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

At the time of recording, John Connaughton was Co-Managing Partner of Bain Capital.

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
Chair of Bain Capital

John Connaughton is Chair of Bain Capital, a leading global private investment firm. He joined Bain Capital in 1989 and has played a central role in the firm’s growth and development over more than three decades, including serving as Co-Managing Partner from 2016 to 2026.

Mr. Connaughton previously served as Global Head of Bain Capital Private Equity and has extensive investment experience across a range of industries, particularly healthcare, technology and media. Throughout his career, he has served on the boards of numerous companies, including HCA Healthcare, IQVIA Holdings, Stericycle, iHeartMedia, ProSiebenSat.1 Media and Warner Music Group.

Prior to joining Bain Capital, Mr. Connaughton was a consultant at Bain & Company. He graduated with Distinction from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce and earned an MBA with High Distinction from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar.

Mr. Connaughton and his wife, Stephanie, are active supporters of initiatives focused on healthcare, education, social mobility and youth empowerment. At Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where Mr. Connaughton serves on the Board of Trustees, they support programs in neonatal intensive care, trauma innovation and women’s health. They also endowed a professorship at Johns Hopkins University in honor of his father, Dr. James P. Connaughton, and are longtime supporters of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston and the GreenLight Fund, where Mr. Connaughton serves on the Board of Directors.

At the University of Virginia, the Connaughtons established the Connaughton Bicentennial Scholars Fund, which provides need-based scholarships and supports programming focused on business and social impact, as well as the Connaughton Alternative Investing Professorship Fund. Mr. Connaughton chairs the board of the University of Virginia Investment Management Company (UVIMCO) and leads the investment committee of the McIntire School Foundation Board.

The Connaughtons also endow a professorship at Berklee College of Music, where Mr. Connaughton served as a trustee for two decades. He also serves on the Harvard Business School Board of Dean’s Advisors.