Intersections8 Heinä 2025

Betting on Yourself with Ken Hersh

Ken Hersh, energy entrepreneur and current CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, shares his unconventional journey from liberal arts major to pioneering a whole new industry in energy private equity. From early business failures and bold pivots to investing with Richard Rainwater and creating Natural Gas Partners, Ken breaks down the highs, lows, and lessons learned. He also dives into public policy, the evolution of America’s energy landscape, and the fine line between good ideas and good investments.

In This Episode

[00:00] Intro: Who is Ken Hersh?

[01:07] Early Days and Business Plan Origins

[02:00] Founding NG Partners in a Pre-Private Equity World

[05:00] Resilience, Background, and the Fastest Tortoise

[07:30] Education, Princeton, and Finding His Own Path

[10:00] Morgan Stanley, Energy Markets, and Breaking In

[13:00] The Fortuitous Call from Richard Rainwater

[16:00] Bold Moves and Moonlighting with McKinsey

[20:00] Birth of Natural Gas Partners and First Investments

[24:00] Pivoting Strategy When the Market Shifted

[28:00] Betting on People vs. Assets

[30:00] What Makes a Good Founder?

[34:00] Investing Philosophy and Risk Alignment

[36:00] The Energy Transfer Home Run

[41:00] Mentorship from Richard Rainwater

[45:00] Reflections on Energy Policy and Public Perception

[50:00] U.S. Energy Independence and Shale Revolution

[55:00] The Realities of Energy Transition and Clean Tech

Resources Mentioned

The Fastest Tortoise by Ken Hersh
Natural Gas Partners (NGP Energy Capital)
George W. Bush Presidential Center

LIKE & SUBSCRIBE

🍏 Apple

🎧 Spotify

📹 Youtube

FOLLOW

Instagram

—

Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(47)

Mark Gibson on Growing HFF into a Capital Markets Powerhouse

Mark Gibson, CEO of JLL Capital Markets and former CEO of HFF, joins Intersections to discuss the journey from first-generation college student to building one of the most influential capital markets ...

16 Kesä 1h 23min

Dan Hunt on Bringing the World Cup to Dallas

Dan Hunt, President of FC Dallas and one of the key leaders behind Dallas’ successful World Cup 2026 bid, joins Intersections to discuss the journey that brought the world’s biggest sporting event bac...

9 Kesä 1h 15min

Former Fed President, Rob Kaplan, on America’s K-Shaped Economy

Rob Kaplan returns to Intersections for a wide-ranging discussion on the forces shaping America’s economic future. Drawing on his experience as Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs, former President of the ...

2 Kesä 1h 17min

The Steel Magnolia of Banking: Elaine Agather’s Story of Grit and Grace

Elaine Agather is the Global Vice Chair and Chairman of the Dallas Region for JPMorgan Chase, where she has spent nearly five decades building one of the most respected careers in banking. From growin...

26 Touko 1h 13min

From the White House to Cooperstown: Dale Petroskey on Leadership & Relationships

Dale Petroskey has lived one of the most fascinating careers imaginable—from the Reagan White House to the Baseball Hall of Fame, National Geographic, the Texas Rangers, and the Dallas Regional Chambe...

19 Touko 1h 19min

How Todd Wagner Built Watermark Into a Megachurch — and Why He Left

Todd Wagner joins Intersections for an in-depth conversation covering faith, doubt, church leadership, apologetics, and the rise of Watermark Community Church. Todd reflects on growing up in a nominal...

12 Touko 1h 39min

Inside 9/11 Diplomacy: The Man Who Rebuilt U.S.–Saudi Relations

In Part 2 of this conversation, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Robert Jordan shares a firsthand account of stepping into one of the most complex diplomatic roles in modern history—just as the ...

5 Touko 1h 15min

Insider Look at the Iran Conflict with Ambassador Robert Jordan

This episode features a timely conversation with Ambassador Robert Jordan, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Drawing on firsthand experience, he unpacks the evolving geopolitical landscape of th...

28 Huhti 1h 6min