Zanda’s Post

What's emerging as the recurring factor causing candidates to fall behind in the interview process for C-suite Finance Leader roles at start-up tech companies in New York? 💥 The biggest reason? Many candidates are missing the mark when it comes to showcasing their ability to be "scrappy" and comfortable wearing multiple hats. 🎩 In the fast-paced world of start-ups, adaptability and versatility are key. Finance Leaders must be agile, ready to tackle diverse challenges, and pivot strategies at a moment's notice. 🌱 Why is this skill set crucial within a start-up? Because start-ups operate in dynamic environments where resources are often limited, and the ability to juggle various responsibilities is essential for driving growth and success. ✨ Below are several example ideas that may assist you in refining your responses to demonstrate your "scrappy" nature: ✔Describe a situation where you successfully reduced costs or found creative solutions to budget constraints. For instance, maybe you implemented a more cost-effective software solution, negotiated better terms with vendors, or streamlined internal processes to save money. ✔Highlight instances where you juggled multiple responsibilities simultaneously or adapted quickly to changing priorities. This could involve managing various projects simultaneously, stepping in to cover for team members during their absence, or taking on additional duties outside your job description. ✔Share a story where you demonstrated your ability to think on your feet and solve problems efficiently, especially in high-pressure situations. This could involve resolving a critical issue that threatened a project deadline, troubleshooting technical problems with limited resources, or mitigating risks during a crisis. ✔Showcase your entrepreneurial spirit by discussing initiatives you spearheaded or opportunities you identified to drive growth and innovation within your previous roles. So, if you're a Finance Leader eyeing a role in a New York start-up, remember to emphasize your scrappiness and versatility in interviews. It could be the game-changer that sets you apart! 🎯 #FinanceLeaders #StartUpLife #NewYorkTech #InterviewTips #CareerSuccess

🚀 We’re Hiring Now! 🚀 We’re currently hiring for a pivotal leadership role at Scholars of Finance—to scale our funding from $2M/yr to $10M/yr to expand our impact on thousands of future finance leaders. Know someone who could be an amazing Director of Development? We’re looking for a rockstar fundraising leader who can help run our fundraising engine while inviting new donors to join our mission. The ideal candidate has worked in finance, has sales, partnerships, or business development experience, and has done nonprofit fundraising, whether full-time or as a volunteer or board member. Scholars of Finance is on a mission to inspire character and integrity in the finance leaders of tomorrow. We invest in undergraduate students through leadership development, mentorship, and the active support of purpose-driven investors and executives. Whether they’re pursuing roles in Venture Capital, Private Equity, Asset Management, Investment Banking, Retail Banking, Corporate Finance, Impact Investing, or FinTech, we’ve impacted more than 3,300 students across 60+ universities since 2019 and we’re just getting started. Our Partners include BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Blackstone, Insight Partners, and U.S. Bank. And we’re grateful to have support from leaders like Teri List, Scott Kupor, Daniel Pietrzak, Elizabeth J. Sandler, Ray Cameron, and many more. Please share with anyone who might be interested, or visit our career page here: https://bit.ly/3wpPfk1 #hiring #hiringnow #transformfinance #impactinvesting #opportunity #leadership #fundraising #finance #partnerships #growth #scholarsoffinance

🚀 Only Mediocre Companies Think New Hires Will Save Them Molo Finance just hired Smith as Senior BDM. Big news, right? WRONG! 🤦♂️ Don't get me wrong—bringing in talented people is great, but here's the hard truth: a company that relies solely on new hires to ignite growth is already on shaky ground. If you're pinning your hopes on one individual to "save" the company, you're doing business backward. 👎 Here's why that mindset fails: 1️⃣ **Team Synergy Beats Lone Stars:** One person, no matter how incredible, cannot transform a business if the team and culture are broken. Real success comes from cohesive team efforts. 🌍 2️⃣ **Process Over People:** Innovative processes turn vision into reality. Focus on exceptional frameworks and the results will follow. Hire smart individuals who can enhance these processes, not the other way around. 3️⃣ **Technology as a Catalyst:** In 2023, staying competitive means employing cutting-edge tools. For example, leveraging Finotor for financial analysis can provide insights that no single hire can achieve alone. Tech + Talent = Transformation. 💡 4️⃣ **Leadership and Vision:** An inspiring vision and decisive leadership trump any individual hire. They set the direction and create an ecosystem where talent can thrive. So, kudos to Molo Finance for bringing in Smith, but let's not forget: No single warrior wins the battle; it's the strategy that conquers. 🏆 What strategies do you use to foster team synergy and implement game-changing processes? Drop your thoughts below👇 Franck BRUNET ---------------------- Liked this post? Want to see more? Ring it on my profil 🔔 Connect with me 🔝 Follow me: #franckbrunet #finotor

🚀 Only Mediocre Companies Think New Hires Will Save Them Molo Finance just hired Smith as Senior BDM. Big news, right? WRONG! 🤦♂️ Don't get me wrong—bringing in talented people is great, but here's the hard truth: a company that relies solely on new hires to ignite growth is already on shaky ground. If you're pinning your hopes on one individual to "save" the company, you're doing business backward. 👎 Here's why that mindset fails: 1️⃣ **Team Synergy Beats Lone Stars:** One person, no matter how incredible, cannot transform a business if the team and culture are broken. Real success comes from cohesive team efforts. 🌍 2️⃣ **Process Over People:** Innovative processes turn vision into reality. Focus on exceptional frameworks and the results will follow. Hire smart individuals who can enhance these processes, not the other way around. 3️⃣ **Technology as a Catalyst:** In 2023, staying competitive means employing cutting-edge tools. For example, leveraging Finotor for financial analysis can provide insights that no single hire can achieve alone. Tech + Talent = Transformation. 💡 4️⃣ **Leadership and Vision:** An inspiring vision and decisive leadership trump any individual hire. They set the direction and create an ecosystem where talent can thrive. So, kudos to Molo Finance for bringing in Smith, but let's not forget: No single warrior wins the battle; it's the strategy that conquers. 🏆 What strategies do you use to foster team synergy and implement game-changing processes? Drop your thoughts below👇 Franck BRUNET ---------------------- Liked this post? Want to see more? Ring it on my profil 🔔 Connect with me 🔝 Follow me: #franckbrunet #finotor

35+ and trying to break into #venturecapital? Here are 3 things you **should not** do 👇 1️⃣ 𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 apply for analyst and associate jobs. 2️⃣ 𝗙𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 tell a firm that you're interested in their analyst or associate roles. 3️⃣ 𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 send out your resume to VCs UNLESS a) they explicitly ask for it AFTER they've met you --or-- b) it's for a principal (or higher) role that they've publicly posted. Why? As a (relatively) older candidate, if you're sending your resume in for analyst/associate gigs... ...or are being introduced to firms as someone who is interested in a junior level gig (w/resume attached)... ...or are attaching your resume to your warm intro requests... 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘦-𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. As a later career candidate, you 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗧 show up as a 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗥. What things does a VC's peer do? Well, some (or all) of these things: ⚫ Doesn't begin the relationship by focusing on what the VC can do for them. ⚫ Challenges the VC on their opinions and ideas (respectfully, of course). Is patient and shows they know that venture is a long term game. ⚫ Related: Doesn't ask about jobs -- for weeks or even months -- after first meeting. ⚫ Shows up at (or presents at) some of the same events. ⚫ Sends strong deal flow and thoughtful ideas about how they can help the firm and the portfolio. ⚫ Has done some serious angel investing (6-12 investments a year is a good guideline for this. Dollar amount is not as important as the fact that you sourced these investments through your network) "𝘞𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦..." It sure does. But it's been done before, so I know you can do it, too.

In a couple of weeks, we will be releasing a "CFO Hiring Playbook" to help startups with a guide of what to consider when hiring your first CFO. We have been developing this resource throughout 2024 with the support of some key VCs and Founders. It is crucial to get the CFO hire right first time so the playbook will cover: ✅ How the CFO role in a startup is evolving. ✅ The different types of CFO and finance leader available. ✅ How to assess your startup to bring in the correct level of finance lead. ✅ How to run a killer CFO interview process. ✅ How to avoid the common pitfalls. If you are keen to get your hands on this then please join the waitlist in the comments below.👍

3 mistakes I see all the time from mid/late career folks looking to break into VC 👇 1️⃣ 𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 apply for analyst and associate jobs. 2️⃣ 𝗙𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 tell a firm that you're interested in their analyst or associate roles. 3️⃣ 𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 send out your resume to VCs UNLESS a) they explicitly ask for it AFTER they've met you --or-- b) it's for a principal (or higher) role that they've publicly posted. Why? As a (relatively) older candidate, if you're sending your resume in for analyst/associate gigs... ...or are being introduced to firms as someone who is interested in a junior level gig (w/resume attached)... ...or are attaching your resume to your warm intro requests... 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘦-𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. As a later career candidate, you 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗧 show up as a 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗥. What things does a VC's peer do? Well, some (or all) of these things: ⚫ Doesn't begin the relationship by focusing on what the VC can do for them. ⚫ Challenges the VC on their opinions and ideas (respectfully, of course). Is patient and shows they know that venture is a long term game. ⚫ Related: Doesn't ask about jobs -- for weeks or even months -- after first meeting. ⚫ Shows up at (or presents at) some of the same events. ⚫ Sends strong deal flow and thoughtful ideas about how they can help the firm and the portfolio. ⚫ Has done some serious angel investing (6-12 investments a year is a good guideline for this. Dollar amount is not as important as the fact that you sourced these investments through your network) "𝘞𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦..." It sure does. But it's been done before, so I know you can do it, too.

🎙 The Deal Room: IBD Insights - Who's Hiring & Who's Firing In this episode, inspired by a recent Financial Times article, we delve into the current landscape of the Investment Banking Division (IBD). Why are partners and Managing Directors (MDs) feeling the heat, and how does this pressure impact analysts and associates down the line? Join us as we reveal the firms making moves on the Street, both hiring and firing and explore the nuances of compensation in these competitive roles. 👉 Spotify https://lnkd.in/dgKawcJp 👉 Apple https://lnkd.in/dpvT3Tnu #CorporateFinance #InvestmentBanking #Finance #Careers

The top 5 struggles of mid-career tech execs (and why they're not your fault) - "I feel stuck in my career growth." - "I struggle to balance work and life." - "I'm unsure how to negotiate for equity." - "I'm overwhelmed by financial planning." -  "I don't know when to make my exit." There is no defined roadmap to get from the start of your career to exiting your 9-5. How I guide tech execs to achieve financial independence without overworking: 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀: • We identify growth opportunities. • It leads to strategic career moves. • Then we refine negotiation and decision-making skills. 𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘂𝗽: • We diversify investments intelligently. • It results in sustainable wealth growth. • Then we run and scale it like a business 𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀: • We align career and financial goals. • It leads to a roadmap for independence. • Then we execute strategies for a balanced, fulfilling life. Which one are you stuck on? DMs are always open for questions.

🚀 Today we’d like to bring attention to another #inspiring story, this time from Hena Naranbhai who has built a successful career in tech, becoming a Director Strategic Development with a background in Business Studies & Finance. 🤩 Thank you Hena for sharing your inspiring journey with a super interesting #careerpath, from studying a Business Studies degree and majoring in Finance, through various finance related roles and undertaking accountancy qualifications, all the way to #tech and becoming a Director Strategic Development working in Financial Services! ⭐ As Hena advises while sharing great #careerintech tips in this blog: "Be comfortable with being the first. Someone has to be. And in this instance you’re the chosen trend setter." 💯 At (Extra)ordinary Tech Stories, we believe that career options in tech and the journeys that lead to them are often surprising, exciting and non-linear. People enter tech from a range of personal and professional backgrounds and can have hugely successful #careers both in STEM and non-STEM related roles. If you’d like to learn about more #careersintech stories, check out the (Extra)ordinary Tech Stories website https://lnkd.in/ece5rsSz Please help support our mission by: - following (Extra)ordinary Tech Stories on LinkedIn - getting in touch in comments or via DM if you'd like to share your story - nominating someone you know to tell their career in tech story - helping us spread the message by sharing this post with your networks. Thank you! 🙏 #techindustry #careerstories #extraordinarytechstories #careerinspiration #womenintechnology #womenintech #womeninfinance #fintech https://lnkd.in/eG2cSfBw