Irish America Magazine’s Post

Reflection on my Journey and Growth I’m thrilled to share that I’ve officially submitted my dissertation, marking a major milestone in my journey. This wraps up an incredible year at Queen’s University Belfast, filled with learning, growth, and challenges. As part of my Master’s in Risk and Investment Management, I tackled an exciting but tough project: an Equity Research Report on Starbucks. For my dissertation, I analyzed five years of financial data and made predictions about the company’s success over the next five years. While it had its challenges, it gave me a deep dive into corporate strategy and financial analysis—one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic career. Looking back, my Bachelor’s in Financial Markets set a solid foundation, but this past year has really transformed me. Shifting to analyzing large datasets and forecasting trends brought a whole new level of complexity and excitement. It was a perfect blend of finance, risk management, and data-driven decision-making, and it allowed me to apply what I had learned in real-world scenarios. During my time at Queen’s, I also had the privilege of joining the Queen's Student Managed Fund, where I worked with classmates to manage real investments. This hands-on experience with the markets, combined with teamwork and strategic thinking, was the perfect complement to my studies. It sharpened my understanding of investment management and enhanced my financial skills. I’m incredibly grateful to my supervisor, Aine Gallagher, whose guidance shaped the direction of my dissertation, and to my module organizer, Yerzhan Tokbolat, for encouraging critical thinking and innovation. A big thank you as well to the Queen's University Belfast's Business School for creating an environment that inspired and prepared me for what’s next. As I close this chapter, I’m excited for the road ahead and ready to apply everything I’ve learned to new challenges in the financial industry. #Dissertation #EquityResearch #MScRiskAndInvestmentManagement #QueensUniversityBelfast #Starbucks #QueensStudentManagedFund #FinanceClub #FinancialMarkets #Achievement #InvestmentManagement

The excitement and buzz following an IPO often results in founders/employees experiencing an emotional roller coaster. Euphoria, greed, fear, even catastrophic loss are all on the table for anyone carrying a meaningful portion of their net worth in a single stock position. A few observations: 📉 Of the ~25k+ common stocks in the Center for Research in Securities Prices (CRSP) database, by far the most frequent 10-year buy-and-hold return is -100% (Bessembinder, 2018)  👨👩👧👦 You and your family's goals, aspirations, and risk appetite are the most important thing. Whether it’s buying a new home or other big ticket expenditure, enjoying the fruits of your labor is what it’s all about!  💸 Taxes are, and will always be, a headwind (ex. selling the position, paying up to 37% in capital gains taxes, then investing/spending the proceeds) So how should we think about tradeoffs between diversification, goals/aspirations, and taxes? What are the most sophisticated investors doing?  What are the tools available at your disposal to do this? Join Jason R. Escamilla, CFA and I next week for an MIT Club of Northern California lunch Zoom where we'll discuss concentrated stock risk and integrating tax-aware strategies (registration link below). Hope you can join us!

Attention Black founders in Atlantic Canada 📣: The Innovate & Elevate Pitch Competition is your time to shine! 🗒️ What It Is: - A pitch competition for new and early-stage businesses - Opportunity to practice your 3-minute business pitches 🌟 Why Apply? - Receive personalized coaching and feedback from industry experts - Connect with influential leaders and potential investors in your field - Compete to win a visa gift card to fuel the innovation and growth of your venture - Gain new skills and meet new people 🔍 What We're Searching For: - Black founders across Atlantic Canada - Visionary early-stage startups eager for momentum - Established businesses ready to scale up 📝 Application Essentials: - 6-slide pitch deck: Introduce your team, outline the problem and your unique solution, highlight market potential, share progress/results, and detail your call to action Your idea could lead the charge toward groundbreaking success, but only if you step into the spotlight. Don't let this moment pass you by, Innovate & Elevate is more than a competition—it's your next big leap forward 🚀. Apply Here: https://buff.ly/3w2O09X

🎓 Reflecting on an incredible first visit to Toronto! 🌟 It’s been an exhilarating time in vibrant Toronto. I had the privilege of meeting my fellow Fellows from across the country and around the globe during my graduation weekend from the @Material Change Institute. These are amazing people who are looking to change the world through capital investment. I had an awesome time meeting with and learning about the Toronto search fund community at my Pub Night. Currently, I am actively participating in @Creative Destruction Lab’s exceptional SuperSession. I’ve been so absorbed in meeting new people and exchanging ideas, I must admit I haven’t captured many photos. Nevertheless, I did get one that I can share. This immersive experience has significantly expanded my horizons. I’ve been a strong advocate for the power of cross-pollination in enriching our knowledge base and advancing innovation. Surprisingly, I find myself contemplating the implications of emerging trends within the VC world and the broader innovation landscape. I’m intrigued by the potential impact of these trends on the strategies of our searchers, who are buyers of stable, profitable small-to mid-sized businesses. My initial impression is that some trends may yield significant opportunities, but others may portend danger signals. But, I know I need to do a lot more thinking and analyzing to be sure. Looking ahead, I am excited to be heading to D.C. for the Second Annual Black Commerce Convention, where I’ll speak on acquisition entrepreneurship.✈️ #TorontoExperience #InnovationJourney #KnowledgeSharing #VCInsights #searchfund #searchfunds #buythenbuild

Founders! check this report out from University of Toronto Entrepreneurship community! #earlystagestartups #startups #entrepreneurers #founders #venturecapital #VCs #investment #ecosystem

One of the many benefits of being part of a peer network like Vistage UK is the ability to tap into the genius of our world class speakers. One such superstar is Roger Martin-Fagg, our resident behavioural economist and the man who somehow makes a dry subject extremely interesting. Don’t take my word for it. Read for yourself in his quarterly economic update, just published, as he provides insights to what to expect from a business and personal perspective over the coming months. #Vistage #Economicinsights #leadershipdevelopment #peeradvantage

Even though our first FEDS meeting this semester was held on Zoom (yes, a little bit awkward!), the energy and excitement were still there! We’re ready to thrive in the world of #finance and are gearing up to enhance our skills through projects, workshops, pitches, and more. It’s been great working alongside Horace Chi-hong Ho, Jerry Dong, and Kelly Zeng to facilitate the platform, and without your help, things wouldn’t have run as smoothly. 🙌 This semester, we’re all about learning, growing, and collaborating. I would like to Whether it’s diving deeper into #FinancialModeling, tackling #MarketResearch, or presenting #InvestmentPitches, we’re excited to embark on this journey together. #FinancialExcellence #Zoom #FinanceSkills #Teamwork #Investment #GrowthMindset #ThrivingTogether #Education

Fringe was wonderfully represented at the 13th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Awards! It is a great pleasure to support and celebrate the 50 exceptional companies recognized for demonstrating high performance in the marketplace with innovative strategies and processes. In fact, from 2019 to 2022, these companies generated close to 2 billion dollars in revenue and created more than 870 jobs. The belief that "we grow together" is not just a saying but a reality among these dynamic second-stage growth companies. Here's to continued success and collective growth! #Growtogether #floridabusiness #businessdevelopment

2024 Top Young Professionals Honoree: Graham Christensen, 33, Vice president of market rate development at Douglaston Development For Christensen, staying humble is a secret to success. His strength is “listening and understanding that everyone in the room, oftentimes, is smarter at certain things than I am,” he said. That means “being comfortable putting my hand up when I don’t understand something, but also trusting that we’ve hired the right people to do the job and making sure they’re in a position to succeed. 🔗 Read the full profile: https://lnkd.in/eMxgJcUy #CommercialRealEstate #RealEstate #COYoungProfessionals

The 14th Expert in the ET Mentorship 👽 is a global PRIVATE EQUITY leader! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr. Oscar Decotelli! · Economist with over 25 years of experience in the financial market. · Featured on more than 15 global TV programs. · Raised over US$ 1.5 billion in investments. · Manages capital for investors in more than 20 countries. · Achieved the first fintech exit in 2008, delivering returns of over 10x. · The first Black founder of an investment company in Brazil. ⚠ Warning: Don’t check out his LinkedIn profile unless you’re ready to fall in love, like me (you’ve been warned)! 🥰 👀 Oscar Decotelli It’s with great honor and excitement that I share his expertise with our ETkins! 👽 Together, we’ll explore: 1. What is and what isn’t PRIVATE EQUITY? 2. Why is PRIVATE EQUITY a smart choice for portfolio diversification? 3. Where can we find opportunities and investors in PRIVATE EQUITY? 4. When is a company considered to be in the PRIVATE EQUITY stage? 5. Who, according to U.S. and Brazilian regulations, is responsible for brokering these deals? And what are the main differences between these markets? 6. How can a company, an investor, and a broker gain access to the PRIVATE EQUITY market? 7. On average, how much is paid in commissions to brokers, returns to investors, and contributions to companies? Oscar Decotelli combines technical expertise with real-world success to offer profound insights into the world of Private Equity. 🙏👽 Tks, Oscar, for sharing your knowledge and opening doors for us! 🛸