Harvard MBA to Independent Sponsor: Breaking Into Private Equity | Wall Street Oasis
Originally recorded on the Wall Street Oasis Podcast (E138). ►EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1) THE PATH WASN'T STRAIGHT: Engineering, five internships across two degrees, management consulting at Accenture, then Harvard Business School to break into private equity. 2) WHAT AN INDEPENDENT SPONSOR ACTUALLY DOES: Finding deals without a committed fund, raising capital deal by deal, and spending your own money on diligence. 3) WHY HE BUILT AN M&A DUE DILIGENCE FIRM: The lessons from doing deals as a buyer are what he now brings to buyers who are under LOI. ► CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 1:16 Background summary 3:15 Five internships during two undergraduate degrees 12:50 Choosing Harvard Business School to break into private equity 17:57 Landing another private equity internship 21:34 Searching for new opportunities 23:00 The work life of an independent sponsor 32:46 Starting a boutique M&A advisory and diligence firm 38:31 Building your personal brand