Stella Debibi, whose new Century City company, Debibi Strategic Partners, focuses on business development and marketing, has a background in creating synergies that will come in handy at her new firm.
Debibi, who most recently worked at real estate investment banking firm George Smith Partners in business development, has put together nine marriages over the last decade or so. She said her ability to put couples together aids her in her business, which focuses on connecting firms for joint ventures.
“I observe people and really try to learn about them,” Debibi said. “With the marriage thing, I don’t put people together just because they are single. I really try to learn about them.”
The secret, she said: “What they claim they are looking for is really different than what they want. It’s the same with businesses.”
Most recently, Debibi helped connect George Smith Partners Inc. with law firm Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP. The two have formed a real estate lending advisory group.
While her business is less than a month old, she points to her matchmaker track record as a harbinger of success. Of her nine matches, there haven’t been any divorces, at least so far.
“I am proud to say that,” she said. “And seven of them have two, three kids each.”
They Can See Clearly
Since moving into new offices, Steve Goldman has developed a fondness for writing on glass.
Goldman, chief executive at advertising measurement firm Ace Metrix, moved his company 10 months ago to new digs in West Los Angeles where every office has large windows. Today, those surfaces are covered with math equations, organization charts and to-do lists.
“Windows have become a natural whiteboard at Ace Metrix,” Goldman explained. “We use them for new concepts, problem-solving and even listing sales leads.”
The advantage of using clear glass is that when Goldman walks into a co-worker’s office, he instantly knows the person’s current projects. People don’t have to attend meetings to know what’s happening they just look through the windows.
Another advantage: As long as employees use dry-erase markers, windows are easier to clean than traditional whiteboards.
Rim Shot
It’s not every day that a Beverly Hills firm gets compared to cheap fast food. But Platinum Equity principal Mark Wiesenthal didn’t flinch recently at making the comparison.
He cited a popular burger joint to a group of financial, real estate and legal professionals gathered to learn more about the private equity firm’s notorious bottom-feeding strategy.
“It’s like In-N-Out burger,” said Wiesenthal, noting the chain’s famously limited and inexpensive menu. “They make one thing and make it well.”
The joke solicited laughs from the crowd of about 60 people attending the July 24 power breakfast in Santa Monica hosted by Greenberg Traurig LLP.
Spotted noshing on bagels and networking were Mark Levinson, Greenberg attorney; Leonard Lanzi, executive director of the Los Angeles Venture Association; and P. John Wickser, president of Watt Reality Advisors.
Staff reporters Daniel Miller, Joel Russell and Alexa Hyland contributed to this column. Page 3 is compiled by Charles Crumpley. He can be reached at [email protected].
