Why empathy is crucial in the US lower mid‑market
Expert Q&A with Paul Lisiak on why empathy and understanding owner-operators drives success in lower mid-market private credit
In this Expert Q&A with Private Debt Investor, Metropolitan's Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer Paul Lisiak discusses what separates successful lower mid-market investing from larger sponsor-backed deals: the ability to build genuine partnerships with owner-operators.
"You need to be transparent and show these owner-operators the respect and appreciation they deserve," Lisiak explains. Success in this market requires understanding the owner-operator mindset, building trust through empathy, and structuring custom loan documentation that addresses each borrower's unique business execution challenges.
The conversation covers the compelling characteristics of the US lower mid-market, how competitive dynamics differ from upper markets, what's required to invest successfully in this space, and Metropolitan's outlook for opportunities over the next 6-18 months.
The full Expert Q&A is available for download by clicking the Download PDF button above.