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MacDonald: Too few LPs adopt an active GP sourcing mindset

Lane MacDonald · Lane MacDonald – Teamwork, Alignment, and Investing at the Highest Levels at SCS (EP.483) · Jan 26, 2026 · at 48:42

Lane MacDonald, CIO of SCS Financial, explains why institutional allocators must proactively network and source investment opportunities like general partners do.

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“Sourcing to me, whether you're a GP or an LP, too few LPs, Take the GP mindset. As an LP, you better have a GP mindset, and you better source. You better be out there finding opportunities.”

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