Helana Robbins Huddleston, CIRA, MBA

I credit my success to relentless hard work and an unwavering belief in what is possible. Success rarely comes easily, but that challenge is what makes it meaningful. While effort and perseverance are essential, no one succeeds alone. Having people around you who believe in you, sometimes even more than you believe in yourself, can change everything. Along the way, there will be doubters and voices that question your path. It is important to recognize them, but even more important not to let them define you. Their limitations do not have to become yours. Instead, choose to focus on the people who lift you up, who encourage your growth, and who genuinely want to see you succeed. When you surround yourself with belief, support, and positivity, you give yourself the freedom and the strength to reach your fullest potential.

The best career advice I ever received was simple: say yes. Not without thought but with courage. Seek out opportunities, and when something feels uncertain or unfamiliar, try it anyway. Even if it’s not the right fit, you gain clarity and experience. That mindset has shaped my career. I said yes to moving from Chicago to New York to lead an international project, leaving a company after seven years to gain expertise in an unknown field, and yes again to leaving New York to build a transaction practice in Chicago. Those choices pushed me, expanded my perspective, and opened doors I never expected. Saying yes to growth, to challenge, to possibility has made all the difference.

My advice to young women entering this industry is simple: work hard, do your best, and surround yourself with people who support you. Success takes time, patience, and realistic expectations – few goals happen overnight. Balance is important, but it doesn’t always show up all at once. There will be moments when you are fully focused on your career, and others when personal life takes the lead – and that is completely natural. You can be an exceptional professional, a dedicated parent, and a fulfilled person. It just may not always be at the same exact moment. What matters is finding a rhythm that allows space for both.

The opportunities in our field right now are significant. There is capital in the market, momentum behind transactions, and a constant drive to do things smarter and faster. Technology plays a critical role in driving efficiency but it is the human element that brings true strategic insight. The future is not about choosing one over the other; it is about balance. By leveraging technology to streamline execution while relying on human judgment to think critically and creatively, we can move faster without losing perspective. That is the work we are focused on – finding better, more efficient ways to get deals done while keeping strategy firmly in human hands.

Trust is the value I prioritize above all else, both professionally and personally. For clients, buying or selling a business is a defining moment, and trust is the foundation of that relationship. It has to work both ways – I trust my clients, they trust me, and the same is true within my team. Trust is built through presence, responsiveness, and expertise, but also through honesty. If I don’t know something, I say so, and then I find the answer. In my experience, integrity and transparency are what turn trust into lasting relationships.