Mergers & Acquisitions names 2021 Top 25 Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A, including the Riverside Co.’s Pamela Hendrickson.

What’s new?
When times become uncertain, it’s always important to reset and refocus. I continually revert back to my three Cs for managing. In 2020, at Riverside, we focused on: Communication. There was a rapid transition to technology (Zoom meetings), and we really tried to communicate with our teams all the time. In the absence of information, people often speculate – so we tried to overcommunicate, if anything. Creativity. All communication can’t be business-related, we need to have some fun! Team-building exercises include online games, Zappy Hour (Zoom happy hour) and Zumba and yoga classes. Control. More than ever, it’s critical to remember this is “work from home,” not “live at work.” The concept of living at work is a real threat to people, especially if there are two individuals leading full-time careers in the household, as well as caring for and teaching their at-home children.

How are you a champion for inclusion and equality?
It’s about equality for all, not just women. Especially given the social unrest we saw in 2020, these themes are ever-prevalent and important as ever. Riverside is committed to being a part of the solution through various initiatives, especially as it relates to diverse hiring and mentorship. It’s a big pillar in ESG, which is something that is increasingly demanded by investors as well. For PE, it is important to realize that whether you are on the right or the left politically, the world has become increasingly populist, so as an industry, we must continue to educate people about both the financial and intellectual capital we bring. The only difference between an entrepreneur’s great 3:00 a.m. idea and an established company is capital – plain and simple.