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I am the Founder / CEO of CovQ by 8W8, the developer of the CovQ Value Creation…
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Ralf Hirt shared thisHuge upside waiting to be activated! Check out the comments, too. #privateequity #valuecreation #compoundingRalf Hirt shared this𝗣𝗘 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿-𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 ⏳ One-third of PE assets are held 7+ years with firms holding onto investments longer than ever. The median exit in Europe now takes 𝟱.𝟳 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 → up from 𝟰.𝟲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵 Here’s the split: • 33% of assets are held for 7+ years • 25% for 5–7 years • 29% for 3–5 years • Only 13% exit within 3 years 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁? A few structural factors: 1️⃣ Dealflow remains too thin, especially relative to the backlog 2️⃣ Many slower-growing assets are stuck in out-of-favor sectors (e.g. Consumer, Industrials) 3️⃣ Macro uncertainty and higher financing costs are slowing exit activity At the same time, the market is adapting: 4️⃣ The secondary market is booming with continuation vehicles and LP-led secondaries are stepping in as liquidity solutions 5️⃣ Dispersion is increasing: top GPs continue to exit, while others are holding on longer 6️⃣ Some managers are doubling down on winners by reinvesting and leaning into long-term growth stories 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻? It looks like we’re moving from a market driven by timing and market multiple expansion to one driven by asset quality and exit readiness. We’ll go deep on this (and more) in an upcoming session with Tilman Ost, Global Private Equity Advisory Leader at KPMG, on April 16. Stay tuned 👀
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Ralf Hirt shared thisCongrats to Americo Pinto and the team at PMOGA - PMO Global Alliance and the Project Management Institute for pulling off a strong inaugural U.S. edition in San Diego this week. It was great to contribute as a facilitator in the AI & Innovation track alongside Dr. Donald Newberry, Luis Guardado, Nagendra Roy, PMP, DASSM, ITIL, SAFe, CSM, MBA, OCP, Olga Korban, MBA, PMP, PMO-Certified , Pablo Jimeno, working with PMO leaders from across the U.S. and the Americas over two full days of discussion. One theme came through consistently. While PMOs are increasingly expected to drive efficiency and productivity through AI, many are not set up for real success. The underlying issue is not execution capability, but the absence of clear direction from management teams on how AI should actually be leveraged to create value. Without that clarity, efforts tend to gravitate toward tactical improvements that are difficult to measure, rarely attributed properly, and ultimately do not create meaningful differentiation. This puts PMOs at a genuine decision point. They can continue to aggregate smaller wins, or take a more proactive role in shaping where value is created and how it is delivered. The latter requires a shift in posture. It means identifying and structuring the value drivers that truly matter, focusing on initiatives that have a visible impact, and ensuring that execution is carried through to completion with measurable outcomes. Once that impact is made transparent and communicated, the role of the PMO naturally evolves. That evolution is what turns a PMO into a Value Management Office. It also elevates the role from coordination to contribution, and from support function to a proactive strategic driver in a constantly evolving environment. This is a true career accelerator, and leaders who upskill and make smart use of systems and AI will be in a strong position. In the end, value creation is not defined by how much cost is taken out, but by how effectively growth and innovation are generated. Efficiency has limits, while growth, innovation, and compounding value do not. I look forward to seeing what everyone builds next. #AI #PMO #PMI #strategyexecution #valuecreation
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Ralf Hirt shared thisSneak preview. CovQ. The Value Creation Management Platform. #valuecreation #enterpriseAI #innovation #PMO #PrivateEquity
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Ralf Hirt reacted on thisFor those who need a maximum of clarity in the current global environment.CovQ AI Assessment in Geopolitically Challenging Times | CovQ by 8W8CovQ AI Assessment in Geopolitically Challenging Times | CovQ by 8W8
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Ralf Hirt reacted on thisFor those who need a maximum of clarity in the current global environment.CovQ AI Assessment in Geopolitically Challenging Times | CovQ by 8W8CovQ AI Assessment in Geopolitically Challenging Times | CovQ by 8W8
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Ralf Hirt reacted on thisFor those who need a maximum of clarity in the current global environment.CovQ AI Assessment in Geopolitically Challenging Times | CovQ by 8W8CovQ AI Assessment in Geopolitically Challenging Times | CovQ by 8W8
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Ralf Hirt shared thisBe Equipped to Act When Geopolitics Impacts Business and Investment Decisions Geopolitical developments are increasingly shaping company situations, investment decisions, and strategic priorities. Leadership teams have to respond quickly, yet many organizations lack the structured data, execution infrastructure, and time to properly manage alignment. A CovQ AI Assessment (Compound Value Creator Quotient) helps generate Value Creation Intelligence while measuring leadership alignment on how to respond to emerging strategic developments. It can be tailored instantly and deployed immediately, enabling leadership teams to compare perspectives, identify risks and opportunities, and act with greater clarity. In geopolitically challenging times, organizations that combine intelligence, alignment, and execution will be best positioned to create value. If this is relevant for your leadership team, please get in touch. #Geopolitics #Strategy #CovQ #AI #ValueCreation https://lnkd.in/eQDgAKmnCovQ AI Assessment in Geopolitically Challenging Times | CovQ by 8W8CovQ AI Assessment in Geopolitically Challenging Times | CovQ by 8W8
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Ralf Hirt shared thisJoin a great crowd of PMO experts in San Diego at the end of March! PMOGA - PMO Global Alliance, Project Management Institute #PMO #PMI #valuecreationRalf Hirt shared thisWe are excited to welcome Ralf Hirt as one of the facilitators at PMO unCON 2026 in San Diego on March 24-25. Ralf is the Founder and CEO of CovQ by 8W8, the company behind the CovQ Value Creation Management Platform, designed to help ambitious leadership teams, investors, and advisory firms better connect strategy, execution, and value creation. His work focuses on one of the most critical challenges organizations face today: how to move beyond planning and ensure that strategy is translated into aligned execution, measurable progress, and real enterprise value. This perspective was also reflected in the Harvard Business Review Analytic Services report produced in association with CovQ by 8W8, titled “Mastering Value Creation by Centering Strategy and Execution.” Ralf brings an exceptionally strong international business background, with leadership experience across SaaS, growth strategy, operations, investment dynamics, and business transformation. Over the years, he has held major executive roles at organizations such as Harri, TUNE, Mode Media, and DoubleClick, where he helped scale operations, drive international growth, and support major business milestones, including DoubleClick’s sale to Google. Having lived and worked across the US, UK, Germany, Hong Kong, and Australia, Ralf offers a truly global perspective on leadership, growth, and organizational alignment. At PMO unCON, he will help guide conversations that challenge participants to think more deeply about how PMOs, leaders, and organizations can better connect execution with value creation. 📍 PMO unCON 2026 🗓 March 24–25 📍 San Diego PMO unCON is PMI’s signature event for PMO professionals, designed as a highly interactive experience where leaders come together to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and explore the future of PMOs. ⚠️ Last spots available Register here: 👉 pmoga.pmi.org/pmouncon
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Ralf Hirt reacted on thisIntroducing the CovQ Value Creation Intelligence Center.Inside the Value Creation Intelligence Center | CovQ by 8W8Inside the Value Creation Intelligence Center | CovQ by 8W8
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Great job, Pablo Jimeno, throughout both days and behind the scenes, too.
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💯! Check out the report by HBR Analytic Services introducing value creation management platforms: https://hbr.org/resources/pdfs/comm/covq/MasteringValueCreation.pdf
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Thanks for joining our AI & Innovation session, Alex Marques, and for your great contributions! So much opportunity out there, and AI is here to help activate it best with a focus on growth, innovation, and productivity.
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Ralf Hirt liked thisRalf Hirt liked thisLast week in San Diego was a special one. I had the opportunity to be part of the team leading the AI & Innovation track at PMI PMO unCON alongside an incredible group of co-facilitators, and personally, it marked my first international presentation in the US. Something that kept coming up in the sessions we led is that this is not about using AI everywhere. Not every AI idea creates real value. The speed of the market now requires a certain level of AI literacy for professionals to understand what to use, when to use it, and what not to use at all. Not all AI approaches solve the same problems, and being intentional about that makes all the difference. For me, the real opportunity is not just making the PMO more efficient with AI, but using it to amplify human talent and judgment. Helping teams make better decisions, giving leaders clearer visibility, reducing friction between stakeholders, and redesigning services in a way that people actually use and find valuable. Grateful for the space, the conversations, and the people I got to learn from. Also very grateful to Luis Guardado for the constant support, guidance, and mentorship. Special thanks to Americo Pinto and the team for putting together such an amazing event. Great working alongside my co-facilitators, and a real pleasure meeting so many experienced and thoughtful people throughout the event. Luis Guardado, Olga Korban, MBA, PMP, PMO-Certified Professional , CSM Nagendra Roy, PMP, DASSM, ITIL, SAFe, CSM, MBA, OCP, Dr. Donald Newberry, Ralf Hirt, Joe Pusz - PMO Joe, Dr. Tony Prensa, ATP®,PMP®, Americo Pinto, Shanelle Bautista, Joe Campa, Stuart Easton and many other amazing leaders! Let’s keep building. #PMI #PMO #PMOUncon #ProjectManagement #AI #Innovation
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Ralf Hirt reacted on thisRalf Hirt reacted on thisConversation I had with a CIO not too long ago: Me: "How many active projects do you have?" CIO: "About 120." Me: "How many can your organization realistically deliver well?" CIO: "Probably 60 to 70." Me: "So what's the plan for the other 50?" CIO: (long pause) This is the most common problem I see in enterprise PMOs. The portfolio is twice the size the organization can actually support. Everyone knows it. Nobody wants to be the one to say it. Your PMO should be the function brave enough to put that math on the table. Not to be negative. To protect the initiatives that actually matter from being starved by the ones that don't. Saying no to good projects so you can say yes to great ones. That's portfolio management.
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Ralf Hirt liked thisRalf Hirt liked thisPMO Isn’t Project Management — It’s How High‑Performing Companies Run the Business Most transformations don’t fail because of strategy. They fail because leaders underestimate the operating system required to deliver it. When People, Process, Systems, and Data aren’t aligned, you don’t get “delays.” You get scope creep, costly extensions, and teams burning cycles fixing problems that should’ve never existed. Here’s the reality from someone who’s delivered transformations end‑to‑end: PMO rigor is the engine. It’s non‑negotiable. It ensures every detail is owned, tracked, and delivered. Your change‑management narrative is the fuel — the “why” that keeps people aligned when the work gets hard. You need both to reach the end state you promised the business. PMO builds the foundation for real execution: People — clarity of tasks, milestones, and timelines. Accountability stops being optional. Process — a repeatable cadence of meetings, documentation, reporting, and the tough conversations that keep work honest. Systems — tools that enable, not confuse. If it slows people down, it’s not a system — it’s a barrier. Data — insights that drive decisions, not noise that stalls progress. When these four pillars lock together, the benefits are unmistakable: Faster decisions. Fewer escalations. Predictable delivery. Higher adoption. Lower total cost of change. That’s when PMO stops being a reporting function and becomes the heartbeat of how the business actually operates. The companies that win aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets. They’re the ones where leaders set the tone, tell the story, and make alignment non‑negotiable when work transitions into the PMO. So I’ll leave you with this: Which change in your organization is about to outgrow its narrative — and needs stronger leadership storytelling before it becomes your next expensive “extension”? #PMO, #Leadership, #GBSLeadership, #PeopleFirstLeadership, #OperatingModel, #OperationalExcellence, #GlobalBusinessServices, #ProcessExcellence, #BusinessTransformation
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Ralf Hirt liked thisRalf Hirt liked thisLast week, Stephan Mayer, and I visited TRUMPF México and TRUMPF Brasil. During our visit, we met with both customers and the TRUMPF team, and one message was clear: customers want reliable, flexible, and easy-to-run technology that supports growth. That is where solutions like the TruLaser and TruBend Series 1000 machines play a key role, opening the door to high-quality fabrication technology at the right entry point. Thank you to Pedro Henriques and Joao Visetti for hosting. We are looking forward to showcasing TRUMPF technology at the upcoming FABTECH MÉXICO show in May!
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Ralf Hirt liked thisRalf Hirt liked thisIn volatile times, strong supplier partnerships are not a given. They are earned. The past weeks have reminded me how much we rely on trust, transparency, and commitment across our supply base. Volatility is no longer an exception. It is part of our daily operating environment. At Siemens Healthineers, we usually choose “Seasonal Greetings” to remain inclusive and respectful of different cultures and beliefs. I value that approach. At the same time, I felt it was important not to let this moment pass without expressing something more personal. During an unexpected computer repair, I had time to reflect. Not about technology, but about partnerships. About the steady support we receive from our suppliers and the professionalism our teams show, even when conditions are uncertain and pressure is high. So today, I am sharing an Easter greeting. Not as an obligation, and with full respect for those who do not celebrate, but as a sincere thank‑you to those who do, and as a broader message of appreciation. Thank you to our supplier partners for your reliability, openness, and resilience! Thank you to our teams for the way you collaborate and navigate complexity together. We will continue to need this partnership mindset in the months ahead! And just as important, I hope you all take time to pause, recharge, and spend meaningful moments with your families and loved ones, whatever this season represents for you. Wishing those who celebrate a peaceful Easter, and wishing everyone renewed energy for what lies ahead. #Partnership #Gratitude #SupplyChain #Procurement #Resilience #Leadership #Supplier
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Ralf Hirt liked thisRalf Hirt liked thisWhat is the CURRENT state of productivity gains from using AI for software development? My view: media are reporting a median 30% gain. The view from my peer group of hands-on CTOs is 50% MINIMUM and common cases of 3x for any any development that does not require new architectures or patterns and 10x for prototyping.
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Ralf Hirt reacted on thisAutonomous Capital: always on, self-directing value (money, public and private assets) that moves 24/7 where it’s needed most. Enabled by blockchain delivering anchored immutable data, governed by transparent rules, and activated by agentic AIRalf Hirt reacted on thisHow do you know your AI is reasoning on verifiable information? It's a question that dogs every enterprise AI deployment — and in capital markets, where autonomous agents are beginning to execute trades without human approval, it's no longer theoretical. Inveniam's Richard Walker has a clear answer: blockchain. Not for tokenization. Not for crypto. For auditability, data provenance, and the immutable evidence trail that regulators will demand. "The AI stack is the brain. The blockchain is the nervous system." Watch Richard break down why autonomous capital can't exist without blockchain infrastructure.
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