private equity
Abe Boden: Find ways to make the people around you better. With skill comes responsibility.
Jason Balmer: The most meaningful advice I’ve received, professionally and in life, was the repetition, “If you’re green, you’re growing; if you’re ripe, you’re rotten.” , pursue and accept challenges.
Rich Glazhevsky: Early in my career, a mentor told me that in order to be successful in any profession, you must first give value before you can ask for anything in return. Whether it’s providing a professional PE company name or helping a business owner refer you to a banker or advisor, I make every effort to provide value at the outset. , is the sum of all these small value-added acts.
The first meeting is never bad.
Len Iaboni: The first meeting is never bad.
Shane McAdam: Be grateful, be humble, appreciate the opportunities and achievements, but don’t be complacent. Stay hungry.
Stephanie Mooney: Always look for ways to add value to others. And don’t expect anything in return.
Emily Osman Laurie: In chaos there is always opportunity.
Holland Reynolds: Follow the herd and you’ll reach Lamb Chops!
Christopher Schatzman: don’t be complacent. Relationships are the lifeblood of an effective business development team, and it’s important to maintain existing networks effectively while constantly engaging and driving new relationships. Relying on important clients can be easy, but the advice I’ve always received is to keep innovating and driving differentiated relationships with new networks of professionals.
Brent White: Focus on results rather than how long each task takes. By ignoring time, you can focus on the quality of your work instead of just getting it done. Another great piece of advice is to never stop learning. One of the most powerful things that propel your career forward is knowledge, no matter what the circumstances.
Read more about this year’s notable private equity BD professionals.
investment banking
Jane Adams: It’s all about shots on goal. Good luck and good luck!
Scott Ames: Focus on your strengths and propel the ball forward. The executive I worked with in 2021. His coach has taught me a lot about how to prioritize my time, how to use my strengths, and how to compensate for my weaknesses. One of the strategies I start each day is putting together an Eisenhower Matrix to decide where to focus. Items that fall into the “important but not urgent” category are the actual significant changes that I try to focus my attention on most.
Brian Dallessandro: The simplest piece of advice that’s worked best for me in the relationship-driven space we operate in is “just be a normal person.” If we can build trust, we can spot opportunities and problems and provide appropriate solutions.
Justin Loeb: People buy not what you do, but why you do it – Quote from author Simon Sinek.
People buy not what you do, but why you do it.
Paul L. Novak: Surround yourself with young talent and give them enough rope to make them uncomfortable. It’s the best gift you can give for the growth of these young professionals.
Michael Pirrick: Don’t lose your intellectual curiosity.
Tricia Salinero: When I recently asked a client about his spending in 2024, he replied, “That’s my problem for the future.” It really stuck with me. However, you can’t be a banker without being a bit of an optimist. So now my half-glass rebranding is “Future-Me Opportunity.” It’s easy to imagine all the permutations of decision making and try to be prepared for all the consequences, but for my team and my clients it’s very important to be here now.
Andrew Suen: Make life easier for those above you. This professional advice has served me well over the years and has fundamentally changed my outlook on my entire life. It is an essential asset in building a successful career as well as a quality life.
Tristan Tamasev: Be curious. This includes many other characteristics. Curiosity includes spontaneity, thoughtfulness, humility, and respect for others. I’ve found that setting a path based on continuous learning and research can lead to incredible places.
Panos Tsirikas: “An analyst’s responsibility is to analyze” is the advice I still adhere to, shared by Todd Kaltman, a veteran of Kroll’s Transaction Opinions group. We believe in the importance of accurate analytical work, regardless of your role or project you are working on. Through rigorous and objective analysis, our work stimulates and encourages intellectual curiosity and ensures unbiased, fact-based decisions.
Learn more about this year’s notable investment bankers here.
corporate development
Taha Ahmed: People around you should know who you are, not just what you do or where you work.
Xavier Chaillot: A mentor once told me to “learn to get used to uncertainty.” This advice is to keep learning from not letting emotions cloud your judgment, there is no good or bad news. It touches on so many important principles of professional life, down to just having news. Since then it has become one of my guiding principles.
Despite advances in trading tools, databases and analytics, M&A has always been a people-first, relationship-focused business.
David Chen: Get out there! Despite advances in trading tools, databases and analytics, M&A has always been a people-first, relationship-focused business. As such, there is no substitute for maximizing direct interactions with potential partners and suppliers.
Seth Collins: The best advice I’ve ever received is to relax and take it easy. The great leaders I’ve seen in my career have demonstrated calmness and confidence regardless of the circumstances. It was these individuals who were always able to stabilize the ship, find solutions with other stakeholders and move the deal forward. I tried to cultivate the working environment and experience of
Patrick Gilligan: “Call me, don’t text me.” Simple but timeless.
Jelena Guzenko: As one of my mentors once said, “Be true to yourself, to your values, to your principles.
Matt Hinson: My mentor, Mike Anderson, used to say, “Kill the snake!” (borrowed from Ross Perot). If you see a snake, just kill it. Don’t appoint committees, find consultants, or try to gather consensus on snakes. Just kill the snake. The point is, you should always be biased against taking action. You also want your team to be able to act on their own without constantly asking for input to do what needs to be done.
Yvanna A. Lopez (Perez Morel): Treat others the way you would like to be treated. The world is a small place and in my experience, always (always!) treat others with respect and professionalism, even when negotiations get very difficult (sometimes they do!) is needed.
Daniel Nauheim: Patient first.
James Tidwell: Always be prepared for tough negotiations, no matter what you think you know about the party across the table.
Read more about this year’s Corporate Development Professionals to Watch.
