In this episode of Deal Us In, Amanda Verner Thompson and Vasanta Pundarika join host Kelsey Hitchcock to discuss their now sixteen-year-long career together in investment banking. After working at the same healthcare investment banking group through several acquisitions, the pair eventually went to work for Matrix Capital Markets Group where they built a brand new healthcare group: Healthcare Investment Banking.
From financial crises to the COVID pandemic, Amanda and Vasanta are no strangers to an unpredictable, unsteady environment. In fact, the two have grown to thrive on that, accepting challenge after challenge, adapting, and finding creative ways to still make deals for their clients.
The two talk about strategies for successful deals, as well as advice specifically for women trying to break into investment banking or simply trying to advance in their organizations.
Together, Amanda and Vasanta have navigated the ups and downs of investment banking and have come out on top. They offer insights into the power of both having mentors and being mentors, finding camaraderie amongst a team, and growing those relationships.
💡 Featured Guests 💡
Names: Amanda Verner Thompson and Vasanta Pundarika
What they do: As co-heads of Healthcare Investment Banking at Matrix Capital Markets Group, Amanda and Vasanta develop plans for new clients and manage all aspects of client transactions. They focus on health care services and managed care.
Company: Matrix Capital Markets Group
Where to find them: Amanda's LinkedIn | Vasanta's LinkedIn
🗝️ Key Points 🗝️
Top takeaways from this episode
Women in investment banking must stay on their toes — Investment banking requires flexibility and adaptability. Being a woman in the field requires that, and much more. Women in investment banking, according to Amanda and Vasanta, need to be smarter and work harder because it is such a male-dominated field.
There are benefits to being a woman in investment banking — Amanda and Vasanta cite their inherent emotional intelligence, multitasking skills, and mental prowess as women as some of their greatest assets in the field.
Volume drives trends — At the height of the COVID pandemic, many people steered away from hospitals and nursing homes, choosing smaller healthcare options to keep safe. Amanda and Vasanta say this is still a trend they are seeing today, one that they are very interested in. They anticipate more deal flows into smaller, privatized healthcare systems.
🎙️ About Deal Us In 🎙️
✔️ Thank you for joining us at the table for this episode of Deal Us In. We invite you to join the conversation by using #Dealusinpodcast on Twitter or LinkedIn.
✔️ Don’t miss another episode! Subscribe in your preferred podcast app.
✔️ If you have a recommendation for an inspiring interviewee, a question you'd like us to ask, or a topic you would like to hear covered, or if you'd like to tell us about women-focused initiatives in the field, please go to our website. We look forward to hearing from you.
This podcast was recorded and is being made available by McGuireWoods for informational purposes only. By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that McGuireWoods makes no warranty, guarantee or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in the podcast. The views, information or opinions expressed during this podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily reflect those of McGuireWoods. This podcast should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state and should not be construed as an offer to make or consider any investment or course of action.
