Ilya Seglin, Threadstone Advisors courtesy

Ilya Seglin, managing director, Threadstone Advisors

This was prior to the time I started focusing on beauty products and involved a fertilizer company (yes, both enhance blooming, but similarities end there).  The deal had to close by year-end so my Christmas holiday was spent finalizing everything — when the deal was finally signed two days before New Year’s Eve, I went home and booked a trip to Paris. No trip to Paris can be complete without the obligatory stop at the Hermès flagship. On that trip, I began my tradition of indulging in slightly extravagant self-gifting after each closed deal.

Andrew Shore, Moelis Courtesy of Moelis

Andrew Shore, managing director, Moelis

Michael Toure, Toure Capital Courtesy of Michael Toure

Michael Toure, founder & ceo, Toure Capital

A couple of months after I left Goldman Sachs more than seven years ago now, I closed my very first transaction as an independent adviser. I had just launched Toure Capital; I was lucky enough to sign this fast-growing beauty brand and managed to find them a great minority partner. This was my very first stand-alone achievement. I celebrated this by PROUDLY talking (bragging?) about it to anyone in the industry that wanted to listen to me…and paying for my wedding in the south of France.

Shaun Westfall, Jefferies courtesy of Jefferies

Shaun Westfall, managing director, Jefferies 

A pivotal moment and cause for celebration goes clear back to 2009 when I advised Urban Decay on the investment from Castanea. It was the start of an amazing life-altering run, and the most important part — this is when I met my wonderful wife of more than 10 years, Lauren. The amazing Wende was kind enough to set us up while I was working on the transaction. Thus, not only did I get the deal, I got the girl — and the rest is history.

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