Jim Sharpe

Pioneer
DISC Type : IDs

Partner, Head of Propel (Portfolio Operations) at Unity Partners

New York, New York, United States

Overview

Jim Sharpe is the Founding Partner and Head of Value Acceleration at Unity Partners, a private equity firm. A graduate of the University of Virginia, he specializes in go-to-market strategy and driving growth for PE-backed companies. His career highlights include serving as a two-time CEO, notably reversing a $9 million annual loss at Aventri. People often call him a fantastic leader and culture builder.

Outside of his professional life, Jim has a keen interest in intellectual exploration. He recently led his companys book club discussion on Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson, delving into topics like the nature of space and time.

He was the 25th employee at GLG and, after leaving, was recruited back to lead the firms largest and most profitable business unit.

Personality Overview

Decisive But Friendly

Driven But Considerate

Dynamic But Sincere

They combine a unique set of diverse traits where they are fast and friendly but can slow down to be thorough when needed  If they are convinced, they can become very strong champions for your product They have the unique ability to win both love and respect from their team (or outsiders)

Topics They Care About

Value Acceleration
He leads Unity's "Propel" team and intentionally uses the term "value acceleration" over "value creation" to define his team's role in supporting portfolio companies.
Employee Ownership
Champions Unity Partners' strategy of providing equity to all employees at partner companies, believing it creates a powerful culture of shared purpose and motivation.
M&A Integration
Focuses on helping portfolio companies scale through acquisitions, building target lists from day one and navigating the challenges of successful integration.

Media Appearances

Ep.67: Jim Sharpe, Unity Partners – Aligning Values with Growing Portcos. Featured in Apple Podcasts

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Jim Sharpe - Unity Partners. Featured in Unity Partners

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Jim Sharpe, Unity Partners | Aligning Values with Growing Portcos. Featured in YouTube

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Work History

8-2022
Partner, Head of Propel (Portfolio Operations) at Unity Partners
1-2020 - 2-2022
CEO | Reversed $9MM Annual loss, achieved profitability & drove PE Exit Strategy at Aventri
7-2019 - 11-2019
COO/CRO at 7Park Data
9-2013 - 5-2019
GM and Managing Director, Head of Financial Services | Drove Double-Digit growth & Margins at GLG
10-2008 - 1-2013
Chairman & CEO | Led Turnaround from $0 to $20MM with 20% EBITDA Margins at Standard Purification (Donau Carbon US)

Education

BS in Commerce from University of Virginia

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 25 Location : New York, New York, United States Job Level : Mid-senior Designation : Partner, Head of Propel (Portfolio Operations) at Unity Partners
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Insights For Selling To Jim

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • During followups, use calls or text if needed, they should be fine
  • Mostly stick to your standard pitch and qualifying script, but add some stories or anecdotes to it
  • Keep your pitch focused on the impact but nurture the relationship too

DONT's

  • Don't lean very heavily into providing too much information, sharing whitepapers etc.
  • Avoid focusing only on the product or its ROI, keep building trust subtly
  • Don’t be very informal during the early interactions even if they are being so themselves

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Jim is

  • Nothing less than a strong combination of proof of results, relationship and high levels of professionalism is effective with them.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Jim

  • They can say no while staying friendly, but can also be pursuaded to reconsider

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Jim move?

  • They are generally fast movers and can take quick decisions
  • Can Jim take some risk or not?

  • They have high risk-appetite but can get ahead of themselves once in a while. Observe carefully

You And Jim

Personality Compatibility


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