36 Acquisition International - Influential Businesswoman Awards 2022 May22053 Best Private Credit Analytics Business Leader (USA): Kelly Thompson he US private debt market is estimated at about $1 trillion in assets and is the fastest growing segment in leveraged finance. Direct Lending Deals is an online publication widely read by the industry for its reports on terms and trends in the market. At the heart of the business is the unique insight of Kelly Thompson, a woman who has risen through the industry over the past 20 years. Kelly and the DLD team have quickly become the go-to source of news for private financing behind private equity-backed companies in the US. The publication covers trends, terms, rankings, hires, fundraising and industry mergers. Kelly self-funded the business in 2019, drawing on experience at various trade outlets to guide the content of her publication. Her team today includes three full-time employees to keep on top of the rapidly growing market. She remains sole owner. Kelly started as a finance reporter in the late 1990s and has observed various economic cycles allowing her to spot new trends as they arise. She spent 15 years with Standard & Poor’s LCD unit, which was recently sold to Morningstar for $650 million. Before launching DLD, she got a taste of entrepreneurship at LevFin Insights, a 2016 startup backed by Leeds Equity that later sold to Fitch Ratings. “Leaving a comfortable 15-year position for a startup was stressful,” she tells us, “but also reminded me that change is good. And fun. I love learning new things, especially now as a business owner.” One thing she has learned on her own is to “ignore the naysayers and trust your gut, as cliché as that may sound,” she said. “When I was sounding out DLD to a few contacts, I heard a lot of doubt about whether the market would buy another trade publication. The field had gotten crowded,” she said. “But I took the risk anyway, on the view that if people love a product, they’ll find the budget for it.” In fact, one of the early naysayers ended up being one of DLD’s first subscribers, according to Kelly. We asked what advice she would give to other women in the industry. “Find your supporters, whether they’re women or men. It’s so important to have a close circle of people you trust to walk you through ideas or get you through moments of doubt.” “I’d also advise to get out and meet as many people in person as possible,” she added. “People don’t respond to emails, they respond T Kelly Thompson felt the need to break out on her own after 20 years of reporting on leveraged finance for larger organizations. She and her team provide news and analysis for the US private debt market. Now recognised for her efforts in Acquisition International’s Influential Businesswoman Awards, we caught up with Kelly to discover more about what it’s like to launch a business in a crowded field of competitors. to people they know, especially the more senior the executive. This might be more challenging post-Covid, but I’m finding most are itching to get back to face-to-face meetings.” Having taken control of her own destiny, it’s clear that Kelly is well on the track to even greater successes. Her passion for the industry and her awareness of what drives it forward makes her the ideal resource for companies to turn to. We celebrate her incredible achievements over the last few years which has led her to stand apart as one of the world’s most influential businesswomen. Company: Direct Lending Deals Name: Kelly Thompson Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.dldeals.com
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