Today on Take the Stage, we are shining the spotlight on Peter Washington. Peter is Managing Director and Head of Originations for The Copia Group, a diverse-founded and led firm that provides debt and equity capital solutions to lower middle-market companies. His journey is marked by over two decades of experience as a credit investment professional at firms such as CapX Partners and the Northern Trust Company. From attending a non-target school to making a name for himself on Wall Street and defying odds after the Great Financial Crisis of 2008, Peter takes us through his journey and shares insight on navigating your career path, diversity in the space, and the importance of work-life balance.

Episode Outline and Highlights

[1:13] Peter reflects on his 23-year journey in the credit and lending business, including experiences with Bank of America, the Northern Trust Company, a 14-year tenure at Cap X Partners, to his current role with The Copia Group.

[6:20] We dig deeper into Peter's early path, from encounters in high school and finance classes at Florida A&M that ultimately drove him to a career in credit and lending.

[13.46] Peter finance journey is marked by key moments: valuing underwriting skills, engaging with clients' stories, and closing his first independent deal in 2013. Witnessing a company's growth from $5M revenue to a public listing in 2019 fuels his passion for finance.

[20:10] Peter describes The Copia Group's focus on underserved borrowers in the lower middle market, its three core beliefs, and their mission to bridge credit access disparities for women and diverse entrepreneurs.

[33:28] Peter discusses how working with leaders who prioritize family values has been invaluable in his career and explains how transitioning from singlehood to family life taught him the importance of a supportive work environment.

[38:13] Peter gives three pieces of advice to the next generation of investment professionals.

[45:34] Peter explains that the journey isn't linear; inflection points shape it. Despite challenges, qualities like quality work, humility, hunger, and self-belief are vital.

Connect with our guest

Peter Washington's LinkedIn

The Copia Group | LinkedIn

Connect with Alexis: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | alexis@career-rockstars.com

Today on Take the Stage and our special series Ladies Who Rock, we are shining the spotlight on Jaclyn Voor. Jaclyn is a skilled operator specializing in portfolio company value creation for private equity clients. With over 10 years of experience, Jaclyn has built a remarkable career, transforming companies and driving exponential value for her clients. From her early days in consulting at EY to her pivotal role as VP of Transformation for a $1 billion Platinium Equity portfolio company, Jaclyn's expertise in portfolio company value creation is unique. Her passion led her to establish her own independent consulting business focused on portfolio company transformation and value creation.

Episode Outline and Highlights

• [1:28] Jaclyn reveals how her interest in supply chain and operations ignited during college and talks about the two key influences that shaped her path.

• [3:18] The transition into private equity began with her career at EY where she focused on performance improvement and supply chain transformations for PE-backed companies.

• [5:25] Jaclyn touches on her pivotal move to Platinum Equity and her subsequent promotion to VP of Transformation for its $1 billion portfolio company, Club Car.

• [7:23] Jaclyn delves into the intrinsic motivation that ultimately fueled her decision to establish her own independent consulting business focused on portfolio company transformation and value creation.

• [10:35] The conversation dives into imposter syndrome and Jaclyn's strategies for overcoming it, especially given that she was the VP of Transformation for a $1 billion portfolio company before the age of 30. 

• [14:15] Jaclyn emphasizes the importance of achieving a "state of flow" not only for personal benefit but for professional excellence, as well.

• [18:29 Jaclyn demystifies the relationship between portfolio operations and value creation.

• [21:27] Jaclyn offers valuable advice for those aspiring to enter or advance in private equity operations, emphasizing the significance of building quality connections and choosing the right network. 

• [24:10] Jaclyn sheds light on the nuanced art of building connections and addresses whether to connect with the portfolio operations team at the fund level or with portfolio company leadership

Jaclyn Voor's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

JV Transformation Advisors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Alexis Alvarez on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | alexis@career-rockstars.com

This is Part 2 of our Take the Stage episode with Matan Feldman.

Matan is founder and CEO of Wall Street Prep, a global full-service financial training firm providing self-study programs, instructor-led training and e-learning services to investment banks, financial institutions, and Fortune 1000 companies.

In Part 2, Matan reflects on the transformative journey of Wall Street Prep since the 2008 crisis and its impact on the finance industry.

Episode Outline and Highlights

[01:52] - Matan discusses the impact of the 2008 financial crisis on Wall Street Prep and how they adapted.

[03:42] - He touches on how they expanded from a single program into a comprehensive suite of financial education offerings and the strategic approach they took to cater to corporate clients while shifting towards digitization. 

[12:16] - Matan’s realization that Wall Street Prep is becoming a “real” business marks a turning point, as they begin to define themselves as a format-agnostic content company and begin investing in technology, hires, and building capabilities to deliver content both in the classroom and digitally. 

[14:15] - This commitment to delivering high-quality content in both digital and classroom formats led to a slow but steady growth trajectory and positioned themselves for bigger wins in the corporate sector. 

[23:43] - Matan shares his thoughts on how Wall Street Prep has transformed the finance industry by providing equal opportunities for individuals to break into competitive careers and thereby leveling the playing field when it comes to removing barriers that existed before.

[24:35] - While he takes pride in Wall Street Prep’s role as an equalizer, enabling anyone, regardless of their program, academic background, or school reputation, to learn and thrive in the industry, Matan also questions whether Wall Street Prep has made recruitment interviews harder.

[26:08] - Looking ahead, their vision is to become the go-to resource for all finance careers, bridge the generational divide, and meet the evolving needs of learners in a rapidly changing industry.

[31:25] - Matan wraps up by discussing Wall Street Prep's mission to go beyond being a mere signaling mechanism. As industries evolve, including the influence of AI and data, Wall Street Prep remains focused on the end user and ensuring their products deliver tangible results.

Special Links:

This career-focused program combines the institutional knowledge from the world’s leading business school with the practical skills approach of the private equity industry's leading training provider.

⁠Wall Street Prep & Wharton Private Equity Certificate Program⁠

Connect with Matan Feldman

Matan Feldman on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Wall Street Prep ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Alexis Alvarez

Alexis on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Alexis on email alexis@career-rockstars.com

Today on Take the Stage, we are shining the spotlight on Matan Feldman. Matan is founder and CEO of Wall Street Prep, a global full-service financial training firm providing self-study programs, instructor-led training and e-learning services to investment banks, financial institutions, and Fortune 1000 companies. This is part one of a two-part episode where Matan takes us on a journey through the early years of his entrepreneurial venture. From his experiences in investment banking to the inception of Wall Street Prep, Matan shares the challenges, inspirations, and pivotal moments that shaped the company's path.

Episode Outline and Highlights

[03:24] Matan shares his journey through M&A and sell-side equity research to the decision of starting Wall Street Prep.

[07:59] While working at JP Morgan, Matan realized the need for a resource he wished he had when entering the industry. He reflects on his time at Boston U and how his exposure to finance and investment banking didn’t come until a study abroad experience his junior year. Matan describes the challenges of understanding the industry jargon and the lack of accessible resources, which in turn, inspired his vision to simplify and demystify the technical skills needed for finance careers.

[12:04] Matan details his initial vision for Wall Street Prep, which was focused on an eight-week program akin to a Kaplan-style LSAT prep, targeting college students interested in investment banking. Matan explains the barriers that existed in accessing knowledge and mentions his desire to break these unnecessary moats and signaling mechanisms that existed in the industry. 

[17:37] Matan explains his bold career move and the reactions of his family and friends when he tells them of his entrepreneurial desires.

[22:27] Matan explains that the first year was dedicated to creating content and building the program without market validation or proof of concept. He describes how he spent long hours developing the materials, drawing from his work discipline gained in investment banking. He also shares the grassroots efforts to promote his program that yielded minimal success.

[25:15] Matan shares how his marketing strategy shifted with the arrival of Google AdWords which helped him learn valuable marketing lessons during this phase, including the importance of global advertising for a global product.

[28:50] Matan shares how he learned his lesson about pricing and positioning and reflects on the moment he realizes Wall Street Prep’s growth potential.

[34:53]  Matan reflects on a crucial transition in his life as revenue started flowing in and how the focus became about expanding offerings and building Wall Street Prep's reputation, while navigating the challenges that come with being a small, unknown company.

[38:13]  Matan addresses the credibility obstacles they faced as a small business and discusses how demand from finance clubs for their innovative self-study approach allowed them to overcome objections and showcase the practical relevance of their program. 

Special Links:

This career-focused program combines the institutional knowledge from the world’s leading business school with the practical skills approach of the private equity industry's leading training provider.

Wall Street Prep & Wharton Private Equity Certificate Program

Connect with Matan Feldman

Matan Feldman on ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠

Wall Street Prep ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Alexis Alvarez

Alexis on ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠

Alexis on email alexis@career-rockstars.com

Today on Take the Stage, we are shining the spotlight on Patty Fernandez Moore. Patty is a Senior Associate at Lightspring Capital Partners, a lower middle market PE firm that targets majority equity investments across various industries. She began her career in the Valuation & Business Modeling group at EY before completing her MBA and joining JP Morgan's Investment Banking Group in Chicago. She also happens to be a mother of a toddler and helps to dispel the myth that women cannot successfully balance motherhood with a career in private equity. In this episode, Patty opens up about her experiences, offering insights for women who struggle with the age-old question, "Can women really have it all?"

Episode Outline and Highlights

[01:45] Breaking the mold - Patty shares her journey of embracing motherhood while working as an Investment Banking Associate and how she "broke the mold" to prove that it is possible to thrive in both roles.

[08:10] Patty recounts her experience on what it was like to interview and participate in her recruitment processes while pregnant and the surprisingly positive experience it turned out to be.

[10:50] Finding the right culture fit is important to everyone when recruiting and Patty shares how she approached this as an expectant mother. She offers advice on just how to navigate recruitment processes and encourages women to pursue their career aspirations.

[13:03] The joys and challenges of being a working mom are endless, but Patty has found joy in unexpected places. Becoming a mother has given her the critical and invaluable ability to set boundaries, something she wishes she had done earlier in her career. She also cites forging deeper connections with other women and reveling in what she calls the sisterhood of motherhood.

[18:10] Patty concludes the episode by offering heartfelt advice to women considering a career in private equity and answering the question "Do women over overthink this too much?

Patty Fernandez Moore's ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠

Lightspring Capital ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Alexis Alvarez on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ | alexis@career-rockstars.com

Today on Take the Stage, we are shining the spotlight on Emily Yin. Emily is an Analyst at Avante Capital Partners, the largest women-owned private credit firm in the SBIC industry. She is primarily responsible for investment due diligence but also works on other impact initiatives, including a junior women’s network and student mentorship through Avante’s diversity internship program. Emily graduated with a bachelor’s degree in global health and previously worked in biotech and pharma. She is passionate about the intersection between finance and social impact, particularly in healthcare equity and women’s health. 

Episode Outline and Highlights

1:45 Emily enlightens us with her fascinating, non-traditional background that includes Global Health and little exposure to the world of private equity.

5:00 Emily explains what drove and attracted her to the space. With a network that didn’t include the investment banking/PE crowd, but with guidance from mentors, Emily approached it by spreading a wide net.

9:05 Emily talks about the qualities or experiences that were instrumental in her breaking into PE and how she overcame the steep learning curve by taking initiative and using her non-traditional background to her advantage. Mentors and the right attitude played a big part, too.

15:05 Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable was key to Emily's success. Emily understood that it wasn’t about having all the answers but asking the right questions. Understanding that it’s an apprenticeship business, shadowing VPs, learning different methods and styles, bringing in a new perspective and knowing there are several ways to reach an outcome were factors in overcoming the overwhelm.

18:11 Emily explains the unique Avante internship program. Few internships offer women / minorities / non-finance profiles a program to explore if they would be interested in pursuing PE roles without currently possessing the technical chops or traditional profile.

20:02 Emily discusses the Avante junior women’s network, her desire to foster a supportive community for young women as they advance in their careers while increasing diversity throughout the industry, and the types of events they hold. 

32:02 Emily drops golden nuggets regarding female talent, balancing family (either managing when to have children or balancing the “partner track”) and how it doesn’t need to be a choice between personal or professional.

35:20 Emily offers advice to women who see it as a choice between family and work. She’s both conscious and grateful her firm bucks the trend but recognises it hasn’t always been that way, isn’t at every firm, and that there’s still much to do.

39:45 Emily shares her take on the negative feelings associated with networking and shares several platforms, including regional and cultural professional groups. She talks cold reach outs, moving past feelings of rejection, and most importantly, how to build your tribe.

Emily Yin's LinkedIn

Avante Capital Partners Website | LinkedIn

Connect with Alexis Alvarez on LinkedIn | alexis@career-rockstars.com

Today on Take the Stage, we are shining the spotlight on Rocio Heres. Rocio is the Managing Director at AltamarCAM Capital Partners where she is currently co-head of the New York office and a member of Altamar’s 10-person US investment team. She has led an extensive number of deals in the US, Latin America, and Europe, focusing on GP-led restructurings in the LMM. Originally from Northern Spain, she has been residing in New York for the past six years.

Episode Outline and Highlights

[1:00] Rocio walks us through her international career that spans three countries - Spain, Chile, and the United States. After five years with Altamar, and upon the successful setup of a new office in South America, she was moved to NYC to open Altamar's first US office where she currently serves as MD.

[4:30] Being a foreigner, a woman, and a non-native English speaker, Rocio discusses living outside her comfort zone and overcoming those challenges. She attributes it through work ethic and effort, the need to work harder and longer.

[10:00] Reflection time! Rocio looks back at the start of her professional career and with the benefit of hindsight offers what she would have changed - avoid self-limiting beliefs, be more confident, work hard and be patient!

[12:45] What does being named in Next Gen Leaders of Secondaries (2021 list), which spotlights the 20 most influential people (and being one of only 20 women and the only MD listed) mean to Rocio? Humbled and honored by the recognition which proved her hard work, she didn’t expect it even though she aspired to be included on it.

[15:00] What would it take to increase the number of women on similar lists in the future? Rocio details that by looking at past lists, the trend is already apparent and trending upward. She also thinks that by supporting female talent, be it candidates or colleagues, will help ensure that no one feels alone as she once did. More flexibility will also help. Lastly, women should understand that they are deserving and finance positions are for them, too.

[18:00] Is there a misconception by women of work life and personal life balance within PE? Rocio thinks it’s misunderstood and that it does exist.

[20:15] Rocio’s take on diversity within the PE space - more and more investors are asking for it. Having diversity within investment teams makes them stronger and allows for better investment decisions. It’s becoming more important and LP’s already have in mind that they should support diversity.

Rocio Heres' LinkedIn

AltamarCAM Capital Website | LinkedIn

Connect with Alexis Alvarez on LinkedIn | alexis@career-rockstars.com