Best Career Advice

TAHA AHMED: People around you should know you for who you are as an individual, not just because of what your job is or where you work.

XAVIER CHAILLOT: A mentor once told me to “learn to be comfortable with uncertainty.” This advice touches upon so many key principles of professional life, from not allowing your feelings to cloud your judgment, to continuing to learn, to there’s no good news or bad news— there’s just news. It’s really been one of my guiding principles since then.

DAVID T. CHEN: Put yourself out there! Despite advances in dealmaking tools, databases and analytics, M&A will always be a people-first, relationship-driven business. As such, there is no substitute for maximizing direct interactions with potential partners and counterparties.

SETH COLLINS: The best advice I have ever received is to relax and take it easy. The great leaders I have seen in my career have demonstrated calmness and confidence, regardless of the circumstances, that is both infectious and inspiring. It has been these individuals who could always steady the ship, find solutions with other stakeholders and advance a transaction. I have tried to emulate this example to cultivate the best working environment and experience that I can on a given transaction.

PATRICK GILLIGAN: “Call, don’t email.” Simple, but timeless.

JELENA GUZENKO: One of my mentors in the past said, “Just be true to yourself, your values and principles—and the rest will follow.”

MATT HINSON: My mentor Mike Anderson would often say, “Kill the snake!” (borrowed from Ross Perot). If you see a snake, just kill it. Don’t appoint a committee, find consultants or try to gather consensus on snakes. Just kill the snake. The point is that you should always have a bias toward taking action. You should also give your team the ability to act themselves without constantly having to seek your input to do what needs to be done.

YVANNA A. LOPEZ (PEREZ MOREL) : Treat others like you want to be treated. The world is a small place and, in my experience, you should always (always!) treat others with respect and professionalism, even when negotiations get really tough (and sometimes they do!).

DANIEL NAUHEIM: Put patients first.

JAMES TIDWELL: No matter what you think you know about the party across the table, always be prepared for a tough negotiation.