Hey there! My name is Russell Yue, and I’m a Vice President with Tru Arrow Partners in New York City where I focus on technology and late stage venture investments. Prior to Tru Arrow, I was an investor with H.I.G. Capital, where I helped start the firm’s new late stage venture/growth investment practice. Before H.I.G., I was an investor on the growth stage investment team at Greycroft. I also previously worked in financial planning & analysis at Fastly, where I helped the company raise $75 million during its Series D fundraise. I graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Business Finance. Happy to chat with anyone about (1) entrepreneurship and working at a startup/scaleup, (2) technology and venture investing, (3) nontraditional career paths after college, or (4) anything else I can be helpful with!

Hello! My name is Andrew Spiegel. I am a Senior Associate on the Truist Securities Technology, Media & Telecom Leveraged Finance team based in Atlanta, GA. My role is focused on advising corporate clients and financial sponsors on the origination, structuring and execution of institutional loans, high yield bonds and bank loans for LBO, M&A, recapitalization and refinancing transactions. Prior to Truist, I spent roughly three years in Public Accounting, including Grant Thornton’s Transaction Advisory Services group and Deloitte’s Audit practice. I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a double major in Finance and Accounting and obtained my CPA license in the State of New York shortly after graduating. I was drawn to Investment Banking, albeit “late to the game”, as I gained an appreciation for how Investment Banks helped businesses of all shapes and sizes achieve some of their most significant milestones and growth objectives. As someone who attended a “Non-Target” university and did not have strong connections into “high finance”, I can provide a unique perspective on what it will take to break in to the industry. I am also active with my firm’s recruiting initiatives, so I can provide specific insights into our talent acquisition process.

Hello! I am a real estate private equity associate at Artemis Real Estate Partners based in D.C. and was previously a real estate acquisitions associate at The Carlyle Group and an investment banking analyst in Jefferies' Real Estate, Gaming & Lodging group. I studied physics at Davidson College where I was actually pre-med for my first three semesters. After deciding medicine wasn't right for me, I took econ 101 and completed UVA's business certificate over the summer, during which I decided that finance might be a good fit. I am happy to discuss how pursuing a non-traditional major (i.e. not finance, accounting, business, or economics) will affect the recruiting process and how to best leverage your unique perspective to earn an offer. I am also happy to discuss how to catch up if the recruiting process is in the near future and you've only just decided finance is something you want to pursue. Just because you don't have directly relevant prior experience doesn't mean you can't land a great internship if you're willing to work hard!

Hi there! My name is Ben Peacock, and I’m an investment banking vice president in the Global Industrials Group at Jefferies. I joined the firm in 2017, and prior to that, I spent five years in sell-side equity research covering industrial stocks across several platforms. I studied finance at Miami University (in Ohio) where I also played on the men’s golf team. Over the years, I’ve been extremely fortunate to lean on the advice, experience and guidance of others who have been willing to share their insight. As such, I’d be thrilled to connect and share any perspectives that may be helpful. Whether you have specific questions or would simply like to make an informal connection, please reach out to proformafutures@gmail.com and the team will coordinate a call.

My name is Henry Johnson and I am currently a Senior Private Equity Associate at The Carlyle Group based in Washington D.C. I support our U.S. Buyout strategy within Corporate Private Equity, focusing on investments in the Aerospace, Defense and Government Services sectors. Prior to joining Carlyle in 2019, I spent three years in Investment Banking at Jefferies in New York, focusing on transactions in the Aerospace & Aviation sectors. Originally from New York City, I attended Wake Forest University for undergrad, where I majored in Economics. I have pursued a career in finance as I have found the high-velocity, strategy-intensive nature of the work to be intellectually stimulating and rewarding. I have also greatly enjoyed the relationships I have been able to foster professionally and therefore look forward to hearing from others in/entering the finance career path. If you are considering a transition from investment banking into private equity or simply would like to hear more about my experiences in either role, please reach out to proformafutures@gmail.com and the team will coordinate a call.

I’m pleased to be involved with Pro-Forma Futures to share my 25+ years background with those who can benefit from a diverse financial background.

I initially started my career working for a small CPA firm doing both tax and audit services, and became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in California. After leaving public accounting, I worked in the operations team for two large asset managers in California (Capital Group, parent company of the American Funds), and New York (Goldman Sachs Asset Management). I’ve worked for a small Registered Investment Advisors, and a boutique Asset Manager doing institutional sales. I’ve worked at BNY Mellon in San Francisco and London in the beta and transition management team providing services to institutional clients, foundations/endowments and sovereign wealth funds. I had a great experience working for the world’s largest index provider, MSCI, in their wealth advisory team in San Francisco, then spent time as an ETF Specialist at VanEck in a sales capacity across the Western United States focused on the wirehouse, regional and independent broker/dealer channel.

For my undergraduate studies, I attended the University of Southern California (USC) and earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in both Accountancy and Business Administration, and earned my MBA at the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.

In my career, I’ve always embraced ways to provide support to those who can benefit from my experience and background. I’ve had the good fortune of participating on the Board of Directors for the CFA Society of San Francisco, as well as for the Bay Area Financial Education Foundation. I’m a believer in ‘paying it forward’.

If I can provide assistance, please reach out to proformafutures@gmail.com and the team will coordinate a call.

Hi - I’m Chris Ellan and am the head of M&A for Frontline Education, a K12 administrative software company. Prior to Frontline, I spent over a decade within the investment banking industry in various roles spanning from supporting an exotic derivatives desk at Morgan Stanley to a tech banker at Jefferies. Most of my time in banking was spent with Wells Fargo where I held roles in DCM and TMT. An entrepreneur at heart, I’ve also founded a few (mostly failed...) businesses in the past. Most notably, I co-founded ReporterSuite, a software company that ultimately sold to Stenograph. I had a somewhat unique entry into the world of finance. Having been inspired by my families’ military heritage, I shipped off to the Navy after high school. After leaving the Navy, I trekked back to my hometown of Tallahassee and attended community college before transferring to Florida State, then again to Emory University to finish out a BA in finance with a minor in applied mathematics. Given my unconventional entrance into finance, I’m excited by the idea of helping folks navigate the process of getting into and staying in the industry. If you'd like to chat, please reach out to proformafutures@gmail.com and the team will coordinate a call.

Jason DeLaurentis is an insurance, employee benefits, and risk management adviser at Lockton Companies. Jason has a specialization in structuring, restructuring, and executing strategic insurance-related initiatives, as it relates to private equity firms and the operating of their portfolio companies. He is responsible for delivering on all aspects of client service, including but not limited to deploying appropriate resources/intellectual capital, managing and executing client deliverables and managing client relationships across the globe. Jason is also the Founder of DealMakersNY, an exclusive social gathering of both buy-side and sell-side M&A professional (Private Equity, Family Offices, Investment Banks). DealMakersNY creates a tremendous networking opportunity for professionals and those connected to Proforma Futures. Jason’s expertise is in Risk Management, Employee Benefits, M&A insurance due diligence, transactional liability, restructuring/special situation, and insurance risk profiling by industry. If you'd like to chat, please reach out to proformafutures@gmail.com and the team will coordinate a call.

My name is Chelsea Dunlap and I am the COO and Business Manager for the Global Industrials, Municipal Finance and Private Capital Advisory Investment Banking teams at Jefferies. I am heavily involved in the daily operations and build out of these three teams, including responsibilities across Operations, Finance and HR. Prior to my role as COO, I was a banker on the Healthcare Investment Banking team for four years, also at Jefferies. I graduated with a B.A. in History from Yale University, where I was also the captain of the Women’s Swimming and Diving team. I enjoy working with bankers on their professional development. If you’d like to chat, please reach out to xx and the team will coordinate a call.

My name is Chase Cormier and I currently work in corporate development at IES Holdings, a holding company with four operating divisions in the construction and infrastructure space. Prior to IES, I spent time as a private equity associate in New York City with ORIX Capital Partners and DFW Capital Partners. I started my career in finance with RBC Capital Markets in the Power, Utilities and Infrastructure group in Houston. I graduated from North Carolina State University in 2013 with a degree in Agricultural Business Management with a minor in Economics. I have experience helping students considering a career in investment banking or private equity and understand the challenges of coming from a school that is not heavily recruited at. If you'd like to chat, please reach out to proformafutures@gmail.com and the team will coordinate a call.

I have 27+ years of debt financing leadership and founded ECS Debt Advisory in 2014. I have completed over $12 Billion of debt financings spanning roles as both Borrower (led debt financing and M&A for PAETEC, a publicly-traded Fortune 1000 telecommunications company), Lender (SVP & Team Leader for Union Bank’s Communications/Media Lending group where I managed financings), and Advisor (executing financings on behalf of private equity-owned and owner/operator borrowers). I attended UC Davis and earned a BA in economics. If you'd like to chat, please reach out to proformafutures@gmail.com and the team will coordinate a call.

Hi - my name is Aneesh Bhattacharya and I am an investment professional on the Controlled Environment Foods team at Equilibrium Capital, a sustainability-driven investment firm.

Prior to joining Equilibrium, I worked at the Forest Road Company where I focused on a structured investment strategy which provided capital to early-stage renewable energy developers. Earlier in my career, I was a member of the investment team at Union Capital, a lower middle market private equity firm focused on investments in the food manufacturing, business services and franchise restaurant spaces. In this role, I worked across investment, portfolio operations, and fund management responsibilities for Union Capital's first institutional fund. I began my career in the Industrials investment banking group at Jefferies.

I hold an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and a B.A. from Vanderbilt University.

I’ve been lucky enough to have mentors in both banking and PE who have helped me to grow and develop and I would like to help others do the same. If you have an interest in private equity, private credit, sustainability, or business school, I'd be happy to chat!

Alena Antigua is a Senior Vice President in the healthcare group helping co-lead the healthcare information technology practice at Jefferies. Alena has been with Jefferies for over 10 years, prior to which she spent roughly one year at Truist in the healthcare group. Alena’s passion for financial services come from her immense intellectual curiosity and critical thinking skills. Alena holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Occidental College and a Masters from University of Chicago. Alena comes from a diverse family of immigrants with a mother who is a political refugee of Chile and a first-generation Greek father; she is fluent in Spanish and can read and write in Greek. If you'd like to chat, please reach out to proformafutures@gmail.com and the team will coordinate a call.

I am currently pursuing my MBA at Stanford. Before business school, I was a senior private equity associate at H.I.G. Capital and, prior to that, an investment banking analyst at Jefferies. I studied accounting and finance at the University of Richmond. I pursued a career in finance because I wanted challenging roles that offered significant responsibility. If you’d like to chat, we can talk school (undergrad or BSchool), industry, internships, recruiting, and / or interviews. On that last point, having made it from interviewee to interviewer, I can tell you which questions will be asked during interviews and, more importantly, how to give great answers. I’m the least intimidating person you’ll ever meet so if you're trying to decide which of us you should contact first, I'm your guy!

My name is Daniel, and I am currently a senior at the University of Georgia. I will be joining Wells Fargo in the Mid-Cap M&A group in the New York City office. Previously, I spent my junior summer at RBC Capital Markets and have worked across boutique banks, family offices, startups, and an equity manager. I broke in from a non-core school and navigated full-time recruiting, and I am glad to support anyone going through the process, especially first-generation students and others pursuing similar paths. Several of my early opportunities came through consistent cold outreach and proactive networking, and I’m happy to share practical strategies that helped me break in. I credit much of my progress to mentors who pushed me to raise my standards and encouraged candid conversations, and I aim to do the same for others!

Hello! My name is Michael Zhang. I’m currently a strategic finance senior director at GoGuardian. Prior to GoGuardian, I spent time as a tech growth investor at Sumeru Equity Partners, buyout investor at H.I.G. Capital’s Advantage Fund, and leveraged finance investment banker at Nomura. I’ve always been passionate about business, and I initially pursued finance for the opportunity to interact with a wide array of companies, industries, and management teams. After spending 5 years in finance, I decided to switch over to an operator role at GoGuardian to get closer to the ground in terms of driving change and creating value within businesses. As both LGBTQIA+ and a minority, I’m excited to share my experience with you as you evaluate potential career paths within investment banking, private equity, and/or corporate finance as well as provide any help with interview prep.

I am currently a private equity associate at The Riverside Company based in San Francisco, CA. Prior to joining Riverside, I was a private equity associate at Comvest Partners in West Palm Beach, FL and I began my career in investment banking at Piper Sandler in Minneapolis, MN. I graduated from St. Olaf College, a liberal arts school in Northfield, MN, with a B.A. in math and economics with a finance emphasis. Initially, I decided to pursue finance because I saw it as a combination of my two majors, math and economics, and looked at finance as a way for me to apply what I was learning in the "real world" (rarely talked about at a liberal arts school!). I then decided to pursue investment banking (i) because of pure luck that I was introduced to it my sophomore year by a few seniors during investment club and (ii) because I wanted to start my career somewhere where I would be constantly challenged and learning. Feel free to reach out if you are looking to get into middle market investment banking or private equity. Additionally, I am happy to speak to anyone who is interested in lateraling between private equity firms as I went through this process in the transition from Comvest to Riverside.

Hi! My name is Dana Wu, and I’m currently a Corporate Development associate at WHP Global. Previously, I was an investment banking analyst within Stifel’s Leveraged Finance group based in New York City. I graduated from U.C. Berkeley in 2020 with a B.A. in Economics, a Minor in Political Economy and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Technology. I pursued a career in finance because I first and foremost wanted a challenge. I was attracted to the constant learning opportunities and responsibilities I’d be afforded in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment, all while having the chance to impact a company’s future and growth. More than happy to chat and answer any questions related to exploring IB, interviewing, recruiting for the East Coast from a West Coast school, and how to navigate any other situations that may arise.

Hi there, I'm Daisy Wu! I am currently an executive with an entrepreneurial mindset, a finance background, and a proven track record of driving sustainable business growth. I was formerly a strategy management consultant with Humans Matter. Previously, I was an investment operations associate at MarketX Ventures, a private capital investment platform focusing on pre-IPO and growth-stage deals. I graduated from the Michigan State University in 2021 with a master's in accounting and information systems degree. I pursued a career in finance because I am genuinely curious about the intersection of capital investment and social impact. As a candidate from a non-target school, a woman, an international student, and a person of color, I am able to provide advice on how to get your foot in the door as a minority, leverage the PFF network, or join and thrive at a VC/ PE startup or consultancy.

Like many folks, I was unsure what I wanted to do with my career when I was a student. It wasn’t until I discovered consulting that I realized there was a home for people like me who want to explore different industries, work on challenging projects, and interface with high-level leadership at some of the world’s largest companies, non-profits and government institutions. Since graduating, I have worked at and interviewed for a number of the top global consulting firms. Currently, I am a management consultant at Kearney aligned to their health practice and my goal is to help demystify the world of consulting and the intimidating recruitment process.

Hi! My name is Jessica Wilson and I currently work in Richmond, Virginia at the London Company doing equity research. I am a generalist who focuses on US-listed stocks across a spectrum of market caps and industries. I graduated from the University of Richmond in 2019 where I received a BSBA in Economics, with a concentration in finance, and a BA in Italian Studies. During the summer of my junior year I interned at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in their Sales & Trading division. After pursuing the summer internship I decided a research position would be a better fit for me. I have always had a curious and analytical mind and conducting in depth research is intriguing to me. To complement my work in equity research I am also pursuing a CFA charter. I recently passed Level II and will be taking Level III at the end of the year. It was certainly not easy getting to where I am today and I believe that is largely due to there being a lack of resources for people who didn’t grow up in a finance household. Don’t let this dissuade you from following your passions. I hope I can be a mentor to anyone, who like me, knows their strengths but just needs help finding their way.

Hi, my name is Kolby Williams. I am currently a Senior Underwriting Analyst at Freddie Mac in their Targeted Affordable Housing (TAH) group. Prior to Freddie, I worked at The Warrenton Group, an affordable housing development company in Washington, DC. I graduated from the University of Richmond in 2019 where I received a B.A. in sociology and played football. I pursued a career in real estate finance and particularly affordable housing because of my interests in real estate and helping people at mass scale. As a candidate who didn't major in business/finance/accounting and was a student-athlete, I see myself a resource for those with similar backgrounds/interests and would be happy to provide advice on how to leverage non-traditional backgrounds to get a foot in the door and navigate the real estate finance industry.

Hello! My name is Joe Wen, and I’m currently an Associate in the Strategic Equity Solutions group at Bank of America, located in NYC. Prior to joining Bank of America, I was an analyst in the Equity-Linked Origination group at RBC Capital Markets. I graduated from Washington & Lee University in 2019 with a B.S. in Business Administration and a minor in Computer Science. I decided to pursue a career in finance because I wanted to be in a work environment where I can be given significant responsibility at a junior level and also be surrounded by intelligent and driven people. From my own experience, I understand the importance of mentorship given how daunting and exhausting the recruiting process can be, and I would love to chat with you about career aspirations / networking tips / interview prep / or anything else that’s helpful to you, at any point of your journey.

My name is Ben Wen, and I am a first-year Analyst at the Jefferies SF Technology team. I originally grew up in China and recently graduated from Babson College with a concentration in Finance. I decided to start my career in investment banking because of the fast-paced nature and broad base exposure the position offers. However, I didn't go through the conventional "internship to full time" path because I started recruitment late. I'd love to help you with your full-time recruitment journey, from networking strategy to interview prep.

My name is Maxwell Wang and I am currently a private equity associate at The Carlyle Group within the global infrastructure private equity team. I began my career at Citigroup as a project finance analyst, where I focused on structuring debt instruments for infrastructure projects. I graduated from Cornell University in 2021 with a B.Sc. in Industrial and Labor Relations. I pursued a career in finance after learning about the industry from peers in various student organizations on campus, and am excited to help others pursue their own career path.

I am currently a third-year student at USC Marshall. I interned as a sophomore summer analyst with Credit Suisse's Financial Sponsors group and will be joining Ares Management's Direct Lending IR team in NYC for my junior year summer. I am pursuing a degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance and a minor in legal studies, and have benefitted tremendously from the Trojan Alumni network, along with the PFF platform. I went through recruitment as an underclassman and would love to chat about the interview process and best practices from an undergraduate or international student's perspective. Feel free to reach out via email, and I will help in any way I can!

My name is Jimmy Wang. I am currently an investment banking analyst at Oppenheimer & Co. in New York within the FIG and Real Estate group. Prior to OpCo, I was an analyst senior intern and analyst intern in the valuation & opinions group at Lincoln International in New York. I graduated from the University of Rochester in 2022 with a BS in Business finance. I developed an interest in business through the complexities of a board game: Monopoly. The intelligence required to organize, plan, and execute motives on a plain board coincides with the way our capitalistic economy works. Through my experiences, I developed an affinity for entrepreneurship and leadership. My college experience taught me the importance of dedication, passion, and imagination, and, in retrospect, these values encouraged and supported me to pursue a career in investment banking. Looking back, I would not have made it in without all those cold emails and networking, and I hope to pay it forward.

Hi! My name is Jack Wang, and I’m currently a Private Equity Associate at H.I.G. Capital (Advantage Fund) in San Francisco. Prior to joining H.I.G., I was an investment banking analyst in the M&A group at Greenhill & Co. in NYC. I graduated from NYU Stern in 2023 with a B.S. in Business Administration (concentrations in Finance and Data Science & Computing with a minor in Math + CS). I ultimately pursued a role in investment banking for the start of my career because I believed it was the perfect platform to learn the fundamentals of finance and gain early exposure to management teams’ decision-making processes before I transitioned to an investing role. I wouldn’t be in my current role today had it not been for the various mentors that helped me navigate the nebulous / highly daunting recruiting processes. I want to pay forward their kindness and would be happy to chat through any aspects of recruiting, interviewing, career planning, etc. Even if you have no idea what you want and simply want someone to lend an ear, I’m your guy! Don’t hesitate to reach out!

Hello! My name is Sabina Vohra. I am currently an investment banking analyst in the Aerospace and Defense Group at Stifel in their Bethesda, MD office. I graduated from the University of Richmond in May 2022 with a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. My interest in Investment Banking began at the end of my first year at college after talking to upperclassman who were entering the industry. I was drawn to the learning curve that was offered to twenty-two year olds and it is unparalleled to many other industries. I worked in the political realm for much of my high school and early college experience to understand how challenged and fast-paced I wanted to be in the professional setting. As a woman coming from a non-target school, I understand how sometimes you must carve out the experience you need to understand what you want. I can help advise on how to look at different options, how to craft your story, and provide tips for preparing efficiently for technicals that will help set you apart. I would not have been able to get this far in my career without the wonderful mentorship and support I had over the years, and I am passionate about paying it forward. I would love to share the insight and advice I received and learned to help anyone land their first job or internship!

Hi, I’m Michael Ukrainskyj. I studied finance and economics at the University of Richmond and am currently a sell-side M&A analyst at Harris Williams, a middle-market investment bank in Richmond, Virginia. I came into college unsure of what I wanted to study. Through my courses and speaking with school alumni, I chose finance and eventually investment banking because of responsibility and work-ethic instilled directly out of college. Recently going through the interview process myself, I understand the importance of having a college-aged mentor to help along the way. Breaking into the world of finance can be daunting, but I can provide guidance every step of the way. Through my experiences in equity research, private equity, and investment banking, I’m happy to chat about different career paths / networking / and interview prep. I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of mentors along the way and would love to help anyone else get into the world of finance.