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Tanya, VP Business Development at Propy: Advize Career Interview
From finance studies at ASU and the University of Miami to VP of Business Development at Propy, this career path highlights a fascinating journey from traditional finance to the dynamic world of crypto.
Success in business development hinges on soft skills, insightful leadership, and continuous learning, with a typical day involving strategic meetings, team support, and travel.
The rewarding aspects of the role are helping team members grow and fostering happy investor relationships, but it can come with challenges in expectation management.
Ultimately, thriving in this field demands resourcefulness, initiative, and a proactive approach to problem-solving, even outside the formal job description, along with building genuine connections.
The crypto industry offers recent graduates opportunities to enter at higher levels, provided they possess a willingness to learn, especially as there are unique strengths and opportunities available when embracing any perceived insecurities and valuing diverse skills.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Tanya Solati
VP Business Development
Propy
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
University of Miami MSF
Finance
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Business Strategy
Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member
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Career Path of a Vice President of Business Development at Propy
Tanya's career path began with finance and real estate studies at Arizona State University, followed by a master's in finance from the University of Miami, leading to a role at SkyBridge Capital where "fundraising for private equity" and relationship management were key, but then a shift towards crypto occurred after seeing "a big shift from traditional finance into crypto" and led to their current role as VP of Business Development at Propy.
Main Responsibilities of a VP Business Development at Propy
Tanya's main responsibilities as a VP of Business Development at Propy involve both managing people and actively seeking deals and investors, with much time spent "making sure that everybody's doing the right job" and providing support. The career has evolved from a focus on task completion to prioritizing being "insightful and being thoughtful" and developing relationships.
A Day in the Life of a VP Business Development at Propy
A VP of Business Development at Propy starts the day with a focus on well-being before tackling urgent matters, scheduling important meetings that "require...thinking more" for the mornings, then dedicating afternoons to team support, ensuring everything is on track. The role also involves travel for in-person meetings and conferences, requiring the same daily management on the road.
Most Important Skills For A Vice President Business Development At Propy
Tanya believes that soft skills are paramount to success in business development, a sentiment that evolved from initially prioritizing hard skills in college. Soft skills, like "being able to work with everybody, including difficult people" and strong time management, are now considered more important than hard skills because they facilitate teamwork and initiative, and because "hard skills are not very hard and difficult to teach someone to" especially with the help of AI.
Favorite Parts of Being a VP Business Development at Propy
As VP of Business Development at Propy, Tanya finds the most rewarding part of the role to be the ability to help team members "become their better self every day", coupled with the satisfaction of happy investors. Being in business development, Tanya also enjoys the inherent aspects of the role such as "talking to people and getting to know people and being interested in people".
Biggest Challenges Faced by a VP Business Development at Propy
Tanya, a VP of Business Development at Propy, finds navigating complex problems from the team and mediating interpersonal issues challenging, especially when multiple problems arise simultaneously, leading to feelings of being "a little bit overwhelmed". Further, it can be difficult to manage the expectations of both upper management and the team, balancing the need to satisfy everyone involved, particularly when "letting down the people in [the] department" due to decisions beyond personal control.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Finance And Crypto Industry As A VP Business Development
Tanya enjoys being in the finance/crypto industry because finance requires constant awareness of world events and provides opportunities to learn from intelligent colleagues, especially analysts who are "incredibly insightful," while crypto excites Tanya due to its newness, potential for growth, and focus on innovation, where "everybody is growing as the industry is growing" and working together to improve.
What Type of Person Thrives in Their Career, According to a VP Business Development at Propy
According to Tanya, VP Business Development at Propy, those who thrive are individuals who proactively "take the time out of their day to go and learn about other things," even outside of work hours, emphasizing the importance of being resourceful and insightful by gaining knowledge across various fields to become a go-to person. For Tanya, the key is embracing continuous learning, acknowledging that "every day is a learning opportunity" and no one possesses all the answers.
What A VP Of Business Development At Propy Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Real Estate Industry
As a VP of Business Development at Propy, Tanya wishes someone had emphasized the importance of insightful leadership and relationship building before entering the industry. In particular, it's crucial to fully develop initiatives from beginning to end, "learn how to be diplomatic" by managing emotions, and cultivate relationships with everyone met without burning bridges, as one never knows where future opportunities may arise.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Analysts at Propy
To follow Tanya's path to VP Business Development, aspiring professionals should consider analyst or researcher roles, and not feel discouraged if investment banking isn't the first step, as "every company needs a finance person" and smaller firms can offer valuable hands-on experience. The burgeoning crypto industry also presents unique opportunities for recent graduates to enter at higher levels, particularly if they possess strong soft skills and a willingness to learn, as Tanya emphasizes that "the industry is very new" and values coachability.
Significant Career Lesson From a VP Business Development at Propy
Tanya's most significant career lesson is to proactively solve problems, even if they fall outside of a job description, because "when there's a problem, be the person that solves that problem." Taking initiative and demonstrating problem-solving skills in this way not only helps the company but also positions the individual as a go-to person and opens doors for advancement.
College Experiences That Helped a VP Business Development at Propy Succeed
Tanya emphasizes the importance of building relationships, both within a sorority for personal support and with professors like Christopher Neck who can become lifelong mentors by "mak[ing] the effort to go beyond what was supposed to do". In hindsight, Tanya also advises current students to maximize college opportunities by joining organizations, attending career fairs, focusing on gaining knowledge instead of just good grades, and choosing challenging electives to expand their understanding of the world and make the most of the educational opportunities that are available.
How Identity Has Influenced a VP Business Development at Propy's Career
Tanya, a VP of Business Development, initially viewed being a woman in finance as a disadvantage, but realized it's a powerful and beneficial position, stating, "I'm gonna be successful here because there is not that much of a competition" and that women's analytical and organizational skills are valuable assets, using an example that the COO of a big financial company is usually a woman. Furthermore, Tanya advises to embrace any perceived insecurities like accents, viewing them as unique strengths that create connection and reduce stress in professional settings.
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