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.

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 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.

My name is John Lin and I am currently a private equity associate at Bayview Asset Management based in New York. Prior to joining Bayview, I was an investment banking analyst at Citi working across M&A, capital markets, and strategic advisory engagements. I grew up in New York and graduated from Boston University in 2020. Throughout my time in college and in my career, I have benefited greatly from the support and mentorship of friends and colleagues, and I hope to pay it forward by being an encouraging and guiding resource for aspiring students who are navigating their own career paths.

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!

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 Love Patel, and I am currently a Senior Investment Banking Analyst in the Diversified Industrials group at D.A. Davidson, based in Boston, MA. In this role, I assist clients on both buy-side and sell-side transactions, focusing on valuations, due diligence, marketing materials, and transaction structuring. Prior to this, I was an Investment Banking Analyst in the Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT) group at Canaccord Genuity in New York, where I worked on high-profile deals, including sell-side processes and carve-outs, and collaborated closely with lean deal teams to deliver strategic solutions for clients.

I hold a Master of Science in Finance from Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Kansas. I pursued a career in investment banking to build the technical and strategic expertise needed to advise on complex transactions and drive value creation. I am always happy to discuss insights on navigating investment banking recruiting, day-to-day responsibilities, and transitioning from academic foundations to professional success, as well as sharing my experiences working in dynamic team environments.

My name is Jonathan Lu, and I am a Private Equity Senior Associate in General Atlantic’s late-stage technology group, based in Miami. Prior to joining General Atlantic, I worked as a Senior Associate in the Strategic Investments Group at Warburg Pincus, where I focused on investing in late-stage software and tech-enabled services businesses. Prior to that, I worked as an Investment Banking Analyst in the Financial Institutions Group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. I grew up in South Florida and graduated from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Economics. I’ve worked in both FIG and Tech and am happy to discuss the nuances between both industries. Additionally, I'm happy to help provide advice for navigating the recruiting process (internship, full-time, lateral and buyside recruiting). I've benefited from the mentorship of others and am very excited to volunteer with PFF!

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 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!

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.

My name is Samyog Adhikari, and I am originally from Nepal. I am currently pursuing a major in Business Economics with a concentration in Finance. Over the course of my academic journey, I’ve gained experience in Investment Banking, including a summer internship at RBC Capital Markets in New York City, where I worked on the Consumer and Retail Coverage team. I’ll be returning to RBC after graduation to continue my career in investment banking. Prior to this, I completed an internship at WestEnd Advisors, a boutique investment management firm in Charlotte, N.C. I chose to pursue a career in finance, specifically investment banking, because of my interest in working on high-impact transactions and the dynamic nature of the industry. I enjoy the fast-paced environment and collaborative problem-solving that the role demands. As someone who has navigated the finance recruiting process as an international student, I understand the unique challenges it presents, from visa hurdles to networking. I'm happy to share insights on navigating these obstacles, interview preparation, and making the most out of the recruiting cycle!

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!

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!

I am currently an investment banking analyst at CIBC, as a part of the EIT (Energy, Infrastructure and Transition) coverage group in New York. I studied Economics and Political Science at UCLA, and grew up in Abu Dhabi. I always knew I wanted a career in finance, but was unsure about my path so I tried out different internships, including working at a startup, a boutique investment bank, and a private equity firm. Ultimately, I pursued banking because I wanted a career that would challenge me, help me develop soft and technical skills, and offer a wide variety of opportunities. I'd be happy to discuss anything related to the recruiting process, finding internships, networking, and navigating an untraditional path to investment banking.

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.

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.

My name is Aakash Tummala, and I am currently a senior at Rutgers University studying Finance and Real Estate. This past summer, I was an Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Piper Sandler in their Financial Services Group, and I will be returning once I graduate. I pursued a career in finance because I enjoyed the fast-paced, team-oriented environment, and I wanted the opportunity early on to develop the skills, both soft and technical. Coming from a non-target school, I can answer any and all questions regarding IB, networking, and the recruiting process. I am happy to chat & be a resource in whatever way possible!

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.

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.