# Jacob Silverman, President of Duff & Phelps, Shares Career Tips with MBA Students

As part of NYU Stern’s “Leadership Off the Record” series, Jacob Silverman, who was recently appointed president of Duff & Phelps, a financial advisory and investment banking firm, spoke with MBA students about his career in finance and technology. A self-proclaimed “deal maker,” Silverman described his professional journey including stints as a financial analyst on Wall Street and as CFO of an Internet software start-up. He also shared several lessons-learned:
- Find mentors and stick with them.
- Take professional risks and remember that it’s easier to take risks when you’re starting out and you have little to lose.
- Beware of corporate speak or “double speak.”
- Management is a full-time job. Motivating and leading teams can be challenging.
- Listening is key! Employees who don’t feel heard become demotivated and oftentimes demoralized.
- Don’t underestimate the importance of succession planning and creating career paths for your employees.
- Learn how to be effective in both hiring and firing employees.

Coordinated by the School’s Leadership Development Team, this event series gives students an opportunity to hear from senior executives in different industries on the challenges and lessons of being a leader.

Business and Policy Leader Events

— 12/2/2013

![](/sites/default/files/styles/480w/public/assets/images/con_045449.jpg?itok=4QXTNHF2)Take professional risks and remember that it’s easier to take risks when you’re starting out and you have little to lose. - Jacob Silverman

###  Read more about past Leadership Development Initiative events:

- [Daniel Schwartz, CEO of Restaurant Brands International](/node/24711)
- [Jacob Silverman, president of Duff & Phelps](/node/7462)
- [Elana Drell Szyfer, CEO of AHAVA](/node/48260)

###  Read more about past Leadership Luncheon Series events:

- [David Rock, co-founder and director, NeuroLeadership Institute](/node/7951)
- [Stephen Sadove, chairman and CEO, Saks](/node/6297)
- [Sharon Allen, former chairman, Deloitte](/node/6027)
- [Jeff Zucker, former president and CEO, NBC Universal](/node/5503)
- [Tony Alvarez, co-founder, Alvarez & Marsal LLC](/node/4886)
- [Bill Drayton, founder and CEO, Ashoka](/node/4876)
- [Mike Indursky (MBA ’90), president, Bliss World Holdings Inc.](/node/45749)
- [Mary Ellen Iskenderian, president and CEO, Women’s World Banking](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/news-events/events/mary-ellen-iskenderian-2011)
- [Larry Silverstein (ARTS ’52), president and CEO, Silverstein Properties](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/news-events/silverstein-secrets-success)