My name is Kyle Doran. I am currently an Associate with Nonantum Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in Boston. Prior to joining Nonantum, I was a consultant for McKinsey & Co in Atlanta. I graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2018 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a Minor in Entrepreneurship and Management. While attending Johns Hopkins I was a member and captain of the basketball team. I did not know I wanted to get into consulting or finance early on in college and majored in a completely different field of study. I ended up at McKinsey through cold calling and emailing current and former employees. I owe it to all of them to help as many people as possible. I am always happy to chat through your next steps and hope that once you land your position that you will do the same.

Hi, everyone. My name is Nicole D’Onofrio – I am a private equity investor with Astira Capital Partners in Boston, MA. Astira was founded in 2023 as a software and tech-enabled services private equity firm. Prior to joining Astira, I was an M&A Associate and Analyst with Harris Williams where I spent time across E&P, technology, and business services.  

I was inspired to start my career in investment banking after attending the Harris Williams Women’s Leadership Summit during my sophomore year of college. I pursued internships with Harris Williams, BB&T Capital Markets, and EisnerAmper prior to accepting a full-time role with Harris Williams upon graduating from the University of Richmond. I graduated with a dual degree in International Business and Italian Studies.

My areas of expertise include recruiting from non-traditional majors, leveraging diversity programs, evaluating opportunities across geographies, and private equity pivots among other topics. I have found my career to be incredibly exciting and rewarding – so I look forward to connecting and supporting you all in your next steps!

Hello, my name is Eva Decker. I am currently a second-year analyst at Partners Group, a Swiss-based private markets firm. I currently sit in our U.S. headquarters in Denver, CO, where I am in a two-year analyst rotation program. I spent my first year on the Private Equity Directs side, in our business services group. My second and current rotation is in our Private Credit group on the direct lending side. I am originally from the Northern Virginia area and earned a dual degree in Finance and Risk Management from the University of South Carolina in 2023.

Having never thought about finance as a career until halfway through college, I often felt on the outside of the recruiting process. I found my way to my firm out of college in part through Pro Forma Futures, so can attest firsthand that through networking and utilizing a platform like this one, it is possible to break into finance – particularly coming from a non-target university. Happy to chat about my experience on my two teams, recruiting, post grad moving to a new place, or anything else! Don’t hesitate to reach out.

My name is Dylan Cook and I am currently a private equity associate at AVALT, a private equity firm based in Boston, MA. I started my career as an associate at BCG in our principal investors and private equity (PIPE) practice. I attended Vanderbilt University and graduated summa cum laude in 2022 with a B.S. in both Public Policy and Human & Organizational Development (HOD). I pursued a career in Consulting out of undergrad to keep my career options open and determine what field would be a strong long-term fit (which ultimately led me into Private Equity). More than happy to discuss all things recruiting and day-to-day for Private Equity and Consulting.

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!

I am a Private Equity Investment Manager at H.I.G. Capital (London) and was previously a Private Equity Associate at H.I.G. (NYC). Before H.I.G., I was a Private Equity Associate at Main Street Capital (Houston) and prior to that, I was an Investment Banking Associate (and Analyst) at BMO Capital Markets (NYC).

I grew up in Queens, NY in an immigrant household and had little exposure to people with white-collar jobs / professional careers. I studied finance at Villanova University which is where upperclassmen mentors introduced me to the world of finance. I was immediately hooked because the finance industry values hard work, dedication, and creativity and the roles available in the industry make it a priority to reward this effort with compensation and extremely versatile/transferrable professional experiences.

My goal is to increase transparency and awareness about careers in finance like my mentors did for me, and I believe I can help you by: (i) teaching you the framework of how the finance industry and recruiting works, (ii) assisting you in developing your personal narrative so that you can communicate your story in a more impactful manner, and (iii) showing you some non-traditional approaches as you look to successfully navigate an intricate, opaque, and competitive field.

I am very approachable and friendly (or I try to be at least) and enjoy talking about finance, personal/professional development, and various other topics, so please reach out to me!

I am a Private Equity Senior Associate at Ancient. Previously, I was an investment banking analyst in the Media and Communications group at Morgan Stanley and was previously an investment banking analyst in the TMT group at UBS. I graduated from the University of Richmond in 2020 with a BA in Business Administration with concentrations in finance and accounting. I decided to pursue a career in finance, and more specifically in investment banking, after many discussions with helpful mentors and peers. If you would like to discuss the recruitment process, networking, investment banking or different career paths in finance, please reach out!

Hello! My name is Tommy Campbell, and I am currently a Private Equity Associate at THL in Boston. I grew up on Long Island, NY and graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2021 with a major in Finance and a minor in Constitutional Studies. I interned with Baird in Chicago after my junior year as a generalist for the summer and returned full time in their Technology and Services Group after graduation. After two years of investment banking, I started at THL in their Technology and Business Solutions group. Frankly, I did not know much about finance, banking, or PE before college, and I heavily relied on both informal and formal mentors in order to navigate networking, interviewing, internships and school. Banking and PE have been an invaluable learning experience and have provided me with a great foundation of professional and analytical skills that can be applied to a variety of different roles. I would be more than happy to be a resource to you and talk about breaking into finance, Chicago, Boston, interviews, life, etc. Don't hesitate to reach out, and I look forward to connecting!

I am a private equity associate at Great Hill Partners and was previously an investment banking analyst in the consumer & retail group at Citi. I graduated from the University of Richmond in 2019 with a BA in Business Administration with concentrations in finance and economics. My decision to pursue a career in finance, and more specifically investment banking, was largely informed by my desire to develop a broad-based foundation that would position me to pursue my *previously undiscovered* passions down the line. I can help you learn about investment banking and whether it is the right fit for you.

I am a private equity associate at Shoreline Equity Partners. Prior to joining Shoreline, I was an analyst at Jefferies in the Industrials Group. I graduated with a B.S. in Human & Organizational Development and minors in Economics and Corporate Strategy from Vanderbilt University in 2018. I pursued a career in finance for the challenge, variety of work, and high levels of responsibility. You should reach out to me if you are interested in learning about recruiting, the work associated with IB and PE, both as a whole and specific to junior-level roles, and the upsides and downsides of different geographies (I grew up in San Francisco, went to school in Nashville, did IB in Manhattan, and now work in Ponte Vedra, FL).

My name is Jeff Blethen, and I am currently an associate with Atlas Holdings, and was previously an associate with PSP Partners in Chicago focusing on buyout and growth equity transactions. Prior to joining PSP, I was an investment banking analyst in the Global Industrials group at Jefferies in NYC. I graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2017 with a BA in international business and finance. I went through non-target recruiting coming out of South Carolina, so I understand the difficulties that come from attending a non-core school. I am more than happy to walk you through my networking strategies, help you craft your story, and teach the dark arts of cold calling and emailing.

My name is Stan Bikulege. I am currently a Principal with Lightview Capital, a private equity firm based in West Palm Beach, FL. We're focused on completing buyout transactions with founder-led businesses in the Business and Tech-Enabled services sector. Prior to joining Lightview, I was an M&A analyst at West Monroe Partners in NYC. I graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2018 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a Minor in Business Administration. I was also a linebacker and captain of the varsity football team. I did not know I wanted to get into finance early on in college and majored in a completely different field of study entirely. I ended up pursuing a career in finance and took a bit of an unconventional route to get there. I am more than happy to discuss strategies for positioning your experience into the role you want to be in, pivoting careers in college / thereafter, and generally be someone that you can bounce ideas off of.

Hello! My name is Mitch Beller and I am currently a private equity associate at JLL Partners based in New York City. Prior to my time at JLL, I was an investment banking analyst in the Global Industrials Group at Jefferies in NYC. I grew up just outside of Kansas City before attending and eventually graduating from the University of Kansas in 2017 with BSc degrees in both finance and accounting. I got into finance for the challenge, caliber of people, and optionality (if you start your career in investment banking, you can do almost anything you want in business afterwards; the skill-sets are that valued). I have been fortunate to have had people from various backgrounds extend their hand and time to me in helping me piece together my short career thus far. I know the process can be daunting and continuously exhausting. Each of you has what it takes to pursue whatever it is that intrigues you. Myself and the rest of the PFF team are here to help you craft the streamlined story of how each of your experiences are connected, and rightfully convey you are the person the company is looking for, whether that is in finance or another field of your passion. We are here to help in any way we can, and I look forward to being a part of your process.

Hello, my name is Hank Barrett and I’m an associate at Gridiron Capital in New Canaan, CT. Prior to Gridiron, I was an analyst in the Global Industrials Group at Jefferies in NYC. I grew up in Williamstown, MA and graduated from Wesleyan University in 2017 with a BA in Economics and Government. I was always interested in finance (and business more broadly), but knew very little about the industry or the various potential paths. I chose to pursue investment banking because I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after school and was hoping to open as many doors as possible while I figured it out. In the few years since I graduated, I’ve been lucky enough to work and interact with many great people across a range of different industries, roles, and backgrounds. I remember well how overwhelming it can be trying to figure out where to start — none of us would be where we are without the help of people who had gone through it themselves and were willing to share some advice. You could have no idea what you want to do, already be dead set on a specific role, or, most likely, be somewhere in-between — no matter where you are, I’d love to help.

My name is Anya and I am currently a senior at Duke University. I will be joining Goldman Sachs as an incoming investment banking analyst in the Financial Institutions Group. Previously, I interned as a sophomore in the Mergers & Acquisitions group at Bank of America, at TowerBrook Capital Partners, and in venture capital at Serena Williams' venture capital fund. I have experience with insight programs and re-recruiting between sophomore and junior summers. I am passionate about helping women and individuals from non-traditional backgrounds, such as non-target schools or first-generation students, break into finance. Please feel free to reach out to discuss anything related to investment banking, venture capital, or breaking into finance. I'm always happy to provide insights or mentorship.

My name is Eddie Auslander. I’m currently a private equity associate with H.I.G. Capital (Advantage Fund) in New York. Prior to H.I.G., I was an investment banking analyst in the global industrials group at Jefferies in NYC. I graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2017 with a BS in business administration with a concentration in finance and a minor in social & political history. If you would’ve asked me why I got into finance while I was early on in college, I would’ve told you I it was because I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. After my first finance internship in a corporate M&A setting, I became enthralled by learning how and why decisions were made by management teams, and I kept finding myself wanting to learn more, which led to me pursuing a role in investment banking. I’m more than happy to hop on the phone to discuss future career aspirations, help with interviewing, or provide any other tips / tricks to help start your career path in the right direction. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

My name is Arman Arya and I am currently a rising third-year student at USC Marshall, majoring in business administration with an emphasis in finance. I spent my freshman summer interning at Oceanview Capital Partners and will be interning at Tikehau Capital in New York this summer, working in their decarbonization fund. I'm also excited to join Moelis & Company in Los Angeles for my junior year summer. The PFF organization has been a huge help to me, and I'm really looking forward to giving back as a mentor. I went through the recruitment process as an underclassman and know how challenging it can be. I'm more than happy to chat about interview tips, recruitment guidelines, or anything else you might have questions about. Feel free to reach out via email—I'd love to help in any way I can!

My name is Fernando Arrascue Quiroz, and I am currently a private equity associate at Corsair Capital based in New York. Prior to joining Corsair, I was an investment banking analyst in the Global Technology Group at Stifel. I grew up in Venezuela and Florida. I graduated from Penn State University in 2019 with a major in Industrial Engineering. I am aware of how challenging recruiting processes are and how difficult it is to standout in a sea of well-prepared applicants. Having gone through both IB and PE recruiting, I would be happy to provide candid insight on each process. You should reach out to me if you would like more information on IB/PE recruiting, being an engineering major in wall street, being an international student applicant, working in NYC, networking, etc.

I am an Associate at H.I.G. Capital’s Infrastructure Private Equity Group in New York. Previously, I was an Analyst in Stifel’s Aerospace, Defense & Government Services Investment Banking Group in Washington, DC and, prior to this, was an Analyst at HSBC’s Mid Corporate Investment Banking Team in New York. I completed my undergraduate degree at Fordham University in New York where I majored in Finance. Growing up, my family moved around constantly, giving me the chance to live in South Korea, Indonesia, Los Angeles, and New Jersey, where I spent the majority of my childhood. I believe this helped me form a unique worldview and a desire to pursue a career that allows me to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds. I first became interested in Finance after speaking with professors, friends, and upperclassmen during my freshman year. Specifically, I was intrigued by the nature of the work, caliber of individuals in the field, career optionality, unique skill development, and ability to work with people from different backgrounds. My mentors, both senior and junior, provided crucial insights and advice that allowed me to break into the industry. Therefore, I’m looking to do the same for others looking for guidance. While I can speak to investment banking and private equity in general, I believe I can also add unique insights on lateral recruiting, especially to different geographies, and breaking into high finance from a non-traditional background. If you’re looking for help, please feel free to reach out!

Hi, my name is David Chong. I’m currently an investment associate at Point Field Partners. Before this, I spent 1.5 years with Truist as an investment bankings associate, 1.5 years with T. Rowe Price as an equity research associate, and 1.5 years with SunTrust Robinson Humphrey as an investment banking analyst. I graduated from the University of Richmond with a BSBA in Economics with a concentration in Finance. Growing up in an Asian household, I was encouraged to pursue a career in medicine or law. However, the more I learned about finance, the more I realized a career in the industry would be both intellectually stimulating and personally rewarding. Many investment banking analysts move to the buy-side and stay there. I’m the anomaly in the PFF team in that I made the switch initially to buy-side equity research, went back to banking, and then finally landed upon my current family office / private equity role. I can be a resource to you by speaking about equity research, investment banking and / or family offices / private equity, and more generally, how to position and market yourself for a change in roles. I have also been through multiple arduous recruiting processes, from networking to preparing for interviews. I look forward to chatting!