Marc learned the importance of sales by paying for his degree in accounting and computer science by selling t-shirts on the beach. Marc encourages us to reflect on your mistakes and learn from them, but focus on tomorrow. Marc encourages us all to understand that the only person you need to compete with is the person you were yesterday.

In 2003, Charles set out on his own to found Trestle Capital Partners to provide strategic financial advice and direct investments in middle market companies across a variety of industries. His discusses the personal challenges that many business owners have in selling their companies that they often founded or have served in an executive capacity for decades. He explains that often the real motives and desires that sellers have are unspoken and may take some patient trust building to uncover in collaboration with their Mergers and Acquisitions clients.

Abigail has held senior executive roles at the American Dental Education Association, and most recently at the American Institute of Architects. Abigail spoke candidly about her decision to leave the for profit world in search of a better work life balance, sharing with us an important lesson as a leader in realizing that it's not about you. Rather, it's about understanding and listening to those on your team in an effort to provide inspiration, direction, and support, and helping achieve the organization's goals.

Kathryn Thompson’s varied experiences in Corporate America prepared her for success in her current role as Chief Operating Officer for the national non-profit Girls on the Run. Along the way she learned that life is a marathon not a sprint, rely on your strengths, but take more risks than maybe you think you should.

Goldman Sach's Private Wealth Managing Director Carl Peoples discusses his career path in financial sales, transitioning to building a book of business in Private Wealth Servoces, and selling discipline. In his journey he's learned that taking a moment to breathe, "everyone here is smart, but so am I" and that he belongs.

CEO, Operator, Entrepreneur, and Board Member for early stage private equity and VC investor backed growth companies, David Richardson discusses the search process, building and exiting software businesses.

Dana Sims owns and manages Seattle’s oldest live venue, El Corazon, one of Pollstar’s top 100 clubs worldwide. Dana has used every opportunity to his advantage. For example while interning at Microsoft, he moonlit at Sub Pop, Nirvana’s label, turning that into a full time position upon graduating from B-School. Dana Sims is exactly where he envisioned himself being when he graduated Darden. Living and working in rock and roll.

After graduating from UVA with an English degree, Graham Anthony started business in men's apparel and journalism. After B-school he entered financial services on Wall Street M&A and has built a successful M&A practice helping medium and small businesses and buyers. Graham has also been CFO for a biotech startup and discusses the sales cycle of big bio.

Martha White spent her career in human resources for Fortune 500 companies such as Allied Signal, Honeywell, Merck, GlaxoSmithKline and Bridgestone. After moving to Italy in 1999, she has spent the last 20 years living and working in the EU. HR is too often an after thought to business leaders growing or transforming companies. Martha has steered her own career to avoid such managers, and has become a key resource and leader for companies navigating our dynamic business environment.

After twenty years in private equity investing, Mark Riser still knows hustle beats smarts. Join us in exploring his journey from driving nuclear subs to breaking into private equity. Mark shares his key take aways for determining investments and discusses decisions he's made to manage work-life balance