Dave Liu - The Way of the Wall Street Warrior

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Liu, Dave, author. | Snyder, Adam, author.

Title: The way of the Wall Street warrior : conquer the corporate game using tips, tricks, and smartcuts / Dave Liu, Adam Snyder.

Description: Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., [2022] | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021037401 (print) | LCCN 2021037402 (ebook) | ISBN 9781119811909 (Hardcover) | ISBN 9781119811916 (ePDF) | ISBN 9781119811923 (ePub)

Subjects: LCSH: Success in business. | Executive ability.

Classification: LCC HF5386 .L739 2022 (print) | LCC HF5386 (ebook) | DDC 650.1—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021037401

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021037402

COVER DESIGN: DAVE LIU

COVER ART: PAUL MCCARTHY

This book is dedicated to my mother, Vicki Liu, who showed me through hard work and determination that anything is possible. She also taught me not to take crap from anyone—from jerk customers at Safeway to narcissistic CEOs. Thanks, Mom!

This book would not have happened if it were not for the heroic efforts of me, myself, and I. So first, I'd like to thank myself for a job well done and pat myself on the back. I honestly thought I wouldn't be able to write enough to fill a postcard, but it looks like I have plenty to say!

I'd like to thank those people who allowed me to waste an hour or more of their precious Netflix time by sharing their stories. Extra kudos for letting me use their real identities. That includes Juan Alva, Frank Baxter, Herald Chen, Joanne Chen, Paul Clausing, Edward Fu, Eric Heglie, Michael Henkin, Gina King, Chris McGowan, Harry Nelis, Bret Pearlman, Sreene Ranganathan, Jon Seiffer, Spencer Wang, Dave Wargo, and Lauren Wu.

The feedback from those who read early manuscripts of this book was also tremendously helpful. Thanks for helping me eliminate the mindless drivel that would have sent this book straight into the discount pile. In particular, I'd like to thank Gad Allon, Bing Chen, Shubhan Dua, Brian Flynn, Tomoko Fortune, Bjorn Hovland, Eric Hu, James Liu, Tina Longfield, Leda Nelis, Mas Siddiqui, and Katherine Stevenson.

I'd like to thank the team at Wiley for their support and making me change the title more times than my underwear. And to my agent, Kevin Anderson, and his team, for taking a chance on me—a first-time author who was more anonymous than Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto.

I'd like to give a big high-five to my co-writing partner, Adam Snyder. Thanks for keeping me on track, fixing all the mistakes, and making this book readable. Without your help, my Mom would've been the only one to read it.

Last, but certainly not least, I'd like to thank my family. To my wife, Lauren Wu, for encouraging me to write a book to share my love of storytelling. To my older son, Logan, who convinced me that it was time to press the eject button out of the Wall Street rat race and devote my life to being a great dad. And finally to my younger son, Lucian, who's convinced I'm writing a book about working at Wal-Mart and managing my way out of paper bags. Thanks to all of you for constantly reminding me that there's much more to life than making a ton of money!

Dave Liu

Dave Liu is a seasoned veteran of Wall Street where he worked for almost 25 years. He started his investment banking career working for Goldman Sachs and then joined the fledgling investment bank Jefferies when it had less than 200 employees. Today, Jefferies is a multi-billion-dollar public company and one of the world's leading investment banks. During his 25-year career at Jefferies, Dave progressed from the proverbial janitor level of analyst to managing director, co-running all digital media and Internet investment banking activities.

As one of the firm's only managing directors of color, and among its youngest, Dave successfully rose the ranks by not only working his ass off, but also playing the corporate game. He has managed, mentored, and trained hundreds of bankers, many of whom have gone on to some of the best business schools in the world or achieved great career success on Main Street and Wall Street. He has completed over $15 billion of transactions for hundreds of companies, including IBM, Google, Microsoft, Sony, Yahoo!, and Yelp.

After retiring from Wall Street in his early 40s, Dave became an entrepreneur, starting four companies, and an active investor. He has helped many multi-billion-dollar companies, including Internet Brands/WebMD, a technology company; Vobile, a video software company; and MobilityWare, one of the world's largest mobile gaming companies. He is involved with Capacity, an artificial intelligence platform; Stampede, a film production company; TEG Live, a Grammy Award–winning and Tony Award–winning live production company; and Philz Coffee, an iconic coffee retailer. He was also CEO advisor to ProSiebenSat.1 Media, one of the largest media companies in Europe.

Dave is also a perspiring artist and writer who is learning how to draw and write “funny.” He studied creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania, Sundance Institute, and The Second City. He publishes a career advice column called Breaking Bamboo and a cartoon series called The ABC Life .

Dave completed the Management & Technology Program at the University of Pennsylvania where he received a bachelor of science in systems science and engineering (with concentrations in manufacturing and robotics) and a bachelor of science in economics (with a concentration in finance) from the Wharton School. He graduated with great honors and was inducted into the national engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi. Dave also attended Harvard Business School where he received his master's degree in business administration.

Dave is active in philanthropy and nonprofit organizations. He currently serves on the Executive Board of the Management & Technology Program at the University of Pennsylvania and on the Trust Advisory Committee of Tau Beta Pi. His family supports many charitable initiatives helping women of color, children with disabilities, and other disadvantaged communities. Net proceeds from this book will go toward charities helping children born with clefts, Asian Americans, and other disadvantaged groups.