Patrick Gallagher
Hi, I am a Consultant in Deloitte's Strategy practice based in Charlotte, aligned primarily to the Financial Services industry. I graduated from Davidson College in 2018 with a degree in Economics. Consulting attracted me because of the focus on problem-solving, mix of quantitative and qualitative analysis, exposure to senior leadership in various industries, and breadth of experiences available to practitioners throughout their careers. If you're interested in the consulting industry, the recruiting process, case interviews, specifically about Deloitte, or anything in between, I am more than happy to connect and have significant experience helping students who have been in your shoes.
Sophie Fries
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!
Ryan Fox
My name is Ryan Fox, and I am currently an associate with Hark Capital in New York where I underwrite and execute loans to private equity funds and their portfolio companies. Prior to joining Hark I worked for Hamilton Lane in Philadelphia where I worked on investments in private equity funds and sponsor-backed companies. I graduated from the University of Richmond in 2018 with a BA in business with concentrations in finance and management. I am fortunate to have gained experience in private markets investments straight out of college and would be happy to talk about different areas of the private equity and private debt ecosystem.
Connor Flanagan
My name is Connor Flanagan and I am currently a Program Manager at HQ, a Digital Currency Group subsidiary. I was previously an Associate on the Aladdin Implementations team at BlackRock in New York City, where I worked for ~4.5 years and interned as a Summer Analyst on the Aladdin Client Services (ACS) team. I graduated from the University of Richmond in May of 2018 and started back on ACS the following July. At BlackRock, I specialized in supporting our Trading and Execution Management tools across all of our institutional clients. Across both my roles, I gained expertise in financial technology consulting, client engagement and product management. I believe that a career in FinTech is extremely valuable, as it provides non-stop learning opportunities in a fast-paced, creative and challenging environment. If you have any interest in learning more about my career path, or would like to enter into a career in either FinTech or Consulting, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Tomas Fernandez
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!
Will Fergesen
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.
Bill Feng
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.
Alec Feng
My name is Alec Feng and I am currently a Private Equity Associate at Marlin Equity Partners in Los Angeles, where I focus on investing in middle market software businesses. Prior to joining Marlin, I worked at William Blair as an Investment Banking Analyst for two years 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 am happy to chat about investment banking & private equity recruiting, interviewing, and career paths in general.
Cassie Fell
My name is Cassie Fell and I am currently a Senior Associate Consultant at Bain & Co. I graduated magna cum laude from UC Santa Barbara in 2022 with a degree in Economics & Accounting. Prior to Bain, I interned at Deloitte in Audit & Assurance, which was the typical professional pipeline for UCSB accounting students. While in undergrad, I was a member of 180 Degrees Consulting, a social impact consultancy. I found myself energized by my work with 180, which inspired me to apply for consulting roles for my full-time job. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Bain, as I have gotten to experience virtually every industry imaginable in only 2 years. I am passionate about helping people from other non-traditional target schools break into the dynamic and exciting world of consulting (at Bain SF, the number of UCSB alums has grown from 1 to 5 during my 2 years here!).
Nebeu Fekede
I am originally from Ethiopia but was raised in Portland, Oregon. I attended undergrad across the country at the University of Richmond, where I got my bachelor’s degree in economics with a concentration in Finance. During my four years at UR I was lucky enough to have two summer internships, both with US Bank back in Portland. After my sophomore year I interned as a Private wealth management analyst. To be honest not the most exciting work but gathered some good expertise working with trading softwares like FactSet and Bloomberg. Junior year summer I was back with US Bank in Portland but this time in their Commercial Lending division. This time I had much more hands on experience. I would spend my time analyzing local companies financial health and future productivity to help the team determine the best lending products/services the US Bank could provide. Since graduating, I have been working for Accenture as a CDTS (Corporate Development & Transactional Services) analyst. In this role I do all the modeling and deal shaping for any mutli-tower opportunity greater than $10M USD. I am happy to speak with you about work and opportunities in corporate finance along with give a perspective on recruiting not specific to investment banking (though I have experience recruiting here as well).
Josh Elman
Hi, my name is Josh Elman and I’m currently a Vice President at Invesco in the Private Credit group on the Direct Lending team. Prior to joining Invesco in 2025, I worked at Arrowhead Investment Management investing in both debt and equity co-invest. I started my career as an investment banking analyst in the Global Industrials Group at Jefferies in New York City, primarily focused on the Automotive and Building Products sectors. Originally from Bergen County, NJ, I attended Vanderbilt University where I majored in Economics. I was interested in middle market investment banking and private credit due to the opportunity to advise and support growing American businesses as well as the ability to work with highly talented, smart, and motivated colleagues. I still remember my endless questions and second guessing while recruiting for IB and buyside roles. There were so many people who helped me along the way – I’d love to pay it forward and help you. I’m happy to answer ALL questions as well as provide interview advice. I can also provide insights on working at a firm with <10 people. If you'd like to chat about my experiences or ask me questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Andrew Eginton
My name is Andrew Eginton, and I am currently a Senior Associate at KPMG within its Deal Advisory practice. I graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame in 2022 with a B.B.A. in Accountancy. During my undergraduate years, I interned at AMETEK, a global electronic instrument and electromechanical device company, where I gained experience in Audit, Investor Relations, and Corporate Development over three summers. With my accounting background, I became a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), though I always had a strong interest in pursing a career in finance. Upon graduation, I began my career in the Financial Due Diligence group at KPMG’s Boston office, and later transferred to New York City while continuing in the same division. My goal in pursuing a finance career has been to acquire the entrepreneurial skills needed to run a business. Combining a technical background to understand financial drivers with hands-on experience working with business founders and investors, I aim to be well-prepared for any business opportunities or challenges that may come my way. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to receive guidance from several mentors and am eager to pay it forward. Feel free to reach out if you are interested in learning about alternative routes in finance outside of Investment Banking or Private Equity. I am also open to discussing career paths related to accounting and sharing my personal experiences.
Tim Eber
Hi, My name is Tim Eber and I am currently an Acquisition Finance analyst at Truist Securities in Atlanta, Georgia. I graduated from the University of Georgia in December 2018 with a double major in Finance and Management Information Systems and I chose to pursue a career in finance for a few key reasons: the chance to surround myself and work with curious, intelligent, and high-caliber people, the significant responsibility and accountability assigned to juniors, and the challenge to think critically in order to work through complex problems. Since getting into banking, I have witnessed the recruiting process take place earlier each year, and it appears to me that more and more driven, intelligent, and motivated candidates who do not have access to resources and information are being left out of the process. If you are someone who feels that you might have an interest in a career in banking or finance but do not know where to begin or simply want to learn more about what life in banking may look like, I would be happy to be a resource to you and can provide advice from personal experience surrounding how to approach getting up the learning curve, recruiting, and the interview process.
Zura Dzuliashvili
I’m Zura Dzuliashvili, originally from Georgia, and currently a senior at the University of Richmond, where I’m pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Economics. My internship experience spans various roles in quantitative research, risk management, equity analysis, trading/structuring and so on. I’ve had the opportunity to intern at Credit Agricole NYC, Barclays Investment Bank NYC, and Thompson, Siegel, and Walmsley. I have also worked internationally. Navigating the finance industry as an international student has had its unique challenges, and I’m always happy to share my experiences—whether it’s insights into quantitative research, tips for interview preparation, or advice on the recruitment process in the U.S.
Joey Duffy
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.
Kyle Doran
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.
Nicole D'Onofrio
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!
Eva Decker
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.
Whitney Dean
Hello, my name is Whitney Dean. I am currently an Investor Relations Analyst at Goldman Sachs Asset & Wealth Management, sitting within the Alternatives Capital Formation group on the Private Credit team. In my role, I support fundraising and investor communications across both institutional and private wealth channels, helping manage fund reporting, investor materials, and client servicing efforts.
Prior to Goldman, I worked at Cambridge Associates in Dallas on the Private Client team, conducting manager due diligence, portfolio analysis, and investment recommendations for high-net-worth families and foundations. I graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2023 with a B.B.A. in Finance with a specialization in Alternative Asset Management.
As someone who navigated the recruiting process without an immediate network in finance, I know how valuable mentorship and open conversations can be. I’m happy to chat about breaking into the alternatives space, investor relations, navigating early career pivots, or anything else that would be helpful. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Steffens Coulson
My name is Steffens Coulson and I currently work in New York, NY, for Yieldstreet as a Senior Investment Analyst on the Commercial Real Estate team. I'm originally from Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated from the University of Richmond in 2018, where I studied Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Economics. After graduating, I worked in the consulting industry for Gartner before deciding to pursue a career in commercial real estate, which began in the agency lending space. If you want to learn more about a potential career in commercial real estate, how to transition from a different industry, or what I do, please don't hesitate to reach out!