Suzanne Pike, Partner and Head of Origination, reflects on how the origination function has evolved over her 15 years at ECI, why relationships and emotional intelligence remain at the heart of private equity, and why her most used emoji outs her as a millennial.
Q: How has the origination landscape since you joined ECI?
When I joined in 2011, very few firms had a dedicated origination function unless they were heavily buy and build focused. ECI already had an Origination Partner concentrating on advisor coverage, but my role was created to reflect a clear shift toward sector specialism and the need for genuine credibility in each area.
Today, deep subsector knowledge and early, direct access to management teams sit at the heart of how we deploy capital, because they are what give us real conviction. We remain extremely focused in our approach, typically putting forward offers on only 6–8 opportunities a year to convert 3–4 high-quality deals.
Q: How has the launch of Amplifind™ changed ECI’s ability to source and win deals?
Amplifind™, our proprietary AI tool, now supports our entire origination process. That’s from lead identification and prioritisation, powered by LLM workflows and machine learning models, through to rapid company insights enabled by data aggregation, deep research and agentic AI. It even enhances our selling process through AI-driven case study podcasts and roleplay tools.
It is the most effective platform in the market because it has been built specifically around how ECI works, using proprietary data to train the models that stretches back decades. We have also designed it to be highly agile, enabling us to evolve the platform as our market, processes and technology continue to shift.
Beyond surfacing differentiated insights and supporting sharper prioritisation, Amplifind™ saves both our portfolio companies and us enormous amounts of time, for example, reducing bolt-on mapping from 4–5 weeks to around three days.
Q: What skills do you think someone needs to work in private equity, and origination in particular?
Above everything, you need the ability to connect with people on a human level – whether that’s building trust with a management team or navigating internal discussions about pipeline priorities. Origination is fundamentally about communicating well, listening deeply and remembering that people and relationships sit at the centre of every decision.
Q: What do you think is the biggest misconception management teams have about private equity?
The biggest misconception is that all private equity firms are the same. It’s incredibly hard for management teams to differentiate from the outside, which is why we always encourage taking references and spending time with us outside a formal process. That’s the best way to understand what we are like to work with day to day.
Q: What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned since joining?
That this is a people business. The strongest relationships are built on trust and integrity, and showing up consistently with openness and authenticity is a powerful foundation for a long-term partnership.
Q: What excites you about the role today?
I’m genuinely excited about the opportunity to differentiate at the intersection of technology, AI and emotional intelligence – that’s where the future of origination will be shaped.
The role has shifted away from desktop analysis and market research – those elements can be automated. It’s now about exercising judgement, unlocking value from our network and deepening relationships.
Quick Fire with Suzanne:
What’s on your bedside table right now?
My AirPods – always. I’m terrible for late night doomscrolling.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
The world is often loud with criticism and quiet with appreciation. Be the exception and always take the chance to acknowledge the small things you value in others.
Do you have a weekend routine?
Mainly chauffeuring my three kids between dance school and swimming lessons. The highlight is my Saturday morning coffee with the other dance mums.
What’s something you believed ten years ago that you no longer do?
That personal growth slows down as you get older – I’ve realised I’m still learning and evolving all the time.
What’s your most used emoji?
The classic (and apparently now embarrassingly millennial) laughing emoji.
What would your colleagues be surprised to learn about you?
Probably that I’m the designated family singer for weddings and funerals – or that I failed my first driving test for speeding… twice.
