This month's look at: How Private Company Owners Must Evolve to Grow, The Business of Creating Entrepreneurs, and more.

Newport Insights

Vol. 1 Issue 27

Built to Scale: How Private Company Owners Must Evolve to Grow

What does it really take to scale a privately held business?

In our new Built to Scale series, Newport partner Susan Kearney explores how growth isn’t just operational—it’s deeply personal for business owners.

As companies move beyond early success, the leadership style that once drove momentum can become the very thing holding them back. True scale requires a shift:

  • From doing to enabling

  • From heroic leadership to empowered teams

  • From instinct to data-driven decisions

  • From informal culture to intentional alignment and governance

The takeaway: scaling a business means scaling yourself as a leader.

Read the full blog for more and stay tuned for the series.

Read More

New Growth + Exit Podcast Episode

The Business of Creating Entrepreneurs: Rapid Growth Through Renting Food Trailers

Starting a business is one thing — scaling it successfully is another. In this episode, Heather Bennett sits down with Gabriel Arguello, Founder & CEO of Rent 2 Own Trailers, to explore how entrepreneurs can grow while staying connected to their customers and communities.

Key takeaways:

  • Research your business idea thoroughly before diving in

  • Build trust through strong customer and community relationships

  • Implement efficient systems early and keep your team engaged

  • Leverage servant leadership to inspire and scale

Listen now to hear Gabriel’s practical advice for entrepreneurs navigating growth challenges.

Listen Now

Event Recap

Building Profitable Private Companies in the Communications Infrastructure Industry

Last month, Newport partners Kevin Fleming and Peter Pintar led an engaging session

on achieving profitable growth at NATE UNITE in Las Vegas, the annual convention for

the communications infrastructure construction industry.

The companies building and maintaining digital infrastructure face increasing pressures

as traditional sectors (cellular and fiber) are augmented by growing satellite, data

center, and energy networks. Owners and leaders of the construction companies

attending the conference want to grow and adapt their businesses as new opportunities

and challenges emerge. Kevin and Peter’s session focused on the practical tactics of

improving cash flow and operating margins, while pursuing growth and preparing a

private company for an eventual sale.

Thank you to Craig Snyder (Chairman of Vikor, a leading telecommunications

infrastructure company) who moderated the session. Craig is also a co-founder of the

NATE industry association and a Newport client.

See more partner updates

New Insight

Your Brand Strategy: A Financial Growth Engine

What if you could drive business growth with something that you’ve been treating as a cost - your brand?

In Newport partner Ed Farley’s latest blog, he explores how a well-executed brand strategy influences far more than awareness. It impacts long-term value, customer acquisition efficiency, and drives higher enterprise valuation.

If your brand disappeared tomorrow, would your financial performance change?

Read the full blog to learn more.

Read More

Event Recap

Private Directors Association's “AI Governance in the Age of Digital Technology" Event

How are organizations keeping up with the rapid pace of AI—and the governance challenges that come with it?

Southern California Partners Ferey Faridian, A.J. Wilson, and Richard Carriere recently joined industry leaders at the Private Directors Association event, “AI Governance in the Age of Digital Technology.”

Hosted at UCLA Anderson School of Management in collaboration with UCLA Board Connections at Anderson, the session brought together 55 attendees for a timely discussion on how organizations are navigating evolving governance requirements in an era of rapid AI advancement.

A key theme: many organizations are being asked to move faster than their structures were designed for—making adaptability and strong governance more important than ever.

A.J. hosted the session, Ferey moderated a group discussion, and Richard shared valuable insight and experience—helping drive a thoughtful, forward-looking conversation.

See more partner updates

Complimentary Insight Session

Would you invest 30 minutes to gain insights into your business guided by a Newport Partner?

 

Sign up here for a complimentary business conditions review based on your objectives, challenges, current state of your business, and annual revenue range.

 

We’ll get right back to you to schedule a free session that will explore how you can move forward with confidence.

Newport LLC

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San Francisco, CA 94111, United States

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