NEW YORK, NY (April 28, 2025) – Hawken Lord, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Edgewater Strategy Group (“Edgewater”), a boutique advisory firm specializing in M&A, capital raises and Office of the CFO services, was the featured guest on The Investment Banking Leaders Podcast by Altrum. The episode, “M&A Mastery: Hawken Lord on Changing the Game with Edgewater Strategy Group,” follows Hawken from investment banking at Morgan Stanley and private equity at H.I.G. Capital to the founding and growth of Edgewater.
Hosted by Peter Nieberg, The Investment Banking Leaders Podcast was launched in 2023 by Altrum, which creates deal toys and recognition pieces for the investment banking community. Its guests are senior bankers and advisors who talk about careers, leadership and the business of M&A.
Over the roughly 45-minute conversation, Hawken and Peter discussed starting an advisory firm from scratch and building it over time. Topics included:
- How Hawken moved from investment banking at Morgan Stanley into private equity at H.I.G. Capital, and the role of reputation and relationships in a less conventional career path
- What starting an advisory firm without outside capital involves, and how Edgewater has built its culture and team around a flat structure, regular feedback and hiring for ability rather than pedigree
- How the slowdown in private equity exits and the valuation challenges since 2022 affect sponsors’ need for flexible deal team capacity, and where Edgewater’s deal-team-for-hire model fits
“In this business, reputation is built one deal at a time. We founded Edgewater to be the team sponsors call when a transaction has to get done: embedded with their investment professionals, senior on every workstream and accountable through close. With exits taking longer and every deal under more scrutiny, that capacity matters more than ever, and so do the people we trust to deliver it.”
Hawken LordManaging Partner, Edgewater Strategy Group
The full episode is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, with an episode summary on Altrum’s website.
About The Investment Banking Leaders Podcast
The Investment Banking Leaders Podcast is hosted by Peter Nieberg. Altrum launched the show in 2023 and continues to sponsor it. Each episode features a conversation with an experienced leader from the investment banking and advisory world on career progression, leadership and professional growth. Episodes are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.
About Edgewater Strategy Group
Edgewater Strategy Group is a boutique advisory firm specializing in Mergers and Acquisitions, Capital Raises, and Office of the CFO services. Edgewater works as an extension of its clients’ deal and finance teams, from sourcing and diligence through close and post-close integration. For more information, visit edgewaterstrategygroup.com.
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