In this episode, Nick sits down with Stephanie Lynch, CIO and CFO of Student Quarters. Stephanie leads the firm’s investment and capital raising strategy and has executed more than $4.5 billion in debt and equity across domestic and offshore markets.
Stephanie shares formative leadership moments, the lessons she carried forward and the ones she intentionally left behind, and how fear of failure shaped her resilience. She also opens up about a dramatic moment early in her time at Student Quarters when a corporate partner collapsed just four days into her tenure, forcing her to navigate a complete recapitalization.
This conversation explores what drives her to outperform expectations, how she approaches negotiation, and the attributes she looks for in future leaders. Stephanie also reflects on mistakes that shaped her communication style, the dangers of chasing short term wins, and the personal and professional milestones she’s excited about next.
We covered:
The leadership traits she adopted from mentors and the ones she chose not to carry forward
Her approach to negotiation and the tools she relies on in high pressure situations
What drives her to exceed expectations and outperform peers
Lessons from crisis moments and why communication is central to her leadership
How she evaluates rising leaders and the qualities she hires for
Resources and books she recommends for developing critical thinking and adaptability
Chapters
00:00 Welcome and introduction to Stephanie Lynch
01:00 Stephanie’s role and responsibilities at Student Quarters
02:00 Early leadership experiences and being thrown in early
03:00 Feeling unprepared at first and learning to rise to the occasion
04:00 Fear of failure, persistence, and letting go of the need for yes
06:00 Mentorship influences and shaping her leadership style
07:00 Communicating hard things and navigating difficult conversations
09:00 Outworking and outsmarting peers and influences from her music background
11:30 The corporate crisis four days into her new role
13:30 Considering quitting and why she ultimately stayed
14:30 Drawing on financial crisis experience to stabilize Student Quarters
16:00 The recapitalization challenge and finding the right partner
18:00 Her negotiation approach creativity, communication, persistence
20:00 Mistakes that changed how she communicates risk and strategy
23:00 What she looks for in future leaders
24:00 Curiosity, communication, and embracing change
26:00 Negative drivers to avoid and the danger of short term wins
27:00 Recommended reading: Adam Grant and The Widow Clicquot
30:00 Is leadership worth it reflecting on meaning and motivation
31:00 Corporate milestones and future goals for Student Quarters
33:00 Launching Fund II and preparing for new investor opportunities
34:00 Personal goals travel, music, and exploring yoga teacher training
35:00 Closing thoughts and gratitude
