The Profile: The dealmakers behind the secretive 3G Capital & the Olympic skier who mastered the pain cave
This edition of The Profile features 3G Capital, Ankur Jain, Jessie Diggins, and others.
Good morning, friends!
As a perfectionist, this is hard to admit, but the truth is that people are often drawn to imperfect things.
Whether it’s art, movies, or books, we tend to remember — and talk about — the flawed things that stick in our heads more than the polished, perfect, and ultimately forgettable ones.
I was reminded of this while watching clips from Alex Warren’s Grammy performance. Nominated for Best New Artist, Warren began singing his hit “Ordinary,” but you could see him tapping his earpiece before eventually pulling it out. An audio malfunction left him about half a beat behind for part of the song.
Even though it must have been incredibly frustrating — especially during his Grammy debut — he pushed through and still delivered a great performance. And at the end, you could see the disappointment on his face because it hadn’t gone perfectly.
Later, he posted on Instagram: “When you’re performing at the Grammys and all you hear is this in your ears,” alongside a clip of the audio chaos, clutching his head in mock frustration.
And here’s the thing: Bruno Mars, Post Malone, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, and plenty of other massive stars also performed that night. Their performances were excellent. And yet, I didn’t hear much about any of them afterward.
Warren’s moment went viral because it was messy and human. We’ve all been there — ready for our big moment, only to be tripped up by something outside our control. We rarely get to see imperfection play out on one of the biggest stages in the world. And yet, because of it, I now know who Alex Warren is — and so do hundreds of thousands of others.
As Malcolm Gladwell puts it: “You want an aftertaste, and that comes from not everything being perfectly blended together.”
— Polina
PROFILES.
— The dealmakers behind the secretive private equity firm 3G [**HIGHLY RECOMMEND**]
— The CEO bringing ‘sexy’ back to Victoria’s Secret
— The founder dealing with customer backlash
— The Olympic skier who mastered the pain cave
— The old-school pizza chain that became an obsession
PEOPLE TO KNOW.
The dealmakers behind the secretive private equity firm 3G: At 2 a.m. in a Midtown boardroom, little-known 3G Capital partners Alex Behring and Daniel Schwartz raced the opening bell to buy Burger King for $4.1B, while the press literally confused them with another firm. They imposed an owner’s mindset and ruthless cost discipline, then used franchising to reignite global growth. Fifteen years later, Burger King anchors Restaurant Brands International (~$45B), and the investment is up nearly 30x with no exit in sight. (Colossus)
“Is 3G the most unique private equity business model in the landscape today?”
The CEO bringing ‘sexy’ back to Victoria’s Secret: Victoria’s Secret is staging a comeback under CEO Hillary Super, reclaiming its signature glamour. The brand is leaning back into sexy — but on women’s terms — pairing spectacle and confidence with broader representation and better products. Early results show market share gains, stock recovery, and renewed buzz among younger customers. (FORTUNE)
“People were not loving the product, so they used all this other stuff as an excuse to leave.”
The founder dealing with customer backlash: Bilt founder Ankur Jain never meant to build a blockbuster credit card, but adding one was the hook that finally got landlords and renters to adopt his rent-payments platform. The strategy worked (millions now pay rent through Bilt), but its ultra-generous rewards proved costly and sparked backlash after a confusing revamp. Jain, shaped by a lifelong exposure to startup chaos, sees the turbulence as part of building something meaningful. The bet now is whether Bilt can keep its edge as its once-radical card starts to look more like the rest. (Bloomberg; alternate link)
The Olympic skier who mastered the pain cave: Jessie Diggins, the most accomplished cross-country skier in U.S. history, built her career on an unmatched ability to push through pain — even racing to Olympic silver in 2022 while sick, dehydrated, and physically collapsing at the finish. But years of pushing beyond her limits also forced her to confront the toll of elite sport, including struggles with eating disorders and burnout. Now heading into her final Olympics, Diggins is redefining toughness by learning that greatness isn’t just about suffering, but knowing when to protect herself. (The New York Times Magazine)
“The fact I’m standing here is an absolute miracle.”
COMPANIES TO WATCH.
The old-school pizza chain that became an obsession: A lone sit-down Pizza Hut in rural Pennsylvania has become a viral pilgrimage site, drawing crowds hungry not just for pan pizza but for the cozy, communal vibes of the ’80s and ’90s. Social media turned the retro restaurant into a secular shrine, where salad bars, jukebox dreams, and BOOK IT! posters promise refuge from a digitized, delivery-only present. Remember the feeling of being around other people, sharing a booth, and lingering over a meal? (Slate)
“It’s like stepping straight into 1987.”
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