David Estrakh didn’t plan to become a dealmaker. With a law degree in hand, he thought his place was in strategy and legal operations. But when Express Trade Capital needed clients more than legal opinions, he leaned into sales — and it stuck.
“I put my ego aside and realized I enjoyed speaking with business owners, developing relationships and closing deals,” says Estrakh, now executive vice president. “That’s when I saw the long-term value of business development — and I was hooked.”
As his portfolio grew, so did his responsibilities. Today, Estrakh is involved in strategy, product development and technology. Still, he never strays far from the front lines. “Whatever role I take on, I never forget sales. It creates momentum in every part of the business,” he says.
One of his most rewarding deals started with a casual tradeshow conversation. “I met a married couple selling dazzling lighting,” he says. “They eventually pivoted to toys and licensed novelties. I stayed in touch.” After two years of emails and detailed responses to every objection — especially from a skeptical CFO — they signed on. “A year later, the owner told me his wife printed out one of my emails and highlighted parts she thought were unique. She told her husband ‘This guy isn’t just some banker. I think the universe is putting him in our lives.’”
Estrakh approaches relationships with honesty, curiosity and persistence. “I remind myself the sale doesn’t stop at the signature,” he says. “It’s like a relationship — if you do it well, it gets deeper after the marriage.”
His advice to aspiring rainmakers? “Keep it simple, keep it moving. Show up every day and improve. A lot of success is just about consistency.”
For Estrakh, dealmaking is about more than terms and contracts. “Always add value. When something feels stuck, find the block and unblock it,” he says. “Stay present, stay real and everything else follows.”
