Building a Berkshire for the Middle Market – Tracy Britt Cool (EP.521)

Ted Seides interviews Tracy Britt Cool, co-founder of Kanbrick, a long-term investment partnership set up as an alternative to traditional private equity for owners of family-owned, midsized businesses. She describes her ten years at Berkshire Hathaway — starting as a financial assistant to Warren Buffett, chairing several portfolio companies and later serving as CEO of Pampered Chef — and the lessons she took from that experience. The conversation covers how those lessons are applied at Kanbrick across strategy, sourcing, deal dynamics, operational improvement and long holding periods, along with the firm's community of 4,000 executives who share practices on hiring, operations and growth.

1. Kanbrick is described as a long-term investment partnership offering family-owned, midsized business owners an option distinct from traditional private equity.
2. Britt Cool spent ten years at Berkshire Hathaway, beginning as a financial assistant to Warren Buffett and later chairing portfolio companies and serving as CEO of Pampered Chef.
3. The discussion covers how Buffett's lessons and operating experience are applied at Kanbrick across strategy, sourcing, deal dynamics, operational improvements and holding periods.
4. Kanbrick has built a community of 4,000 executives who share best practices in hiring, operations, excellence and growth.