Season 5 - Ep. 9 | From Chaos to Clarity: How Bain Capital’s John Connaughton Leads Through Volatility

While the terms “uncertainty” and “volatility” get thrown around a lot, they certainly describe what’s going on now in global markets, especially when it comes to private equity. In this episode of Redefiners, Clarke Murphy and Marla Oates talk with Bain Capital Co-Managing Partner John Connaughton to get his take on leading through change.

As someone who has successfully managed through several periods of volatility during his more than 36-year career with Bain Capital, John takes us through how he’s been able to look past current unpredictability with an eye towards the long term. He shares tips and key learnings on how to increase adaptability and agility across the firm, including AI adoption and transformation. He talks about recruiting and retaining top talent, and the top traits he looks for in leaders. Plus, he shares his thoughts on how universities can help redefine the skills needed for next generation leaders to excel in a rapidly changing world.

We'll also hear from Chris Davis, a leadership advisor in our New York City office, who will discuss the critical leadership traits financial services CEOs need to master AI transformation. 

John Connaughton
Co-Managing Partner of Bain Capital

John Connaughton is Co-Managing Partner of Bain Capital, a leading private investment firm with offices on four continents and approximately $185 billion in assets under management.

Since joining the firm in 1989, Mr. Connaughton has worked on numerous prominent healthcare and technology/media investments. He currently sits on the board of IQVIA Holdings and previously served on the boards of Air Medical Group Holdings, BPL (Bio Products Laboratory) Holdings, Grupo Notre Dame Intermedica, HCA Healthcare, ProSiebenSat.1, Warner Chilcott plc, Warner Music Group, and several others. He is also a member of the Boston Celtics’ investor group and Board of Directors.

Prior to joining Bain Capital, Mr. Connaughton was a strategy consultant at Bain & Company. He has over three decades of experience as a private equity investor.

Mr. Connaughton is involved in a number of charitable and civic activities both individually and through Bain Capital Community Partnership. He serves as a member of the Berklee College of Music Board of Trustees, the Brigham & Women’s Board of Trustees, the GreenLight Fund Board of Directors, the Harvard Business School Board of Dean's Advisors and the Roxbury Latin School Board of Trustees.

In 2016, Mr. Connaughton and his wife, Stephanie, created the Dr. James P. Connaughton Professorship to honor his late father’s many contributions to Johns Hopkins University. Additionally, the couple made a sizable gift to Brigham & Women’s Hospital, where they are loyal volunteer leaders. This donation supported the NICU, women’s health and trauma innovation areas.

The Connaughtons are also dedicated supporters of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston. They also helped establish the Connaughton Alternative Investing Professorship Fund at the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, where Mr. Connaughton is a member of the Foundation Board. He also serves on the board of the University of Virginia Investment Management Company (UVIMCO).

Mr. Connaughton received a B.S. in Commerce with Distinction from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. with High Distinction from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar.