Deal Us In

Marilyn Adler and Liddy Karter identified a gap where credit fund managers were getting larger and the lower middle market was getting ignored. They combined forces to “really go after the market,” forming Mizzen Capital . “We'll start with a company when it's two to five million of EBITDA and then help them with add-on acquisitions to get to their target EBITDA,” Marilyn says. Liddy adds: ”The st...

Raudline Etienne remembers seeing a Knight Foundation report that said the percentage of assets that minority and women-owned firms manage in aggregate was less than 2% of a multi-trillion dollar industry. “I found it to be offensive,” she recalls in this conversation with host Ann Terrell Dorsett . “I realized that there was so much talent out there that wasn't getting the opportunity and the fac...

Kristine Parker and Chrystal Pozin reveal how they transformed the Women's Business Resource Group at Fifth Third Bank during the pandemic. It started with an introspective look at what the group wanted, they explain to host Casey Nelson . Then, they restructured the group around four key themes: personal connections, advancement and advocacy, philanthropy, and self-care. Tune in for their insight...

Mary Ellen Iskenderian of Women's World Banking shares her journey from traditional finance to leading global women's financial inclusion efforts. Drawing on 18 years as president and CEO, Mary Ellen explains how Women's World Banking evolved from its founding at the first UN women's conference to become both an NGO and an impact-focused asset manager. With hosts Penny Zacharias and Casey Nelson ,...

Hannah Schiff of Developing World Markets navigates the delicate balance between meaningful impact and competitive financial returns in emerging markets investing. Drawing on her decade of experience in impact investing, Hannah shares how DWM directs capital through local entrepreneurs who understand their communities' needs. With host Penny Zacharias , Hannah addresses investor skepticism by high...

Hosts Casey Nelson and Kelly Wray invite three guests for their insights about how women in finance and law can advocate for themselves.  Linda Filardi of Flagstar Bank , Jess Yovich at BMO Commercial Bank , and McGuireWoods ’ colleague Gretchen Townshend recall their own journeys to guide others. Among their suggested strategies: documenting accomplishments throughout the year, cultivating m...

To underrepresented independent sponsors, Chelsea Celistan has a simple message: “There is a large market that you can do really well in. Full stop.” The head of Independent Sponsor and Company Direct Investment Strategy at Avante Capital Partners , Chelsea shares her encouraging vision in this conversation with host  Phyllis Young . She also details challenges and strategies, emphasizing the...

The two parties in the deal had different priorities, but Kenna Craver managed conflict by leveraging a superpower unique to women in private equity: fostering collaboration and trust.  The founder and managing partner of private investment firm Kamel Capital, Kenna encourages women in finance to recognize those strengths and more, including being “queens of multitasking.” In this conversatio...

From mentors to hybrid work schedules to checking biases at the door, strategies for navigating workplace challenges are accessible but often require buy-in from colleagues and management. Five McGuireWoods women attorneys at various stages of their careers offer these insights and more in this episode of Deal Us In . New hosts Kelly Wray and Casey Nelson join frequent hosts Ann Terrell Dorsett ,...

An entrepreneur’s business is like their first-born child, says Sheila Emami . Her mission is to help them grow.   The vice president of St. Cloud Capital , Sheila explains the relationship-driven approach that St. Cloud leverages on behalf of small businesses and underserved communities nationwide. In this conversation with host Penny Zacharias , Sheila also discusses the importance of...

Purpose. Private Markets. Impact. To some, those are mere concepts. But to The Copia Group ’s Beata Kirr , those words are an investment strategy. In this episode of Deal Us In , Beata Kirr joins host Phyllis Young to discuss impact investing, particularly in private markets. Tune in as Beata discusses how impact investing can lead to higher financial returns, the importance of diversity in the wo...

What do you get when you cross an electrical engineering degree with an MBA? An innovative and successful fund manager. In this episode of Deal Us In , one-of-a-kind venture capital firm manager SC Moatti of Mighty Capital joins host Kelsey Hitchcock to discuss how she carefully selects her investment opportunities, analyzes emerging challenges and issues in artificial technology, and shares her i...

Don’t be deferential when you should be more confident. “Technical skills give you the confidence to speak up and take a seat at the table,” says Amy Weisman.  On this episode of Deal Us In, host Penny Zacharias , Partner at McGuireWoods, is joined by mother-daughter duo, Amy Weisman , Managing Director of Business Development at Sterling Investment Partners , and Julia Weisman , Account Mana...

The workplace has changed considerably in recent years, making arrangements such as working from home more common. However, navigating a career path while simultaneously raising a family can still be challenging, especially in the high-powered financial industry. On this episode of Deal Us In, host Kelsey Hitchcock , partner at McGuideWoods, welcomes guest Laura Redinger , Principal and Business D...

If you could look ahead and see the future, and that future doesn’t appeal to you, then you might want to pivot your strategy or your career aspirations.  On this episode of Deal Us In, host Ann Dorsett , counsel at McGuireWoods, welcomes guest Meredith Carter , President and CEO of Edge Capital , a family office-backed specialty finance company outside of Philadelphia focused on providing as...

We see people succeed and wonder how they got there. But it’s just as important to look at what they didn’t do, as it is to look at what they did. On this episode of Deal Us In, host Xaviera Webb , an associate at McGuireWoods, is joined by guest Kristin Gunther , partner at Revolution Growth , a venture firm based in Washington, D.C. With over 15 years of experience in private equity, finance, an...

Depending on where you work, financial institutions can have a churn-and-burn atmosphere. How does this affect work-life balance, particularly for aspiring female business leaders?  Although previous generations did a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of overcoming barriers to female leadership, there's always work to be done. On this episode of Deal Us In, host Phyllis Young , a partner at M...

Most of us have experienced imposter syndrome. But when you’re the only woman of color in a predominantly white, male-dominated field, it can feel like you’re shooting above your weight. On this episode of Deal Us In, McGuireWoods associate Xaviera Webb talks to Alyssa Daniel, a private equity associate with PNC Mezzanine Capital , about Alyssa’s journey into private equity, including some of the...

For Tamika Tyson, problem solving has not only always been her greatest strength, but also the driving force behind her co-founding her own private equity firm, TGC Impact.  With more than 25 years of experience in risk management and structure, Tamika has worked in banking, energy, industrial, and international markets and through five different economic cycles. What she heard and witnessed...

On this episode of Deal Us In, host Rebecca Rheney, an associate at McGuireWoods, is joined by Aneesha Raghunatha, Vice President at Susquehanna Growth Equity. Aneesha has industry expertise across fintech and healthcare and currently focuses on data and enterprise software. Her current companies include Sievo, ZenQMS, LiveBarn, MediSpend, and more. As a woman of color, Aneesha talks candidly abou...

In this episode of Deal Us In, hosts Phyllis Young, Ann Terrell Dorsett, and Kelsey Hitchcock welcome guests Xaviera Webb and Rebecca Rheney to the podcast. As newer, younger members of the McGuireWoods team, Xaviera and Rebecca bring a fresh perspective to this series. In their first episode, the two McGuireWoods associates flip the script a little, asking the hosts themselves about their own car...

Disruptions in the marketplace challenge even the most seasoned of leaders. Those who can pause and ask the difficult questions when the market is shifting will find they don’t just have an organization that survives, but one that sustains and thrives.  Deal Us In host Phyllis Young welcomes LaDawn Townsend, Founder and CEO of VOS Group, to discuss how to help leaders lead. LaDawn has spent o...

Are you making deal resolutions for the New Year? In this episode of Deal Us In, we welcome back McGuireWoods partners Jodie Herrmann Lawson and Susan Rodriguez to share their deal resolutions for 2023 with host Kelsey Hitchcock.  Kelsey, Jodie and Susan explore what people should be thinking through as they approach deals this year. This includes more upfront scrutiny of I9s, when to conside...

In this episode of Deal Us In, we welcome Renny Sie as she joins host Kelsey Hitchcock to discuss her role as Vice President of Business Development and investor Relations at Boyne Capital and her non-traditional track that brought her there. Renny Sie brings a unique perspective to business acquisition: her formative years were spent as a professional pianist. After following a path orchestrated...

We all have that voice in our head: the one telling us we’re imposters, we’re not cut out for this, we’ll never be able to catch up to the men in our industry. As a woman in investing, you might not ever have the same opportunities as the men out there, especially if you take time off for maternity leave or have a family at home to provide for. So it’s no surprise that those voices in our heads ca...