Episode 26

full
Published on:

25th Jun 2026

What Do The Best In BD Have In Common? A People First Approach with MidOcean's Dan Ryan

Have you ever wondered what traits the top performers in BD seem to share? Dan Ryan, Managing Director at MidOcean Partners joins the show to break down the types of personalities that seem to find the most success in the business, from an emphasis on self-starters, to a high correlation of socially comfortable extroverts, to a need for flexibility and adaptation. Dan also shares the importance of not just collecting data - but also how the synthesis of that data with real human relationships is what helps the best BD professionals make and secure deals.

Learn more: Coastal Partners — coastalpartners.co | Tahoe Equity — tahoeequity.com

Show artwork for Deal Sourcery

About the Podcast

Deal Sourcery
Engagement & The Art of M&A
Deal Sourcery is the must-listen podcast for Private Equity professionals aiming to master the art of deal origination. Hosted by Dan Herr - who’s closed over $1B in transactions in the last decade while building and leading world-class deal sourcing teams - and Matt Rooney, a top recruiter in PE business development, we dive into cutting-edge trends, proven tactics, data-driven sourcing strategies and the technology shaping the future of M&A. Each episode features in-depth discussions with exited founders, PE professions and investment bankers, delivering exclusive, actionable insights you won’t find anywhere else. Tune in to elevate your sourcing skills and optimize your firm’s capital deployment.

About your hosts

Daniel Herr

Profile picture for Daniel Herr
Dan is the visionary Founder & CEO of Acqwired after more than a decade sourcing more than $1B in TEV in proprietary private equity deals across software, services and industrials highly engineered end markets like aerospace, medical and consumer electronics.

Matt Rooney

Profile picture for Matt Rooney
Matt is the Founder of Coastal Partners, a specialized recruiting firm focused on placing deal-sourcing and investor relations professionals in mid-market private equity. With over a decade of experience, he has placed hundreds of professionals and advises firms on building BD teams.

He regularly shares insights on private equity business development, breaking down role dynamics and hiring strategies for firms and professionals navigating the space.