Tools Of The Trade From VP’S, MD’S And CEO’S

During our experience as an Analyst, and in becoming an Analyst, we encountered and interacted with dozens of senior-level people.

We compiled a list of all the insight they provided to us from the questions we asked.

We wanted to give you the information we were given by top-level people during our ride, and hopefully, you can use them to help you.

There is a lot of value from each one, and from a combination of hundreds of years in the business world.

Most of these people have been in a high-level environment for 5,10, 15, 20 years, so they know what they're talking about.

They've been around the block, and have seen what works, and what doesn't work.

Most of the tools we were given, we're answers to the questions:

• What makes a successful businessperson?


• What advice would you give to a 20-year-old version of yourself?


• Do you have any recommendations for someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?


• What do you value most in employees or candidates?


• What makes an Analyst stand out to you?

Note: These are all recommendations and advice provided to us. This information is to be used to help guide you on your journey and help you find what works for you. Every person is different and there is no exact formula.

VP of a Broker-Dealer

• Maintain Relationships


• Most underrated skill is being organized


• Start the dialogue


• Find a mentor


• Deals come and go


• Bring Ideas to the table


• It's a numbers game, the more you do, the more you get

VP of a Private Equity Company

• Find a profession you're obsessed with, so you don't view it as work


• Gain incredible market knowledge


• Focus on delivering results


• Have a great work ethic


• The incredible drive is key


• PhD: Poor, Hungry, Driven


• Nothing replaces hard work

VP of a Private Equity (Buy Side)

• Have the best market intel and knowledge


• Be accountable


• Have discipline


• Maintain high standards


• Want to have staying power


• Create a personal database


• If you don't know, ask how they got to an answer


• Do a lot of front-end due diligence

VP of a Private Equity Shop

• Spread your wings


• Meet as many people as possible


• Make an impact


• Anybody can influence a business plan


• The best idea should always win


• The work produced is a reflection of the team working on it


• Want great minds in a room

• There is always a solution


• Appreciate and look at metrics differently


• Right for one market isn't right for every market


• Have answers to the questions

MD of a Private Equity Company

• Get out there and experience every aspect of the industry you're going into


• When you say you're going to do something, do it


• Listen to people


• Interfacing, Combining, Commitment to Closing


• Flexibility


• Adaptability

• No substitute for hard work


• Own your project


• No task is too small


• Try and really learn from everyone and in every city

MD of a Private Equity (Buy Side) Shop

• Problem-solving is key


• Interpersonal skills are crucial


• Everyone is responsible for their work and their future


• Incredibly entrepreneurial


• Have to be able to defend your point


• What truly excites you?


• Most important: Word and Reputation

Fund Manager

• Focus on executing the business plan


• Pick the right horses


• Ability to take over and execute


• Planning


• Expertise


• Flexibility


• Put the right team together

MD of a Finance HR Department

Interview Tips & Guidance

• Set the stage in an interview


• Be relaxed, let them get to know you


• Be boring in what you wear, blend in


• Have good responses for tough question

• Display confidence in
  
  
  
  • How you act
  
  
  • How you present yourself
  
  
  • How you speak
  
  
  
  


• Can't be impressed, have to act like it's commonplace and normal to be there


• Have to be careful with what you show


• Unflappable confidence


• Have to speak clearly and slowly

• Be decisive


• Always be dressed, look the part


• Be honest, but find language that doesn't lie, and is accurate, representative


• Do research


• Exude Confidence


• Composure


• Don't act rash


• Digest

General Advice

• Build good relationships


• Make your mark


• Build trust


• Find someone who you look up to and observe their behavior


• Ask the same questions to everyone


• Meet as many people as possible


• Grind, Respect, and Excel

• Bring more excellence into the workplace


• Meaning and Purpose


• Empowerment


• Learn how to read people


• Listen


• Ask for feedback


• Constructive Criticism


• Acceptance

CFO of a Fund Manager

• Entrepreneurial


• Motivate


• Incentivize


• Have to go above and beyond to distinguish yourself


• Always know and think about a meeting


• Always say something in a meeting


• Make a contribution

• Execute


• Responsibility


• Reducing losses


• Capitalizing on the data


• Need to maintain trust


• Thoroughly understand business and become an expert

CEO of a Private Equity Company

• Recession is good for capitalized people


• When we started out, we were just a couple of guys with no experience, and no track record


• Keep at it all the time


• Head down


• Problem Solving


• Look back at experiences


• Long term thinking

• Think big picture


• Put in the time and effort others won't


• Often take a chance on people who don't deserve it


• Deal Junkies


• Not a quick business, keep your head down, find a mentor


• Need help along the way

Chairman/Founder of a Multi-Billion Dollar Company

• Listen & Watch the details


• Have the ability to create


• Be better than everyone else


• Be excited by challenges


• Whatever my name is on, has to be the best


• Gain knowledge and education through coaches


• Owning it, Improving it


• Connect the dots

• There's always room at the top. It's less crowded


• Execution of a vision


• Read Biographies and traits you want to develop of people you admire


• Surround yourself with good people


• Individuals set their pattern of growth


• The hardest thing to do is preserving capital

Advice from other's we've spoken with

• Get out there and meet people


• Do the little things right


• Work hard, don’t worry about the money


• Be a professional


• Focus on being a good employee


• Ask for 15 minutes to sit down with people


• Use relationships to find deals

• Still learning and challenged every day


• Don't put yourself on a path that's rigid


• Have plenty of time


• Find a first job where you're going to learn a lot


• Develop a transferable skillset


• Try for a client-facing role

• Practically ask to do more
  
  
  
  • If you perform, people will start to trust you
  
  
  
  


• Help by doing the dirty work


• Hours game


• Don't figure out how to leave, figure out how to do more work


• In before boss, leave after


• Introduce yourself


• Attend Happy Hours

• Let a mentor happen naturally


• If your intelligent, and hardworking, you'll get more work


• Hiring is specific for every person and team


• Focus on getting good at your job


• Really understand the numbers


• You have a formal relationship with people until you know them on a personal level

• Keep it really casual, ask questions


• Find good deal flow


• Try and make it as conversational as possible


• Watch 1 on 1 interviews


• Find a good team with high deal flow
  
  
  
  • Once you find it and see it, you'll know
  
  
  
  


• Keep in touch with people

Conclusion

The information we provided to you, was created from hundreds of different conversations with high-level people we received as an up-and-coming Analyst.

This guide was created to give you, an Analyst, aspiring Analyst, or Associate, an opportunity to get into the mind of the senior-level people, and some of their advice, recommendations, and ideas for success.

The wisdom provided in this guide is incredibly valuable, and useful if used the right way. 

Ultimately, a lot of these come down to sacrifice.

But just keep in the back of your mind, something has to give in, whatever it may be, something will give in.

It's all one big tradeoff.

Choose wisely.