As a new year begins, I find myself reflecting on the journey we’ve taken together, both in life and in business. It’s moments like these that remind me why I’m so passionate about what we do at Magnolia Hill Partners. For me, it has always been about more than just deals or numbers; it’s about relationships, trust, and the incredible privilege of doing life and business with people in a meaningful way.
What excites me most are the relationships we’ve built and continue to cultivate. Our story actually begins at Franklin Square Capital Partners (later becoming FS Investments) where I had the privilege of working alongside John Shain, one of the firm’s original co-founders. From those early days, I learned the true meaning of partnership—building something meaningful with people who feel like family. That philosophy continues to guide everything we do at Magnolia Hill Partners as we break bread and establish new partnerships with subject-matter experts whose friendship and partnership have enriched both my personal and professional life. Their willingness to share their knowledge, roll up their sleeves, and genuinely invest in our shared vision is what makes this journey so rewarding.
As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to invest in the areas we know best: data centers and professional sports. These areas aren’t just investment themes for us; they represent spaces where our team has already made a real impact for decades, leveraging our unique strengths and long-term relationships.
Data centers form the backbone of our rapidly-evolving digital world. The infrastructure that supports the exponential growth of data is critical. Our data center team has been immersed in this sector since its inception in the late 1980s. It’s a space where we feel we bring not just capital but also deep expertise and strategic vision. Similarly, in professional sports, we’ve found incredible opportunities at the intersection of real estate and athletics, both in the U.S. and Europe.
There’s a story that sticks with me about a flight I took to the Cayman Islands. It was a serendipitous trip where I met someone who would become not just a business partner but a dear friend. Over the course of that two-hour flight, we talked about everything from our faith to our families, discovering common ground and shared aspirations. That connection eventually led to a joint investment in Jacksonville, where we’re working to uplift a community together. It’s moments like these that remind me of the beauty of happenstance and the power of genuine relationships.
I’ve also been deeply moved by the connections we’ve made at events and meetings. On a trip to New York recently, I sat down with two incredible female c-suite executives. In separate conversations, they both told me how refreshing it was to be asked questions that showed genuine care for their goals and challenges. For me, Magnolia Hill Partners is about truly seeing people, understanding their stories, and finding ways to support them. Our resolution in the year ahead is to continue to build, grow, and create together, always keeping relationships at the heart of what we do. Because at the end of the day, that’s what matters most.
Here’s to another year of doing life and business together.
With gratitude,
Marley Hughes
CEO
Magnolia Hill Partners
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