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.

My name is Maxwell Wang and I am currently a private equity associate at The Carlyle Group within the global infrastructure private equity team. I began my career at Citigroup as a project finance analyst, where I focused on structuring debt instruments for infrastructure projects. I graduated from Cornell University in 2021 with a B.Sc. in Industrial and Labor Relations. I pursued a career in finance after learning about the industry from peers in various student organizations on campus, and am excited to help others pursue their own career 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!

My name is Drew Duff and I am currently a Senior Consultant at Deloitte, based out of New York City. My journey began when I moved to Brazil to live and work for several years at the U.S. Department of State. Around this same period, I chose to double major in Economics & International Affairs at Wake Forest University. Consulting offered the prospect of addressing complex social, financial, and health issues through private-sector solutions. I found this opportunity fascinating and consequently, at Deloitte I now focus on helping clients make strategic choices to solve challenges within the Financial Services and Life Sciences industries. In addition, as a member of Deloitte’s ALPFA committee (Association for Latino Professionals) I have worked hands-on to champion dozens of students and professionals from non-traditional backgrounds. I would be happy to chat on anything related to the consulting life and recruiting process.

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.

My name is Sam Margolis, and I am a Consultant at Deloitte in the Human Capital Practice. I have experience developing Workforce Strategy solutions, across industries including financial services, consumer products, life sciences, and industrials. I began my journey with Deloitte as an intern in 2019, and returned full-time in 2022. Upon my graduation from Vanderbilt University in 2020, I co-founded BrightPath Tutors, a non-profit that provides free, tailored virtual tutoring to K-12 students in Nashville and NYC. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. I'm happy to chat more about navigating the consulting recruitment process, the day-to-day life of a consultant, and my experiences in both the non-profit sector and consulting!

My name is Robert Mitchell and I am currently a private equity senior associate at GTCR, a private equity firm based in Chicago, IL. GTCR focuses on leveraged buyouts of middle and upper middle market businesses in the Business & Consumer Services, Healthcare, Financial Services & Technology, and Technology Media & Telecommunications industries. I started my career as an analyst at GTCR in the Business & Consumer Services group. I attended the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and graduated with highest honors in 2020 with a B.S. in Finance. I'm happy to discuss any questions related to recruiting, day-to-day responsibilities, technical knowledge needed, or personal navigation of all things Private Equity. 

I am currently a private equity associate at Comvest Partners in West Palm Beach, Florida. Prior to joining Comvest Partners, I was an analyst at Deloitte Consulting where I focused on private equity due diligence engagements. I began my career at a consumer goods startup in China called Laiba Beverages. At Indiana University, I studied finance and Chinese. I grew up on the southside of Indianapolis.

While in college, I explored a wide range of career options including consulting, investment banking, private equity, and startups. I ultimately chose consulting for its interesting work, fun culture, and exit opportunities to private equity (as well as a myriad of other roles). I am happy to discuss the challenges of choosing a career field, recruiting for consulting, and breaking into private equity from a non-banking background. Feel free to reach out to the PFF general email or shoot me a note directly!

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.

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!

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 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.