Annie Wang, Managing Director of Mergers and Acquisitions at Nomura Securities International, has long understood the value found at the intersection of sociability and professionalism. Growing up in a family of accountants and surrounded by the trappings of finance, Annie Wang developed a robust appreciation for the world of business paired with her strong analytical skills. She’d take those roots and grow her skills at the University of California, Irvine, and New York University Stern School of Business, where she'd earn her Bachelor of the Arts in Economics and her Master of Business Administration, respectively.
With her education completed, Annie Wang was ready to jump into the world of finance and professional banking. She began her career as a Trading Assistant at Dimensional Fund Advisors, where she calculated cash positions, asset holdings, and fund returns for all managed accounts on a monthly and quarterly basis, and generated performance reports to assist with client meetings. Fast forward to today, her role at Nomura Securities International has given her the opportunity to flourish as a professional in the investment banking industry.
Annie Wang specializes in originating, advising, and executing mergers and acquisitions transactions in the consumer industry—specifically the beverage alcohol, beauty, and personal care sectors. She’s an expert in advising clients on corporate strategy, negotiations, process strategy, deal structuring, valuation, and overall tactics. The secret to her impressive results is her talent for building and maintaining relationships with corporate entities, financial sponsors, and business clients supported by her strong work ethic, perseverance, and problem solving skills.
Annie Wang agreed to a short interview with us to share some of her insights and personal tricks that enabled her success.
What does your typical day look like, and how do you make it productive?
The majority of my day is spent meeting clients to advise them on their corporate and M&A strategies, meeting with internal teams to discuss upcoming deliverables, responding to emails, reading the news, and preparing for upcoming client meetings. I make it productive by prioritizing tasks and working with my teams. Consistent communication and a set routine are key.
How would you describe your personal and professional values?
My professional values are straightforward and consistent: be reliable, dedicated, resilient, and trustworthy. That’s what it takes to be a person of integrity, which is important to me (and any employer). On a personal level, I value kindness, empathy, and an optimistic mindset. I put my family and friends first, and make them a priority in my life.
How do you stay informed about industry trends and emerging technologies?
I read the news, meet with clients, and attend industry conferences and trade shows. The best way to keep up with your field is to have many connections in it and keep your mind open for new opportunities and changes.
Can you recall a significant challenge or failure you faced and how you overcame it?
Initially, breaking into the investment banking industry was a pretty significant challenge. The college that I went to didn’t have an investment banking track at that time, so I had to forge my own way into the industry. I did this by holding jobs in the financial services industry that would allow me to develop skill sets such as financial analysis, business operations analysis, and critical thinking, before then attending business school with a strong investment banking network. I had to plan my own unique route to success, but that hard work has paid off.
What is your approach to starting a new project?
Think about the objective of the project, how to pursue that objective in a way that is most helpful and impactful to the client, and determine the team that I would need in place to help achieve a successful outcome. Planning is critical.
Can you tell us about a skill you taught yourself and how you went about learning it?
Believe it or not, cooking. I didn’t have to cook much growing up so when I moved to New York City on my own in my 20’s, I had to learn how to cook (this was before the meal delivery era).
What people in your life or career have had the greatest impact on you, and how?
My family has had the greatest impact on my life for sure. Their unconditional love and support in my endeavors has empowered me to take risks and pursue my own path. My various mentors follow closely behind them though. Their impact on my career is incalculable. They supported me and taught me things based on their own experiences that I might not have learned otherwise.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
Resilience, commitment, being able to adapt, and my strong family support give me an edge over others in my field. Beyond that, I work hard to build and maintain relationships with peers and clients, because those relationships are what open the doors to new opportunities and new chances to learn. My connections, values, and personal discipline are what allow me to stay grounded and successful in both my personal and professional life.
What is the one book that you recommend everyone should read and why?
How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie. The book teaches you how to build relationships that has substance and how to influence others in a way that benefits all sides. It’s engaging and informative, with examples told through compelling stories that link core takeaways back to human psychology.
The knowledge in that book is a wonderful tool for anyone who reads it.
Final Thoughts
Annie Wang is dedicated to her work and her family, and plans to continue her career as a professional banker and Managing Director at Nomura. Her insights reveal an ironclad core of resilience, flexibility, and drive that power her self-made success story and serve as an example to any who follow. By leveraging her expertise, social skills, and strategic thinking, she’s forged her own path through high education and the banking sector. Her adherence to her values is her strength, and that strength has paid its dividends handsomely. We’d like to thank her for agreeing to share her story and her insights with us, and wish her good fortune.
Photography by:
