Kaja Whitehouse’s Post

How do you get to be a CEO? A training program offered by private-equity firm Alpine Investors can turbocharge an MBA's rise to the top of the corporate ladder. David Wurtzbacher told Alex Nicoll of Business Insider how the program helped him become the chief executive of a private-equity backed accounting platform. Read about his experience here: #privateequity #CEO #career #MBA

Do you have the best tools for the formulation and execution of an M&A strategy? The annual M&A Academy at Wharton San Francisco covers the development of a clear and testable growth thesis. #mergersandacquisitions #corporatedevelopment #mergersandacquisitions

The rapidly evolving nature of M&A requires continued development of the team’s expertise. Many of the methods applied to acquisitions in prior years are still relevant, but new requirements and practices are also in effect. Are you using best practices through the M&A process?

Startups likely don't have the resources to build out fully staffed finance functions from the beginning... This is where understanding leadership skill gaps and business priorities come in. Should you hire someone with corp dev / IR skills first or accounting skills? Do you need a tax or treasury professionals before raising your first round? In this week's #BuilttoLastHandbook post, we share a three step heuristic to thinking about your finance function and we go deeper into specifics in this article: https://lnkd.in/gyXHXRT5 Insights adapted from CFO-led sessions with Insignia Ventures Academy's StartCFO program for financial professionals, now ongoing!

Fifteen years ago, as an elementary school student, I penned a note stating my ambition to one day work in the field of economics. Fast-forward to today, I am proud to say that I've spent the past year (and a half) specializing in Mergers and Acquisitions at RSM Norge. I am honored to share that my university, BI Norwegian Business School —where I invested five years learning the ins and outs of theoretical finance —recently conducted an interview with me. In this conversation, I had the opportunity to discuss my professional journey, key learnings, and also share insights that could benefit current and aspiring students in the field of finance. The link to the article can be found in the comment section.  Big thanks to everyone that has helped me on my way, both family and friends, collegues and mentors. #ProfessionalDevelopment #Finance #MergersAndAcquisitions #AlumniInsights #RSMNorge

As the graduate school application deadlines draw near and the frantic recommendation letter writing season kicks into high gear, I was happy to see our alumnus Jean-Philippe Hicke featured in the MIT Sloan School of Management Master of Finance spotlight post. Jean-Philippe graduated from the NUS-Sciences Po dual degree program and was one of the outstanding students in my EC4304 "Economic and Financial Forecasting" class in 2017. Exactly five years ago, I was writing letters for his master's applications, and he eventually got accepted into all of the strong programs he applied for, EXCEPT for the MIT Sloan MFin. Having completed his M.Sc. in Economics, Data Analytics, and Corporate Finance at École Polytechnique, Jean-Philippe tried again and cracked the code this time! At MIT, he ended up program mates with another NUS dual degree in Economics and Statistics alumnus, Jiaxin Li, who, you guessed it, did exceptionally well in my EC4308 "Machine Learning and Economic Forecasting" class :) Congratulations, Jean-Philippe Hicke, on a very well-deserved achievement! I am sure you are just getting started :) For the current and prospective National University of Singapore students in Economics and Data Science and Economics: 1) NUS undergraduate education in economics and data science gets you ready for the best graduate programs in the world (but you have to do your work and take the relevant courses, which may be tough; no two ways about it). 2) You must find something you are passionate about and work toward your goals. 3) Success does not come by itself. You may and probably will fail at some point, but if you are patient and stay your course, you can make things happen! #NUS #economics #shapeyourfuture #proudteacher

𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗅, the 26th Miracles of Capital (MOC) Seminar, presented by Dr Jeh Shyan Wong and hosted by the CEO Business Club (.com) in South Africa, commences today! Business leaders and founders seize this unique opportunity to embark on a transformative journey, delving into fundamental concepts and strategies that propel success. 𝗗𝗮𝘆 1 - 𝗙𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗦: Dive into the foundational principles distinguishing market mechanisms from capital mechanisms. Gain insights into critical differences between feasible and bankable businesses, unlocking the secrets of creating a bankable business model. Discover the art of brand portability, raising capital, and understanding the profound implications of a founder's aspirations. Day 1 sets the stage for a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental pillars shaping successful business ventures. 𝗗𝗮𝘆 2 - 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗧𝗛 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗔𝗣𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗟: Explore the essentials of building a solid business structure, creating a financial roadmap, and employing financial engineering for effective strategies. Delve into the intricate world of share structure, navigate the leadership chasm with the Red-Dot Theory, and maximise profits through capital gain strategies. Day 2 equips participants with tools for enhanced business stability, financial planning, and laying the groundwork for exponential capital growth. 𝗗𝗮𝘆 3 - 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗧𝗛 𝗢𝗙 𝗪𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛: Embark on a journey instilling ethical principles in business practices, creating a corporate structure with a strong succession plan, and mastering the intricacies of mergers and acquisitions. Day 3 concludes with guidance on joining a national and international network of business leaders and investors, culminating in wisdom for sustainable wealth creation and ethical business practices. 🌟 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀𝗅 Follow CEO Business Club (.com) for insights on gaining knowledge for exponential growth and scaling to success. ---------------------- 💥 I am David Bouwer 🔺 Learn the ABC of Building a Unicorn with CEO Business Club (.com) #MOC #BusinessLeadership #InnovationJourney #CEOInsights #BusinessGrowth

MBA Journey - One Year Done! I cannot believe I am already halfway through my MBA program at Gies College of Business - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 😀 It's been an amazing learning experience, working on multiple case studies to understand the microeconomic and macroeconomic elements that feed into business decisions. Next, I am excited to start the Mergers and Acquisitions specialization, taking a deeper dive into global strategy and financial management. #GiesBusiness #uiuc #MBAstudent #corporatestrategy #managerialaccounting #financialaccounting #marketingmanagement #microeconomics #operationsmanagement #macroeconomics #businessanalytics #organizationaltransformation

What do you have to do to get into the most-applied to role at top business schools? You might guess that you'd need a 4.0 GPA or even a well-connected family. But for Alpine Investors CEO-in-training program, all of that matters a lot less than who you are, and how you've handled challenges in the past. In other words, the most important thing is grit. Learn more about how to get into this training program with my latest for Business Insider #privateequity #careers #CEO https://lnkd.in/eJh_nR9v

Happy #MotivationalMonday! Let's kickstart this week by discussing something vital: investing in OURSELVES! In the world of accounting, we often help others make the most of their assets, but what about our most significant asset? Yep, I'm talking about you and me! 🌟 There's a saying: never stop dreaming, never stop believing, never give up, never stop trying, and never stop learning. These five principles are the bedrock of a successful and fulfilling life. And they’re not just about being optimistic; they're about continuous growth. This week, I'm embodying this philosophy! I'm taking time out to immerse myself in the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) 5 day "in residence" course in the serene surroundings of Byron Bay. Not just for the knowledge, but to invest in my future, ensuring both my business and personal life continue to thrive. 🌊📖 In our profession, it’s easy to fall into the annual "busy" work routine with all the constant deadlines, but we must actively seek out new knowledge, adopt the latest tech, and always be in the process of bettering ourselves and that takes planning. I’ve always been a strong advocate for continuous learning, ensuring I devote both my time and money towards this endeavour. Why? Because the returns, both tangible and intangible, are invaluable. So, as we delve into the nitty-gritty of our budgets (have you prepared yours yet?), let's not forget to allocate something for our growth - perhaps a percentage of turnover or a set amount. It’s not an expense; it’s an investment. And believe me, when you invest in yourself, the dividends it pays are beyond measure. I challenge you: don't hold back when it comes to your learning and growth. Put yourself out there, take that course, attend that seminar, book that coaching call or VIP day and harness the power of continuous learning. Let's not just be custodians of our businesses, but also active architects of our growth and success. Wishing everyone a week of enlightenment and self-discovery! Remember, to elevate our businesses, we first need to elevate ourselves. #MotivationalMonday #InvestInYourself #ContinuousLearning #GrowthMindset #AICD #AccountingLife #TheBalancedFirm #ByronBayAdventures