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Gary Shields is the Chairman and Managing Partner of Nassau Street Partners, where he spearheads the firm's strategic direction and directly leads all major initiatives. At the helm of the organization, Gary brings a wealth of experience with a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades in investment banking and venture capital. Gary began his career in 1986 at LF Rothschild as a research analyst specializing in TMT stocks. In 1991, he joined the renowned investment bank Robertson Stephens as the Head of Environmental Services Investment Banking. Initially recruited as a Senior Research Analyst, Gary transitioned into the investment banking group, contributing to the firm's legacy as one of the "Four Horsemen" of investment banking. Later in 1991, Gary became Head of Healthcare Investment Banking at The Chicago Corporation, where he drove innovative strategies in one of the most dynamic sectors of the market. In 1995, he co-founded Flemming, Lessard & Shields, a San Diego and San Francisco-based investment bank. As Managing Director, Gary advised hundreds of companies on M&A, divestitures, IPO planning, and capital formation. Gary's expertise extends beyond investment banking into venture capital and corporate governance. He joined the board of Favrille in 2003, a biopharma company focused on immune system technologies, and played a pivotal role in its IPO and subsequent merger. Since 2020, he has served on the board of CureScience, guiding its partnerships and investments in cutting-edge diagnostics, regenerative medicine, and immunotherapy. Today, under Gary's direct leadership, he also serves as a Managing Partner at AvTech Ventures, a San Diego-based investment bank and venture capital firm. AvTech is recognized for advising and investing in emerging growth companies from early stages through IPOs and M&A transactions. His hands-on management approach has built a track record of success in both domestic and international markets. Gary's career reflects a deep commitment to innovation, strategic growth, and delivering exceptional outcomes for companies and investors alike. As the driving force behind Nassau Street Partners, his vision, expertise, and decisive leadership are instrumental in shaping the firm's direction and continuing to provide world-class advisory services to clients. Gary is part of Nasau Street Partners (NSP) and registered with Nassau Street Securities (NSS), a registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/SIPC. All securities-related business and transactions are conducted solely through NSS.

Robert Reifman Managing Director & Co-Head of Industrials, Lincoln International Bobby advises clients on the best approach to maximize their investment returns on businesses they hold in the industrial space. He has significant mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisory experience, working on numerous transactions for leading private equity firms, public companies and private and family-owned businesses. His experience includes buy- and sell-side transactions, cross-border advisory, debt advisory and valuations. Bobby extends himself beyond the sale process to develop long-term partnerships with clients and provide value at each step of their investment. Bobby has a deep knowledge of industrial business dynamics and advises his clients regarding changes in regulations, brand competitiveness, manufacturing models and global trends. He leverages his mechanical engineering background to connect with leaders in the industry and has developed trusted relationships. Bobby has strong transaction experience with a broad range of industrial companies, specifically motion control, rubber and plastics, filtration, interconnects, engineered components and systems and tool-related products. Prior to joining Lincoln, Bobby conducted M&A at Morgan Stanley. His diverse experience includes trading in the automated execution division at TradeLink, a quantitative hedge fund, and engineer consulting at Sargent & Lundy. Bobby earned a Master of Business Administration (with Honors) from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois.

David Hellier is a Partner and Investment Committee member at Bertram Capital.  He oversees Bertram Capital's Origination and Capital Markets team, where he directs sourcing, investment opportunity assessment, intermediary/lender relationship development and sell-side selection processes. Prior to Bertram, David was President and CEO of The Gemesis Corporation, an early innovator in diamond growth technology. At Ask.com (IAC) David's leadership launched Ask Jeeves from the 312th ranked Internet site to the 12th largest site on the Web and built the company into one of the most widely recognized Internet brands. David held senior management positions at Iomega, establishing the company's presence as Managing Director of the Asia Pacific region and subsequently running the $1B North American Sales and Marketing Division. David began his career at Gates Energy Products/Energizer Power Systems. David received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (1986) and Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Florida (1988).

Peter Lehman, co-founder of Granite Creek and member of the Investment Committee, has been leading private equity transactions and operating businesses since 1998. Peter leads the Firm's investment operations process as well as oversees the Firm's farmland investment platform, Moraine Farmland Partners. He began his career at Dakota Capital Partners, working with Brian Boorstein. Peter received his B.S. in Organizational Studies from Northwestern University.

J. Patrick Galleher is the CEO & Managing Partner of Boxwood Partners, an investment bank headquartered in Jupiter, FL, where he leads transactions for Boxwood's M&A advisory services.   Over the past 25 years, Patrick has led sell-side transactions on over 70 engagements. At Boxwood Partners, he and his team focus on transactions in the lower middle market between $50-$500m in Enterprise Value. Since 2011, Boxwood has successfully completed over 35 Franchisor sell-side transactions, assisting founder and private equity-owned businesses to find strategic or private equity partners for their next stage of growth.   Prior to joining Boxwood, Patrick was CEO of WILink plc (WLK:LSE), a global financial communications and compliance business which is headquartered in London, with operations in the United State, Canada, United Kingdom, Continental Europe, and Sweden. Through its IPO in 2000, Patrick became the youngest CEO on the London Stock Exchange. In 2006, he successfully led the Company through a public-to-private transaction with SVIP, a NYC-based private equity group, and delisting it from the London Stock Exchange.   Patrick made a minority investment in sweetFrog Franchising, LLC in 2012. During his investment, sweetFrog grew from 15 locations to over 380 locations. In 2015, Patrick stepped in as Chairman & CEO, until completing a successful transaction with MTY / Kahala Brands in September of 2018.   Patrick served on the Board of Directors for Issuer Direct (ISDR:NYSE), since 2014. He was Chairman of the Strategic Advisory and Compensation Committees. Patrick holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Richmond, where he played golf for the Spiders. He also holds a degree from the London Business School, as well as attending the Centre for Creative Leadership (CCL) in Belgium. He is a founder of the Virginia Chapter of Young President's Organization (YPO), member of CEO.org and the former Finance Chair of the Southeast U.S. and Caribbean (SEC) Region of YPO.

Andy founded Levison & Co., the predecessor of Southfield Capital, in November 2002. Before that, he was the Head of Leveraged Finance at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ), where he oversaw banking and origination activities for all of the firm's investment banking products for leveraged companies. In particular, Andy focused on high yield securities, leveraged bank loans, bridge loans, and mezzanine/equity investments. While at DLJ, Andy also served as Co-Chairman of the Credit Committee and as a member of the Management Committee of the Investment Banking Division and the Banking Review Committee. Prior to joining DLJ, he was a Managing Director of the Leveraged Buyout Group at Drexel Burnham Lambert and a Vice President of the Special Finance Group at Manufacturers Hanover Trust.   Andy has served on the boards of over 25 public and private companies related to investments and is currently on the board of directors of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE: FGP), Protos Security, Pacific Landscape Management, Property Management Holdings, TFS, and the Levison/Present Foundation at Mount Sinai Hospital. Andy was also the President of The Red Ribbon Foundation in Greenwich, CT. He earned a B.S. degree in Finance from Babson College.

Carl Jenkins is Managing Director and Group Head of Community Capital Solutions for BMO Financial Group.  Using a $3 billion allocation of balance sheet capital, the business unit invests in private funds that support lower middle market companies and community-centric real estate.  The business also provides construction loans for multifamily affordable housing. Both equity and debt commitments further the Community Reinvestment Act objectives of BMO in the central and western United States.   Equity investments are primarily limited partnerships in conventional private real estate funds and private equity funds licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration.  Sponsors include private investment managers, for-profit developers, not-for-profit organizations and community development financial institutions.   Additionally, Carl chairs the board of directors for BMO Private Equity (U.S.), Inc., the BMO subsidiary that originates mezzanine debt and equity investments directly to operating companies.  He earned his bachelor's degree in architecture from Washington University in St. Louis and holds an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina. He serves on the board of directors for several organizations, including the Disability Opportunity Fund, Enterprise Community Investment, and the Goodman Theatre of Chicago. Carl also serves on the advisory board of multiple lower middle market private equity and credit funds.   Disclosure: Banking products are subject to approval and are provided in the United States by BMO Bank N.A. Member FDIC

Scott Romanoff, Co-Managing Partner of Franchise Equity Partners, spent 28 years at Goldman Sachs and was a Partner for 12 years. He worked within the Investment Banking Division and the Executive Office based in both New York and London. He headed Corporate Development, and co-headed the Financial Institutions Financing Group, providing advice regarding debt and equity financing as well as risk management. He was Co-Chair of the Significant Acquisitions Oversight Group, and member of the GS Bank Management and Firm-wide Finance Committees. A graduate of New York University.

Anthony Guagliano is a founding Partner at Gallant Capital and is responsible for all aspects of the firm's activities. Prior to founding Gallant in 2018, Anthony was responsible for leading investments at The Gores Group.  Prior to joining Gores in 2011, Anthony was a Managing Director with Moelis & Company where he led M&A execution for transactions across various industries including technology, business services, consumer and retail, media, healthcare and biotechnology. Prior to joining Moelis, Anthony was a Vice President at UBS where he led the execution on a variety of assignments, including mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt security underwritings, and other advisory assignments. Anthony also previously worked as the Director of Finance at Nomadix, Inc and was an Analyst at DLJ. Anthony serves on the Board of Directors of all Gallant portfolio companies. Anthony received a B.A. in Business Administration with Honours from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.

Marcos A. Rodriguez Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Partner Mr. Rodriguez founded Palladium in 1997 and serves as Chairman and CEO. Prior to forming Palladium, Mr. Rodriguez was a partner of Joseph Littlejohn & Levy, a buyout firm that he joined in 1989. Before launching his private equity career, he worked in operations for General Electric Company in the U.S., Mexico and France, and graduated from GE's Manufacturing Management Program. Mr. Rodriguez  has served on the Board of Directors of Palladium portfolio companies ABRA, Castro Cheese, Daniel's Jewelers, Jordan Health Services, Second Nature Brands, Teasdale, Taco Bueno, Trachte, TransForce and Wise Foods, among others. Mr. Rodriguez serves on the Board of Trustees of New York-Presbyterian, the University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell. He also serves on the Boards of the Robert Toigo Foundation and the Alfred E. Smith Foundation. He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University, an M.B.A. from The Wharton School and an M.A. in International Studies from the Lauder Institute of the University of Pennsylvania.

Tom Shapiro is the President and Founder of GTIS. In addition, Mr. Shapiro is the Chief Investment Officer responsible for overseeing all investment activity and strategy of the firm. Mr. Shapiro is also Chairman of the General Partner's Investment Committee and is a member of the Board of Directors of Brazil Hospitality Group, one of the largest owners and managers of hotels in Brazil.   Mr. Shapiro's experience in the real estate industry began in 1988. Prior to starting GTIS, Mr. Shapiro was a Senior Managing Director at Tishman Speyer and a member of the firm's Investment and Management Committees. Most recently, Mr. Shapiro was responsible for Tishman Speyer's global equity capital markets and dispositions groups. Previously, Mr. Shapiro ran GTS Properties, an acquisitions joint venture between Tishman Speyer and Goldman Sachs.   Mr. Shapiro serves on the Undergraduate Executive Board and the Carol and Lawrence Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Review's Private Sector Advisory Board for The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from which Mr. Shapiro received a B.S. and graduated magna cum laude.

ADVICE THAT LASTS DECADES    Every May since 2018, I've released an annual montage focused on advice for college students and young professionals interested in private equity, investment banking, and the investing world   This year's version marks Episode 200 of Private Equity Fast Pitch!   Over the last 12 months I asked founders, CEOs and managing partners from Private Equity firms, Investment Banks and LPs the same question:   What advice would you give to young professionals trying to build a meaningful career in this business?   What makes this episode special is not just the milestone, it's how often the same themes continue to surface...   Different firms   Different backgrounds   Different paths   But the themes are remarkably consistent    ⚾️ Find work that gives you energy   ⚾️ Build real relationships   ⚾️ Do the hard things early   ⚾️ Learn from people who are better than you   ⚾️ Stay curious   ⚾️ Understand that careers are built over decades, not quarters   What stands out after 200 episodes is this...   The foundational elements of long-term success are timeless   And while this episode is designed for young professionals and graduating students, I think the advice applies at every stage of a career   I'm incredibly grateful for all of my guests who have shared their sage advice over the years!   Featured Guests:   Michael Psaros - KPS Capital Partners https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000739675082 Omar Jaffrey - Palistar Capital https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000758837812 Rob Brown - Lincoln International https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000711726279 Tim Meyer - Angeles Equity Partners https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000735555551 Chris Rozzell - Cresta Fund Management https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000721947245 Parker Weil - TD Securities https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000737590933 Sean MacIver - KeyBanc Capital Markets https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000728454456 Matthew Sparks - Northleaf Capital Partners https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000723925489 Suzanne Yoon - Kinzie Capital Partners https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000753377248 Eric Wiklendt - Speyside Equity https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000748373295 Michelle Noon - Clearhaven Partners https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000733152917 Paul Raphael - Auréa Group https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000717775898 Daphne Dufresne - Awani Capital https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000756128214 Russ Roenick - Transom Capital Group https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000731004463 Neda Vakilian - Actis https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000713638680 Sam Gaynor - Altamont Capital Partners https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000746205883 Eliot Kerlin - Broadwing Capital https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000741835818 Andy Unanue - AUA Private Equity Partners https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000750484838 Kristin Johnson - Altamont Capital Partners https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000726285319 Scott Sperling - THL Partners https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000720142324

THE ADVICE THAT ACTUALLY HOLDS UP   There is no shortage of advice in this industry   Most of it sounds good...   Not all of it lasts   With graduation season here, I wanted to do something a little different on Private Equity Fast Pitch.   These clips come from guests who share a common university.  What they don't share is how they got there:   Different paths Different careers Different firms   What stood out to me was not where they went. It was how consistent the advice was   ⚾️ Play the long game Careers are built over decades, not quarters   ⚾️ Protect your reputation Your word and how you show up compound over time   ⚾️ Do the hard things early That's where real confidence and capability are built   ⚾️ Be intentional Who you work for and what you learn matters more than title   These are not theories.  They are patterns from people who have built across multiple cycles and environments.   The fundamentals are simple. They're just not easy. And they don't change.   If you're early in your career or even if you're not, this is a valuable episode to listen too.    Featured Harvard Graduate Guests:   Adam Blumenthal - Blue Wolf Capital Partners https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000419683769   Bob Grady - Summit Partners https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000466305412   Nik Shah - Cohere Capital https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000492548668   Brandon Bethea - Aterian Investment Partners https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000512756706   Steve Lebowitz - Brand Velocity Group https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000544474759   Alex Western - Terminus Capital Partners https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000588352120   Arthur Hollingsworth - Lone Star Investment Advisors https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000606603038   Clay Hunter - Broadview Group https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000407597189   David Iverson - Iverson Consulting Services https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000409078405   Ralph Manning - Coltala Holdings https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000434156484   Jerry Johnson - Ariel Alternatives https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000455717611   Victor Vescovo - Caladan Capital https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000424858176   Brett Hickey - Star Mountain Capital https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000467637362   Brad Brennerman - Breck Partners https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000490948771   Brent Humphries - AB Private Credit Investors https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000506913145   Dr. Chris Kersey - Havencrest Capital Management https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000531859885   Scott Kolbrenner - GISI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000533229587   Doug McCormick - Oridian Capital Partners https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000575024701   Tom O'Rourke - BayPine https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000590284296   Mark Sotir - Equity Group Investments https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000618757742   Pardis Nasseri - Palm Tree https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000630324818   Devon Kirk - Portage Capital Solutions https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000658066071   Bogdan Gogulan - NewSpace Capital https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000681019854   Erik Brooks - Ethos Capital https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-equity-fast-pitch/id1359329939?i=1000684256262

Ignacio Jayanti is the Chief Executive Officer of Corsair and serves as Chairman of the Buyouts Investment Committee and as a member of the Infrastructure Investment Committee. He joined Corsair in 1993 when the first Corsair fund was launched and is based in New York. Ignacio is a director of Corsair portfolio companies IDnow and ZEDRA.   Prior to spinning off Corsair as an independent business from J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. in 2006, Ignacio played a key role as a senior member of the investment team of the predecessor Corsair funds and also was responsible for managing the operations of the Corsair business from 1994 onwards. From 1994 to 1999, Ignacio was also a senior member of the Investment Banking Department of J.P. Morgan, where he headed the Emerging Markets Financial Institutions group. Prior to J.P. Morgan, Ignacio worked at Credit Suisse First Boston in the Financial Institutions group both in New York and London. His investment banking experience includes complex advisory assignments in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America.   Ignacio holds both a B.A. and an M.A. in Economics from Queens' College, Cambridge University. He is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Finance Leaders Fellowship Program and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Ignacio is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hotchkiss School, a member of the RAND Global and Emerging Risks Advisory Board, and a member of the International Advisory Board of British American Business.

Omar Jaffrey has been involved in technology, media and telecommunications ("TMT") investments, mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, public and private capital raises, restructuring and bankruptcies for over 30 years.   Mr. Jaffrey founded Palistar Capital (formerly, Melody Investment Advisers, "Palistar") in 2019 as a specialist digital infrastructure investor as his go-forward investment platform and created Symphony Wireless, an affiliated easements origination platform ("Symphony"). The team successfully raised a $2 billion dedicated digital infrastructure fund at the end of 2021, has built out a specialist team with deep investment and operating expertise and has invested in a number of macro tower investments including Harmoni Towers, Parallel Infrastructure, CTI Towers, and an easements and tower portfolio originated by Symphony.   Prior to Palistar, Mr. Jaffrey co-founded Melody Capital Partners ("Melody") in 2012 where he was also a Managing Partner. The team at Melody raised two fund families – a Structured Credit platform with $1 billion assets under management ("AUM") and a digital infrastructure platform with $700 million AUM ("Melody Wireless Infrastructure"). Mr. Jaffrey crafted the strategy, built Melody Wireless Infrastructure as its CEO and successfully exited Melody Wireless Infrastructure in 2021. Melody is now actively harvesting its remaining investments and is no longer making new investments or fundraising.   Prior to Melody, Mr. Jaffrey was a Managing Director of UBS Investment Bank, most recently serving as Americas Co-head of the Special Situations Group. Mr. Jaffrey was an advisor to some of the leading telecommunications and technology companies globally covering over 50 global clients in the TMT space for their strategic and financing needs. Mr. Jaffrey also helped build UBS's Telecommunications Media and Technology Investment Banking practice and was Global Head of Satellite Investment Banking while specializing in the convergence of TMT sectors between 2003 and 2009. Prior to joining UBS, Mr. Jaffrey was a Managing Director at Merrill Lynch where he built the Global Satellite Investment Banking practice. In the early 1990s, Mr. Jaffrey helped build Bear Stearns' Investment Bank in Asia, and was a founding member of Bear Stearns' Telecommunications sector Investment Banking practice.   Mr. Jaffrey holds a BS magna cum laude in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University and an MBA from Stanford University,  and is a member of Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu honor societies.