Tiffany Teves

Can you tell me about yourself?

My name is Tiffany Teves, and I’m a Senior Business Development Associate, working in the Business Development team US office based in New York City.

I was born and raised in New Jersey, and after graduating university, I started a career in private wealth management before joining GLAS. I interviewed for a position on the Graduate was offered a permanent position on the business development team over 2 years ago. Since then, I’ve witnessed significant growth in the GLAS US office.

There were many reasons why I joined GLAS, but I was intrigued by Mia’s initiative when she flew from London to New York for the graduate interview day. Her pitch for GLAS was compelling, and I admired that it was a woman-founded company in a male-dominated industry. Mia’s drive and vision for the US business to grow exponentially inspired me to join.

Can you describe your role at GLAS and how it has evolved over time?

As a Senior Associate on the Business Development team, my main responsibilities include sourcing new opportunities and clients that may benefit from our restructuring our capital market services.

We are a smaller team in the US, and aren’t as established as we are in the UK, but we’re growing towards that. My day-to-day tasks involve meeting with existing and prospective clients, such as investment banks, lawyers, fund managers, and borrowers. When I’m not in meetings, you can find me working on revenue-generating activities like outreach emails and attending in-person conferences, and events.

When I first started on the Business Development team, it was a team of only two. I mainly handled support and admin tasks while the Head of Business Development led calls and created fee proposals. As I learned more about our products and services, I began attending events and meetings alone, pitching to clients, and gathering insights on the market to share with the wider team.

Today, I handle most client calls independently and manage the full deal cycle, from initiation to fee proposals, winning mandates, and handing them over to our transaction management group. I’m also more independent in sourcing my own clients and deals.

How would you say GLAS has helped you get to the position you’re at now?

There is a clear promotion plan. From day one, I knew the metrics needed for promotion. Clear numeric targets and structured performance reviews with my manager were very helpful.

The internal mentorship we get is also valuable.

For example, Mia is great. Whenever she’s in the New York office, I try to connect with her. She’s offered a lot of her time and mentorship both personally and professionally. It’s been a great to have mentors like her.

Additionally, leveraging the organisations that GLAS is a member of, such as the TMA and LSTA, and having friends and mentors at different firms has been very beneficial as they provide valuable outside perspectives.

What do you think makes the GLAS culture unique?

Mia has done an excellent job of maintaining a small-office culture, even as we grow. The team are always keen to be in the office when she visits the US as we all value the opportunity to interact with her face-to-face. This strong participation when Mia is here is a testament to the culture she has fostered.

Everyone in the office is also very open and helpful. Even after 2 and a half years, I still ask lots of questions because there’s always something new to learn. The London office has more experience with various deals, so I often seek their insights. The team is incredibly supportive and I’m grateful for their willingness to help, – there is never a “stupid” question.

What has been your favourite project at GLAS?

One of my key projects has been working alongside one of the leading banks in the US. Initially, bank initiatives weren’t a primary focus, but I saw the potential and began developing this area when I joined.

This year, we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of transactions we’re partnering with this particular client on. We’ve become one of their go-to agents, and they’ve introduced us to their team, allowing us to grow within the bank.

This project has been my favourite, as I’ve finally seen the results of my hard work.

Has anything surprised you, either in your previous roles or your current role?

Yes, in my previous job in private wealth management, the firm was very traditional, conservative, and male dominated. It was a rigid environment where higher-ups were not open to new ideas or processes. I was used to sticking by established procedures.

When I moved over to GLAS, it was like a breath of fresh air.

The environment is very open to feedback, and I was pleasantly surprised by the company culture. Mia is a strong advocate for women in the finance industry, supporting their career advancement and creating initiatives that help people both professionally and personally. Being a women-founded organization, it embodies many European corporate values, which are quite different from the typical American corporate culture.