03.18.26 EFN Boston Luncheon: Reputation: The Intangible Asset that Impacts Valuation, Fundraising and Risk

Description

Reputation: The Intangible Asset That Impacts Valuation, Fundraising and Risk

In today’s private markets environment, reputation is no longer a soft asset — it is a driver of enterprise value. Yet many private equity firms, hedge funds, family offices, and the small-to-midsize companies they invest in lack even the foundational elements of a strategic communications function.

This session, led by communications leaders from MikeWorldWide, will provide a practical, real-world guide to public relations and reputation management for alternative investment leaders.

Session highlights:

• The fundamentals most firms overlook: How to build a basic media profile, establish thought leadership, and develop a controlled narrative before you need it.
• Crisis readiness in private markets: Common reputational risk scenarios (litigation, portfolio company distress, executive missteps, activist pressure) and what effective response looks like — versus mistakes that amplify damage.
• Standing up a comms function: What “good” looks like at different stages of firm growth — from lean advisory models to fully integrated communications strategies aligned with IR, legal, and leadership.
• LP and stakeholder expectations: How transparency, positioning, and proactive storytelling can strengthen fundraising, reinforce credibility, and support valuation.
• Beyond crisis: the upside of strategic communications: Using media, LinkedIn, and owned content to build authority, attract talent, shape industry conversations, and support deal flow.

Designed for firms that may not yet have dedicated communications infrastructure, this conversation will demystify PR, provide practical starting points, and outline how trusted advisors can help leaders turn reputation into a competitive advantage — not just a risk to manage.

Presented by:

Joe Calabrese, SVP, Investor Relations
MikeWorldWide

Stephen Sumner, VP, Reputation Management
MikeWorldWide

Moderated by:

Michael Dale, Partner & CFO
Eastward Capital Partners