor intelligence requires unified software, not more tools 🤝 Connect with Aaron Bertinetti: 🌐 https://www.computershare.com/us/business/investor-engagement-2 [https://www.computershare.com/us/business/investor-engagement-2] 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronbertinetti/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronbertinetti/] 📩 Connect with Joshua Wilson: Have a question about investor relations, capital markets, or building your IR strategy? Reach out directly. 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/] 🌐 https://www.theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/ [https://www.theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/] 🎙️ Follow The Investor Relations Podcast: 🌐 https://www.theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/ [https://www.theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/] ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@TheInvestorRelationsPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheInvestorRelationsPodcast] Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The content of this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, or compliance advice. All views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of any regulatory agency, organization, or employer. Listeners should consult their own legal counsel, compliance teams, or financial advisors to ensure adherence to applicable regulations, including SEC, FINRA, and other industry-specific requirements. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let’s Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/] To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/contact/ [https://www.theinvestorrelationspodcast.com/contact/]