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Centers of Excellence

Definition

A portfolio operations team model in which functional specialists — typically former CXOs or senior operators in their 30s through 50s — are organized by discipline (technology, sales, marketing, talent/HR) rather than assigned to specific portfolio companies. Each leader aggregates resources, mentors functional peers across the portfolio, and serves as a thought partner to executives in their domain.

Context

Kate Hopkins describes the centers of excellence model as one of four Portfolio Operations team structures in Ep. 2. In this model, a firm might have a CTO who partners with portfolio company technology leaders, a former chief people officer who supports HR and talent functions, and a former CMO who mentors marketing leaders — each curating resources and facilitating cross-portfolio knowledge sharing within their function.

Kate contrasts this with the junior generalist model (ex-consultants staffed to specific companies) and the full-stack model (large multi-level teams functioning as internal consultancies). Most firms end up in a hybrid, blending generalists with one or two centers of excellence leaders — for example, "mostly generalists, but you have a talent partner."

Centers of excellence leaders are also well-positioned to support sourcing, both by participating in prospect-facing events and by providing one-on-one introductions to high-value prospects in the sourcing enablement funnel.