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Sunaina Sinha Haldea is a force to be recked with! The powerful financier has become the head of capital advisory at Raymond James, the company she also sold her own private equity firm, Cecile Capital, to in 2021. We sat down with Sunna to learn about her impressive career in finance, professional workplace fashion, and her top advice for aspiring businesswomen.
You’re the global head of private capital advisory at Raymond James. What drew you to the role?
Raymond James acquired Cebile Capital, the private capital advisory business that I had started and built, in 2021. I decided to join Raymond James after spending considerable time on the firm’s culture and values, which aligned with the mine and the ones we had nurtured at Cebile Capital. Staying in private capital advisory was a no-brainer for me, I have been lucky enough to continue doing the job I love but to do it at a much larger scale at Raymond James.
Sunaina Sinha Haldea
What’s a typical day in the office like for you—or is no one day the same?
No two days are the same in capital markets generally, but private capital advisory. From structuring innovative liquidity solutions using the secondaries market to advising sponsors on their fundraises to coaching members of my team, each day brings a different journey and a unique way to continue the business and my personal growth and development.
Sunaina Sinha Haldea
Do you have a go-to uniform when dressing for the office? Are there any hero pieces in your closet that you gravitate towards the most?
It all depends on what I am doing that day. There will be many days when I am traveling, in which case, a comfortable pair of Vuori joggers is what you’ll find on me! On days where I am largely focused on my team, it’s a relaxed pant and top set, but if I’m going to be client-facing then power dressing is the name of the game. That could include a sharp suit or a structured dress.
Is there a certain piece everyone should own within their professional wardrobe?
I am firmly in the camp of dressing comfortably, yet showcasing your power when you need to—so always have a few really sharp jackets on hand. They spruce up everything!
Sunaina Sinha Haldea
What advice do you have for young businesswomen who want to start their careers in the world of finance?
Play the long game! As a society, too many people are focused on short-term wins, praise and feel-good seems to be the expectation for each day of the year. Instead, keep your eye on the 10-year game, the long-term prize of putting in the hard work, learning and building real skills, putting them to work to create demonstrable value. That means there may be days that are long, arduous, thankless – stick with it for a period of time until you have juiced all the learning and growth from that chapter of your life. Whatever you do, do not be transactional with people. Build relationships that will stand the test of time.
What have been some of the biggest surprises you’ve faced or discovered during your career?
Investing in your preventative mental health faculties brings a return that will far exceed your most ambitious expectations! I found that astounding and now I invest in meditation time daily and go to a vipassana meditation course each year. I take my kids now, too. Having the ability to reset your mind and bring it into a state of calm and balance will change your life, and it will certainly impact your career.
All images: Courtesy of Sunaina Sinha Haldea
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