Hello, my name is R.J. Shamberger. I am currently a first-year private equity analyst at Partners Group, a Swiss-based private markets firm. I am based out of Denver, CO and rotating on our integrated investments team where we focus on primaries, secondaries, and co-investments. I am originally from Charlotte, NC, and earned my BA in Economics from Williams College in 2020. I spent my first year post-college as a teaching assistant at a New England prep school before transitioning into my current role. As someone with a non-traditional background, I initially found breaking into finance a daunting task but through building connections and exploring my passions I bridged my own path. I am happy to share the ins-and-outs of how I worked my way from the classroom to the desk and the lessons I learned along the way.

My name is Harsh Shah, I am an investment banking analyst at Barclays in the Toronto office. I studied Medical Science during my first two years and Business Administration for my last two at Western University and the Ivey Business School. I found a passion for business through my first part-time job selling Canadian Tire credit cards at their gas stations. Prior to IB, I interned at a tech VC fund. I’m convinced you can achieve anything as long as you believe you are capable of it. Feel free to reach out to me for recruiting advice (I’ll be particularly helpful to those recruiting from a science background) or even if you just want to chat about life!

Hi all! I am currently an investment banking analyst at Barclays based out of New York City. I graduated from Vanderbilt University where I studied economics and helped lead the undergraduate finance and investment clubs. Prior to my current role, I gained internship experience in asset management, real estate private equity, public finance, and debt capital markets at a variety of different firms. I am happy to speak with you about my different experiences, offer any advice I can, or just be a sounding board for your career decisions / anything at all! Diversity in the workplace can present itself in many different ways and regardless of your background, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or socioeconomic status I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to pursue the careers of their choice. Please do not hesitate to reach out, even if it's just for Nashville bar and food recommendations.

Hi, my name is Aris Sevastianos. I was born and raised in a Greek-American household in metro St. Louis, and graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Minor in French. Before my current work in venture capital, I spent time in strategy consulting (Strategy& - Retail & Consumer Private Equity Value Creation) and investment banking (Truist Securities - Power & Renewables coverage). In college, I co-ran and sold a Forbes-featured EdTech startup as CFO and did internships at a hedge fund and public accounting firm. Having formally navigated the VC, strategy consulting, IB, and public accounting recruitment processes, I can provide candid insight on each process, as well as my transition between the respective fields. Finally, I can help you build a valuable network from the ground up (something I had to do quickly). I’d love to pay it forward as a friend and mentor while combating such a pressing issue in our society.

My name is William Schoenecker and I am excited to talk to you and offer whatever guidance you may seek. My professional areas of passion are entrepreneurship, real estate, fintech, wealth management, cryptocurrency, and private equity. I’d love to help you decide which aspect of finance is right for you. I would be happy to give an in-depth guide on any of these topics and answer your questions about finance in general. Let me know how I can help you and I’ll give it my best!

Chad Schmerling is a first-year PhD student at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in the Econometrics and Statistics dissertation area. Chad's research focuses on applying mathematics and computer algorithms to understand how assets, such as stocks, are priced. Chad grew up in Los Angeles, California, where at twelve years old he experienced his 15-minutes-of-fame when he starred on an episode of a gameshow called "Hole in the Wall" on Cartoon Network. After college, Chad worked at Flow Traders in New York City for two years, where he traded high-yield bonds and built statistical models to predict asset prices. Chad enjoys Backgammon, Chess, Poker, his hometown Dodgers and Lakers, and his heavily used ad-free Youtube Premium account.

My name is Olivia Schilsky and I am currently a second year Private Equity Analyst at PA Capital in Richmond, VA. I graduated from the University of Richmond in 2019, with a BA in Business Administration and Leadership Studies and a concentration in Finance. As the daughter of a small business owner and entrepreneur I had always been drawn to the business world, but until attending college I knew nothing about finance. I chose to pursue a career in finance because I wanted to be challenged and surrounded by like-minded, intellectually curious, and determined people. I understand how intimidating the intricacies of the finance world can be, and I'm here to help! I can help you decide if finance is for you or guide you towards which career path may be the best fit. Happy to connect about school (lessons learned and most valuable classes taken), internships, recruiting, interviews (how to tell your story), private equity career paths (traditional and non-traditional), networking, and different ways to get your foot in the door. Can’t wait to chat!

I am currently a private equity Vice President at Tarsadia Investments and, prior to that, I was an investment banking analyst at Jefferies. I graduated from Villanova University in 2018 with a BS in mathematics. I pursued a career in finance because I always wanted to surround myself with hard working and smart people, and I felt that it was the industry I encountered during my time at school that had the hardest working and smartest people (by the way: I can now say from personal experience, for all of the job's challenges, there certainly are a lot of driven and intelligent people in finance). I am happy to help anyone who wants to break into the industry, and I can be of particular help if anyone is interested in restructuring / distressed finance.

I am a Governance & Strategic Transformation Associate at Société Générale Corporate and Investment Banking (SGCIB) in NYC focusing on Compliance Governance, Issues Management, and Reporting. I graduated from the University of Richmond with a BSBA double majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Management, Leadership Studies, and a minor in Latin American, Latino, and Iberian Studies. I started my career as a Financial Services Consultant at KPMG prior to transitioning to the Compliance Risk Assessment team at SGCIB before moving into my current role. I can speak to breaking into the Finance Industry with a wide range of interests, coming from a non-target school, the benefits of starting out as a consultant, and the differences between consulting and Industry.

My name is Ryan Shumway, I am currently an investment associate at Crescent Capital Group, a private credit investment firm based in Los Angeles. Prior to Crescent, I was an investment banking analyst at Jefferies in the Global Industrials Group in New York City, and I graduated from the University of Arizona in 2018 with a degree in Finance. I was born, raised, and went to college in Tucson, Arizona, where almost nobody I knew was in this industry or even knew much about it. My networking story in college was one of many cold calls, cold emails, and generally “pounding the pavement” to better understand the industry as well as get connected with people who could help me reach my goal of working in it. As such, I've always been excited to help students from my alma mater and elsewhere to understand the industry and get their foot in the door. I'm happy to help at any stage in your finance journey, from "what even is finance?" to deep dives in technical and qualitative interview skills. Feel free to reach out with a quick introduction, and let's chat!

My name is Morgan Rosia and I am currently an analyst at Wells Fargo in NYC working in Leveraged Finance Syndication. I started my career in the Private Wealth Group at Morgan Stanley, which exposed me to the various opportunities that existed in the world of finance. After establishing the desire to take my career in a different direction (and relocate from Houston to NY), I spent countless hours studying different industries, strengthening my technical skillset, and networking with professionals in the industry. I attended Texas A&M University and graduated as a student athlete in 2023 with a BBA in Management Consulting. If you are considering a career in banking, new to the industry, or seeking a career change, please do not hesitate to reach out! 

Hello, my name is Rick Roebuck. I am currently an investment banking analyst at Shot Tower Capital in Baltimore, Maryland. Shot Tower is a boutique investment bank covering the media and entertainment industries, with a specific focus on music. I graduated from the University of Richmond in May of 2020, where I studied business administration with concentrations in accounting and finance. I decided to pursue a career in finance because I wanted a challenging role that would expose me to a wide variety of industries and business models. I would be happy to provide advice on anything related to the investment banking industry, and can specifically help with the interview process and understanding what entry level roles will entail.

I am currently an analyst in the legacy Credit Suisse LevFin / Sponsors / M&A group at Santander LA. While earning a double major in Finance and Philosophy, I collected a diverse set of experiences working as an EMT, in agriculture, non-profits, private equity, and investment banking – developing an interest in impact private equity along the way. Coming from a non-target, I secured a middle market healthcare coverage investment banking analyst role, and have since lateraled to a top LevFin / Sponsors group. I am happy to discuss my experiences navigating the lateral process with top tier groups, along with the extensive networking and technical prep that is necessary especially coming from a non-target.

Hi, my name is Ryan Ringelstein and I am currently an office tenant representation broker at Raise Commercial Real Estate in San Francisco. Raise is a technology-enabled commercial real estate brokerage offering tenant representation, project and construction management, workplace strategy, and ongoing lease administration for clients around the globe. Originally from the Bay Area, I went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and St. Mary’s College for undergrad where I received a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. I’m currently pursuing a Master’s in Finance at Georgetown University. I’ve been fortunate to have many people help get me to where I am today. If you’re interested in a career in real estate, need help preparing for interviews, or just want to chat, I’d love to help out anyway I can.

My name is Noah Richard, and I am currently an investment banking analyst at SC&H Capital, a boutique bank based in Columbia, MD, that focuses primarily on sell-side M&A for family- and founder-owned businesses in the lower middle market. My interest in investment banking and finance began in high school when I participated in an M&A case competition through a company called Youth About Business, and I carried this interest into college at the University of Maryland, College Park. At UMD, I became involved in and eventually led the business school’s largest finance club, where I organized case competitions and helped underclassmen with networking and securing summer internships in investment banking. I graduated with a degree in Finance and Information Systems, as I believe having a basic understanding of coding and data is helpful in the ever-evolving finance industry. I am happy to discuss networking or insights into the investment banking scene in the DC-Baltimore area.

Hi! My name is Lizzie Reedy, and I am an investment banking analyst at Perella Weinberg Partners. I played golf at the University of Richmond and graduated in 2021 with B.S. in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Marketing. Coming from Atlanta, GA, I had little prior knowledge of Wall Street. However, I was hooked once upperclassmen mentors opened my eyes to what a career in finance would entail. The depth and breadth of learning opportunities that banking provides to a twenty-two year old is unparalleled. Also, the thought of mastering a new, highly marketable skillset appealed to me because as a student-athlete, I constantly strive to improve. I would not be where I am today if not for gracious mentors that selflessly guided me through my process. I want to be that person for you. As a woman coming from a non-target school who had little free time outside of classes and tournaments, I will advise on how to craft your story and how to efficiently prepare for technicals in order to set yourself apart from the stack. I am passionate about paying it forward and would love to help anyone obtain their dream internship/job in finance.

I’m currently an investment banking associate at Goldman Sachs and was previously an associate at G Square Capital in London. Beforehand, I was an investment banking analyst in the healthcare group at Jefferies in New York and London. I graduated from Vanderbilt with a BS in Human and Organizational Development (HOD) and a minor in financial economics. I’m originally from Kildeer, Illinois, a town not far from Chicago. I’m happy to help anyone and everyone, but if you are a non-finance major, female, college athlete, someone that wants international experience, or are interested in healthcare finance, I can answer your questions and help you prepare for the interview process with these topics in mind.

Hi, my name is George Politis. I’m currently an Investment Banking Analyst in the Financial Institutions Coverage Group at Truist Securities. In May 2021, I graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Business Administration with majors in Finance and Legal Studies. My experience in Investment Banking so far has been incredibly rewarding and educational because at Truist we're constantly looking to communicate our clients' value to the best of our abilities. I can be a resource to you when it comes to presenting yourself in interview situations, learning the material at hand, or just any general industry questions.

Hi, my name is Jack Plocica. I graduated from Wake Forest University in the summer of 2017. I’m currently an Analyst at Truist Securities in the Investment Bank. Specifically, I’m in the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications vertical of the Syndicated & Leveraged Finance group. My interest in finance sparked from networking, as you are doing now. I found that I learned a great deal from speaking to young professionals. My goal in joining the Pro Forma Futures team is to pay this forward by sharing my knowledge and experiences with you all. My experience in the industry has truly been rewarding thus far and hopefully we can encourage you to be excited about your future as well.

My name is Tim Peyser, and I currently work at Piper Sandler covering financial services as an investment banker. Previously, I spent two years at RSM advising private equity clients in a consulting capacity. I joined RSM after graduating from the University of Richmond ('19) where I majored in international business and finance with a minor in French. I have worked in a number of roles in finance from boutique venture capital to Morgan Stanley's wealth management practice and would be happy to be a resource to you.