In this episode of Where Brains Meet Beauty with Jodi Katz, the focus turns to career capital, how professionals in law and investment banking help entrepreneurs scale, innovate, and exit. Joining the conversation are Kara Posner, Partner at Gianuzzi Lewendon, a boutique law firm deeply embedded in the consumer and beauty ecosystem, and Thomas Cunningham, Director of Business Development at Physician Growth Partners, a healthcare investment banking firm advising physicians, med spas, and wellness businesses.

The paths that brought them here couldn’t be more different. As a child, Posner dreamed of being a Disney animator, sketching endlessly before pivoting to advertising and ultimately to law, driven by a need for financial independence. Cunningham, meanwhile, grew up dreaming of becoming a professional baseball player or a stockbroker like his uncle. He pursued athletics through college before transitioning into the metrics-driven world of entrepreneurial sales and, eventually, investment banking. Both stories reflect how early ambitions, whether creative or competitive, can resurface later in life in unexpected ways.

At PhysicianGrowthPartners, Cunningham helps founders of dermatology practices, med spas, and wellness businesses explore transactions, manage succession planning, and maximize value in a market increasingly shaped by the convergence of healthcare and aesthetics. He describes his role as equal parts entrepreneurial and strategic, keeping a “scoreboard” like a baseball player, tracking quantity and quality of prospects, and measuring conversions to ensure steady growth.

On the legal side, Posner and her colleagues at Gianuzzi Lewendon represent more than 1,500 clients across beauty, personal care, food, beverage, and wellness. She spends much of her time guiding founders through financings and capital raises, then through M&A when exits come. What sets her firm apart, she says, is immersion in the community: being the first call for everything from finding a CFO to choosing an agency. To her, clients aren’t just transactions they’re people who have risked everything, often mortgaging homes or leaving lucrative jobs, and who deserve counsel that feels like an extension of their team.

The two often encounter similar challenges: managing strong personalities. For Cunningham, that means navigating physician-owners who want to control every word of a press release. For Posner, it’s the “15 boyfriends a day” feeling of making each founder feel like the only client. Both admit that this work is intense, but they thrive on the relationships and the impact they can make.

Outside the office, their creative and competitive roots reappear. Posner is a musician, playing drums, guitar, and piano, and still sketches for her kids. Cunningham recently picked up the violin again after 20 years, while also coaching his children’s sports teams. These outlets, they say, bring balance and joy to demanding careers.

Technology, mental health, and focus also came up in the conversation. Posner admits trade show apps overwhelm her, she’d rather meet people face-to-face, while Cunningham uses his iPhone’s grayscale setting to make his screen less addictive. Both agreed that despite the digital noise, authentic in-person connections remain vital in their industries.

Ultimately, what keeps them motivated is a mix of ambition and impact. Posner finds purpose in supporting entrepreneurs who put everything on the line to bring new ideas to life, while Cunningham is driven by helping clients see opportunities they couldn’t otherwise, and by building his young firm’s reputation as a trusted partner. Their shared lesson? Success is not just about closing deals, it’s about relationships, creativity, persistence, and finding meaning in the work.

Thank you to our sponsor Beauty Connect. Get 10% off tickets with code WBMB.