Darren G.
5.0
Break into Private Equity | Instructor with 20+ yrs Experience
Works at IE business school
Available Monday at 7:00 AM UTC
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Darren’s Private Equity Qualifications
Coaches professionally
Experience level: Partner or Managing Director
Darren has helped clients get into these companies:
Leveraging over two decades in finance, including leadership roles at Principal Partners Capital Group and top firms like Bank of America and Deutsche Bank, I bring deep private equity and M&A expertise to my coaching. With 8,000+ hours training finance professionals, I specialize in guiding individuals to break into and excel in private equity. Whether you are looking to strengthen your LBO modeling skills or prepare to ace PE interviews, my approach centers on creating tailored learning plans for each session, ensuring you achieve your goals. Let's connect and strategize your path to success in Private Equity!
Darren can help with:
Skill Building
Investment Evaluation
Private Equity Strategy
Financial Analysis
Technical Interview Prep
Behavioral Interview Prep
About Darren
I have over 15 years of experience designing and delivering bespoke training solutions to leading investment banks, private equity firms, management consultancies, asset management firms, Fortune 500 companies, top universities, business schools and individuals. Throughout my career, I have accumulated over 8,000 classroom hours, covering a wide range of topics including interview prep, accounting, corporate valuation, financial and business case modeling, M&A and LBO analysis, as well as advanced software techniques in tools such as Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. I have also led an annual interview prep workshop for the MBA and MIF programs and mentored students and conducted mock interviews at IE Business School since 2019. Before transitioning to teaching, I spent more than a decade in investment banking with Bear Stearns, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, working across the US, Europe, and Latin America. I gained extensive experience in various industries, working on equity and debt financings and M&A transactions. During my banking career, I also developed and led several internal training programs, including new analyst and associate training at Bear Stearns, healthcare-specific training at Deutsche Bank and Bank of America, and a training initiative for a team of analysts in India as part of the firm's offshoring strategy. Additionally, I was actively involved in campus recruiting, resume reviews and interviews.
Why do I coach?
My journey into finance began with a deep fascination that grew into a decade-long career in international investment banking before I transitioned into the classroom. Over the years, I have led large-scale training programs for new analysts and associates at top-tier investment banks including Credit Suisse, Perella Weinberg, and Moelis, among others, as well as global consulting leaders like McKinsey, BCG, and Kearney. While I have enjoyed delivering high-impact group training, I find the greatest fulfillment in working one-on-one, helping individuals navigate and achieve their career goals, and ultimately secure desired positions. Whether you are a recent graduate breaking into investment banking or a seasoned professional looking to level up, I specialize in teaching essential skills—from Excel and PowerPoint to financial statement analysis, corporate valuation, and financial modeling, along with preparing you to excel in both technical and behavioral interviews. My approach centers on creating tailored learning plans for each session, ensuring you achieve your goals. Let's connect and strategize your path to success in finance!
Work Experience
Lecturer
IE business school
2019 - Present
• Design and deliver annual finance workshops for MBA and Master in Finance students • Mentor students and conduct mock interviews
Senior Lead Instructor
Training The Street
2010 - 2023
• Led training programs for investment bankers, private equity and investment fund professionals, corporate executives and MBA students ranging in length from one day to two weeks (Over 8,000 classroom hours) • Developed and taught a wide range of topics including financial modeling, corporate valuation, accounting, Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint • Spearheaded internal pedagogy initiatives, including the launch of a mentoring program and a resource hub for new instructors, enhancing teaching effectiveness and onboarding • Managed 15+ client accounts, driving 25% CAGR and nearly $1 million in annual revenue • Developed and executed a cost-reduction strategy, reducing the firm’s largest expense by 30% and replacing it with a 100% margin revenue stream
Director / Partner
Principal Partners Capital Group
2006 - 2008
• Selected by Principal’s president to lead the process for a potential sale of a private equity stake in the firm • Refined the firm’s structure and strategy and drafted its business plan, website and other marketing materials which enabled it to secure a major international investment bank as the sell side advisor for the private equity sale • Negotiated a pending joint venture between Principal Partners and a major international investment bank • Led the structuring of fixed income, equity hybrid and M&A transactions and negotiated engagement letters, term sheets and purchase agreements • Leveraged personal network to market transactions to international institutional and strategic investors • Authored standardized pitches, engagement letters, confidentiality agreements and due diligence procedures
Healthcare
Bank of America
2004 - 2006
• Led the preparation of marketing materials and participated in client presentations to win new business • Assisted in the management of the day-to-day execution of buy side and sell side M&A transactions • Conducted and coordinated due diligence, developed transaction structures, negotiated engagement letters and purchase agreements and led the preparation of client deliverables • Assisted in the development and implementation on-site of the CIB offshore initiative in India • Initiated development a training boot camp for new Healthcare analysts and associates and was then selected by Senior Management to serve on CIB’s committee for new hire training • Developed and led analyst and associate training seminar for the BankBoston M&A team in Brazil
Associate
Deutsche Bank
2000 - 2002
• Conducted in-depth industry and company analysis to identify business opportunities • Established relationships and maintained dialogue with potential clients • Led drafting sessions of cross-functional teams in the development of marketing and SEC documents • Mentored and supervised analysts in the creation of financial models, valuation analyses and client presentations
Analyst
Bear Stearns Companies
1997 - 2000
• Developed financial models for mergers, acquisitions and debt and equity financings • Performed comparable company, comparable transaction, leveraged buyout and discounted cash flow analyses • Participated in due diligence and drafted marketing road shows, SEC documents and internal memos • Served as co-chair of the Analyst Committee which led the development of the firm’s training program and recommended operational changes that resulted in cost savings in excess of $5 million
6 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Darren has helped clients get into these companies: