My name is Andy Kleinlein and I am currently a private equity associate at Bessemer Investors in New York City. Prior to joining Bessemer, I was an investment banking analyst in the Leveraged Finance Group at Jefferies in NYC. Before Jefferies, I spent a year at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey (now Truist) as an analyst in the Syndicated & Leveraged Finance Group, where I interned the prior summer. I grew up in St. Louis, MO before attending and eventually graduating from Washington and Lee University in 2017 with a BS in Accounting and Business Administration. During my time at W&L, I played four years of basketball. I pursued a career in finance to develop a foundation, network and skill set that would be applicable to any career path. I can be of particular help to anyone who: i) goes to a liberal arts college and is looking to pursue a career in finance, ii) wants to make the leap from investment banking to private equity, or iii) needs advice on how to use your experience as a former student-athlete to your advantage. I'm happy to be a general resource for any other topics, as well.

My name is Charles Kintner, and I am an incoming analyst in William Blair's Industrials group in their Chicago office. Prior to interning with William Blair, I worked at a lower middle-market private equity firm focusing on industrial, consumer, and healthcare markets. I graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with a bachelor's degree in economics. My attending of a nontarget university provided numerous hurdles to surmount, but through perseverance, passion, and good fortune I was able to succeed; I want to help nontarget and nontraditional candidates do the same. I am happy to help at any stage: whether it is your first step of choosing banking as a career path to mock interviews and technical preparation.

Feel free to reach out to my email.

I’m Griffin King. I will be working as an Investment Banking Analyst at Harris Williams following my graduation from the University of Richmond in May 2023. At UR, I am studying finance and management entrepreneurship. I have previously interned at Wells Fargo in Healthcare Investment Banking, and Gleason Advisors in Generalist Investment Banking. I came into the University of Richmond planning to study biochemistry with the intention of going to med school. Through mentors at UR, I became interested in finance and investment banking. I’m happy to hop on the phone to discuss career plans, breaking into finance, and share more about my path.

Hello! My name is George Kang and I am currently a private equity vice president at BRS & Co. in NYC. Prior to my time at BRS, I was an investment banking associate in the Global Industrials Group at Jefferies in NYC where I also spent three years as an analyst. Prior to Jefferies, I spent two years as a credit risk analyst at UBS in NYC after graduating from Cornell University in 2012 with B.S. degrees in Finance and Marketing. I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in finance but was unclear what I was exactly looking for. I look forward to sharing the lessons learned from my serpentine journey, offering advice on how to navigate the path from the middle-office to the front-office to the buy-side and helping identify where to even begin the process. Additionally, I am currently pursuing my part-time MBA at Columbia Business School and I am more than happy to answer any questions around the business school application process and what business school entails.

Hi. My name is Joey Duffy and I am an investment banking analyst at BMO Capital Markets in New York. I grew up in Boston, MA, and studied finance, economics, and international business at Villanova University. I pursued a career in finance because I find the subject matter inherently interesting and I value the opportunity to take on significant responsibility in a team-based environment. At BMO I’m in the Healthcare group, covering Healthcare Services, Life Sciences, and Healthcare IT. I’m happy to speak with anyone interested in Investment Banking, BMO, or the Healthcare industry, and we can cover school, internships, recruiting, or interviews. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, or if you just want to talk about Boston sports.

Hi, my name is Ramid Kadirov and I am an international student and currently a rising senior at the University of Richmond, interning at Pointe Advisory which is a strategy consulting firm in Washington, DC. Prior to pivoting to consulting, I worked at Credit Suisse in their investment banking division. After my internship at Credit Suisse, I decided to change my career trajectory to management consulting due to its exposure to diverse projects and clients as well as its analytic component. I can talk more about my experience in finance and consulting if you are interested in deciding which one is best for you. Please, reach out to me if you have any questions regarding navigating the recruiting process in consulting or finance, especially as an international student.

Hi, my name is Hunter Jamison. I am currently an analyst at Performance Trust Capital Partners in Atlanta Georgia. Prior to working at Performance Trust, I worked at SunTrust. I graduated from the University of Maryland with a BS, double majoring in Finance and Economics. I became interested in finance when I realized that every business, from a local coffee shop to Amazon, must account for their finances to be sustainable every day. Investment banking recruiting is a very competitive process that is beginning earlier and earlier in a student’s college career. However, it is not impossible to get into investment banking out of college without an investment banking internship. It is an up-hill battle, but there are many ways to break into the industry with a non-traditional background. If you are someone who might be “late” to the investment banking process, I can be a great resource.

My name is Sam Jacobson and I am currently a private equity associate at Warburg Pincus based in New York. Prior to joining Warburg, I spent three years in investment banking at Centerview Partners and Moelis & Company, working across M&A, restructuring and strategic advisory engagements for large-cap companies. I grew up in Orlando, FL and graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX in 2019. I came from a non-traditional background and understand first-hand the nuances of recruiting for various positions and navigating the world of finance. I'm happy to discuss all elements of the recruiting process (internship, full-time, lateral and buyside recruiting), or more broadly, serve as a general resource and share my story. Throughout my career, I've benefited from the mentorship of others and am excited to pay it forward however I can!

Hello! My name is Brynn Jackel, I’m an associate at Gridiron Capital in New Canaan, CT. Prior to joining Gridiron, I was an analyst at Wells Fargo in the Industrials investment banking coverage group in NYC. I grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts and went to Wake Forest University for undergrad where I majored in finance with a minor in entrepreneurship. I was drawn to investment banking for the opportunity to gain a skill set in financial analysis in a teamwork-based environment, and later transitioned to private equity seeking longer-term relationships with companies and more hands-on operational experience. I never had a grand 10-year plan and have figured it out as I went along, but I was lucky enough to have some awesome mentors from college and Wells who helped me better understand the paths and process, and most importantly prepare for interviews. I’d love to be able to do the same for others pursuing a career in finance, so please reach out to me and I’m happy to be a resource however I can!

Hello, my name is Georgia Holmes and I am currently an investment banking analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald in our technology group. Before Cantor, I did my first year as an analyst in the Global Technology Group at Stifel in New York, NY. I graduated from Cal Poly in June 2022 with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering. While I was initially interested in the design and development of physical products and software, later in my college career, I found myself wanting to figure out how companies ran more broadly. I wanted to understand what led to a company becoming successful and ended up in Investment Banking because of the challenges and opportunities for continuous development. As a woman from a non-business background, I’d be happy to speak to what drew me to finance and the challenges that surfaced when making the transition. Would also be happy to chat about what it is like to switch companies within IB.

Hello, my name is Bjorn Hessen-Schmidt. I am originally from Palo Alto, California and I attended Cornell University where I graduated Phi Beta Kappa with degrees in both Mathematics and Economics. I am currently an Associate at Siris Capital Group and was previously a Senior Investment Banking Analyst within Citi’s Global Industrials Group. In addition to Investment Banking at Citi, my internship experience also includes bioinformatics research at Stanford University and data science at Two Six Capital.

My name is Ganggas Harjianto and I am a private equity investor at NewSpring Capital in the Philadelphia area. Prior to this role, I was a part of the lower middle market strategy at Main Street Capital Corporation in Houston and the leveraged finance group at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey (now Truist). I grew up in northern Delaware in a middle-class, immigrant household and attended the University of Delaware for undergrad, where I graduated with a degree in finance in 2017. Coming from a “non-core” / state school background, recruiting for my first role was a monumental challenge that taught me the power of forming and developing strong networks, and I can wholeheartedly say that I would not be where I am today without the help offered by those along the way. Finance is such an interesting field that allows you to test the limits of your knowledge, drive decision-making, and meet and interact with successful executives and peers from all walks of life, and as such, I am always eager to pay it forward and help out where I can. Feel free to reach out to me if you would like to learn more about (i) recruiting from a “non-core” background or (ii) the nuances of lower middle market private equity!

I am an Associate within H.I.G. Capital’s Infrastructure Private Equity fund in New York City. Prior to my current role, I was an Investment Banking Analyst within Jefferies’ Consumer & Retail Group in Charlotte, NC. I received my B.S., Summa Cum Laude, in Finance from Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, North Carolina. I initially became interested in pursuing a career in finance after speaking with numerous mentors, which included family members, professors, upperclassmen, and folks at various firms that I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to network with across many years leading up to my graduation from Wake Forest. These individuals held roles across the financial industry ranging from Investment Banking to Wealth Management to Private Equity, along with many others, all of which provided me with valuable insight into my decision-making process. I developed a passion for this industry due to the fact that it provided me with an opportunity to be people / client-facing, work within a fast-paced environment where you are encouraged to challenge yourself by making personal judgment calls, gain a vital skillset for long-term career optionality whether that be in finance or another industry, and to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Growing up, I spent a lot of time working with fundraisers and contributing to various charitable initiatives. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to spend countless years getting to know individuals from diverse backgrounds and these experiences have instilled the passion in me to help provide the appropriate resources and guidance for others to accomplish their goals. Just as I was fortunate enough to have mentors guide me down the path that led me to where I am, I strive to be that motivator/adviser in the lives of many others. Having started my career in Charlotte, NC in Consumer & Retail IB and switching to NYC to work within the Infrastructure sector in PE, I can provide valuable insight for those deciding between different cities or sectors as well as those considering a geographical or sector-focus transition.

Hi, my name is Giorgio Gayleard! I am currently an investment banking associate with KPMG Corporate Finance, advising on sell-side M&A transactions of middle market companies primarily in the Industrials and GovCon spaces. I previously worked at Tower Partners, an industry-agnostic lower middle market investment bank that advises on both sell-side and buy-side engagements. Prior to Tower, I interned with SC&H Capital on their sell-side M&A team. I attended Loyola University Maryland and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2023 with a B.B.A. in Finance and Economics. I was also a member of the Varsity men's soccer team! After graduating from Loyola, I continued my education at Dickinson College while participating on the soccer team there too. After school, I began working at Tower Partners and joined the KPMG team about a year later. I pursued a career in finance, but more specifically investment banking, because I wanted to work in a stimulating high-growth environment where I could learn a lot at a fast pace. I find fulfillment in challenges and the financial services industry is the perfect place to be for such. I am more than happy to discuss the industry, my career thus far, and provide advice for those who want to learn or, simply, chat! Being a first-generation Hispanic college graduate, I am extremely willing to help those with untraditional backgrounds for investment banking in search of guidance.

My name is Dev Gandhi and I am currently an investment banking analyst in the consumer & retail group at Santander in New York. I graduated from Fordham University in May 2023 and majored in finance with a minor in economics. My interest in finance was sparked after joining multiple finance clubs on campus and speaking with professionals in the field. I was lucky enough to have multiple finance internships during my years in college, some of which I attained through cold emailing. These experiences led me to pursue investment banking late in my sophomore year. Without the guidance of my mentors, I would not have been able to navigate the recruiting process and I would love to do the same for others. Please feel free to reach out as I am more than happy to discuss the recruitment process and help on the journey at any stage.

My name is Sophie Fries, and I am a current Summer Analyst in the Financial Services Investment Banking Group at Piper Sandler. I am a rising senior at Washington University in St. Louis, where I study Finance and Political Science with a minor in American Culture Studies. Prior to my summer at Piper Sandler, I was a Credit Risk Summer Analyst at Goldman Sachs in Salt Lake City, UT. I am pursuing a career in Investment Banking because I believe it provides a strong foundational knowledge of finance and expands the breadth of my technical skillset. As a woman and a candidate from a non-target school, I understand the challenges that arise with investment banking recruiting and would love the opportunity to help you navigate your path!

I am an investment banking analyst based in New York working at Deutsche Bank as part of the Strategic Equity Transactions Group within capital markets. I graduated from Loyola University Maryland in 2021 with a double mayor in finance and marketing in addition to a minor in entrepreneurship. I pursued a career in finance because I wanted to work in a challenging environment where I would be able to develop professionally while seeing the real-world impact of my work. As a Dominican citizen with limited work authorization, I had a unique recruiting experience pursuing opportunities in the United States. Through this, I learned a lot about the challenges that come with investment banking recruiting. I would be happy to share everything I learned throughout my recruiting process and help in any way I can. Feel free to reach out if you are interested in having a chat!

My name is Will Fergesen and I’m an Investment Banking Analyst in Piper Sandler’s consumer coverage group in Minneapolis, MN. I graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a BBA in Finance a year early in May 2023 and completed my Summer Analyst program that summer following. More than happy to answer any and all questions regarding IB and the recruiting process. I hope I can provide specific insight on navigating non-traditional graduation timelines and recruiting at a non-target school.

I am currently in the BizOps and Strategy team at Handshake, a late-stage tech unicorn. Before moving into tech, I spent the first five years in TMT investment banking at Moelis, Jefferies, and Nomura, and in corporate development. I started my career in finance because I wanted to build a solid foundation in financial analysis, and develop a skill set in providing data-driven insights that will impact a whole organization. I made my switch into tech to get more hands-on operational experience and implement the strategies and recommendations I've formulated. Outside of work, I am an avid poker player, traveler, and self-described foodie. Happy to chat about anything investment banking related (internships, full-time, lateraling, etc.) or transitioning from finance to big tech.

Hi! My name is Alec Feng and I am an investment banking analyst at William Blair in the Technology group in Chicago. I am originally from Manhattan Beach, California, and I graduated from Michigan State in 2022 with a B.A in Finance. I pursued a career in investment banking due to the opportunity to learn all sides of a transaction, and continue to build a diverse skill set. Having recently gone through investment banking recruiting, I know how competitive and stressful the process is. I also experienced both in-person and virtual interviews, and can speak to my experience during the summer internship and the adjustment to coming back full time. I am happy to help in any way I can, please do not hesitate to reach out!