Private equity is entering a new phase where success hinges less on capital structure and more on who sits at the table. As firms deploy record dry powder and compete for differentiated value creation, leadership diligence is becoming the ultimate edge. Evan Berta, an associate at Hunt Scanlon Ventures, explores how investors are rethinking the pre-close process, what practical frameworks are emerging to assess leadership risk, and why KKR’s recent investment in ghSMART demonstrates the market’s conviction that talent intelligence is now core to private equity strategy. READ MORE