Yaji Sonti
Studied at Birla Institute of Technology and Science
Works at Octopus Energy
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About Yaji
### Personal Bio I started my career in investment banking at J.P. Morgan, where I spent almost a decade progressing from Analyst to Vice President in Equity Capital Markets. Along the way, I worked on more than $40 billion of transactions across sectors including technology, healthcare, consumer and energy, advising management teams and boards on some of their most important financing decisions. After building my career in banking, I made the transition to the corporate side and now lead Strategic Finance and Capital Markets initiatives at Octopus Energy, partnering closely with the CFO, investors, lenders and business leaders on fundraising, capital structure strategy and long-term growth plans. Having sat on both sides of the table, I understand the opportunities, challenges and misconceptions that come with a move out of banking. Many professionals know they want something different but aren't sure where they fit, how to position themselves or how to navigate the recruiting process. I work with professionals who are exploring careers in strategic finance, corporate finance, capital markets, FP&A, investor relations, corporate development and other adjacent paths. My goal is to help clients understand what hiring managers are actually looking for, tell their story effectively and make career moves that align with both their ambitions and lifestyle priorities.
Why do I coach?
Throughout my career, I've benefited enormously from people who were willing to share honest advice and help me navigate important decisions. Some of the most valuable conversations I had weren't about technical skills. They were about career direction, trade-offs and understanding what life actually looks like on the other side of a move. When I was considering my own transition from investment banking to an in-house finance role, I found that there was plenty of generic advice available, but very little from people who had recently made the move themselves. I spent a lot of time speaking with professionals across different functions, trying to understand which opportunities would genuinely be a good fit. That's one of the reasons I coach today. I enjoy helping people cut through the noise, evaluate their options objectively and approach career transitions with confidence. Whether someone wants to move into strategic finance, corporate development, investor relations or another adjacent path, I aim to provide the kind of practical guidance I would have wanted at the same stage of my career. Seeing someone successfully make a move that improves both their professional growth and quality of life is incredibly rewarding, and that's what keeps me coming back to coaching.
Work Experience
Group Strategic Finance Capital Markets Lead
Octopus Energy
April 2025 - Present
● Continuous partnering with the group CFO and finance leads across 10+ entities in multiple countries, consolidating inputs into group-level financial models, forecasts and KPI reporting to support executive decision-making ● Developed and maintained group valuation and scenario models, integrating business-unit data into actionable insights for the board, investors, banks and credit rating agencies ● Acted as finance lead on equity and debt fundraising and capital structure strategy, leading financial modelling including stress testing, due diligence and negotiations with external stakeholders ● Contributed to commercial and operational finance reviews, evaluating investment cases, market entry strategies, and expansion initiatives with a focus on financial efficiency and growth ● Delivered Board materials, investor presentations and other strategic packs to support regular business reviews and strategic decision making ● Led debt facility management, refinancing, and ongoing lender/ratings engagement, contributing to improved liquidity, credit positioning, and financial resilience
Investment Banking Vice President
J.P. Morgan
January 2024 - March 2025
Hiring Manager
● Lead originator for equity-linked transactions for corporates across Europe, Middle East and Africa ● Advised C-suite clients on capital structure optimization, shareholder engagement and funding strategy, driving marquee, complex transactions during extreme market volatility amid geopolitical events ● Hired, supervised and mentored junior bankers, driving team development and knowledge transfer
Investment Banking Associate
J.P. Morgan
July 2020 - January 2024
Interviewer
● Led execution of over 40 equity-linked transactions with aggregate deal value of over $30bn, primarily in technology, consumer, healthcare and energy sectors, earning the bank #1 market share in the region
Investment Banking Analyst
J.P. Morgan
July 2018 - July 2020
● Top rated analyst in EMEA investment banking for 2 consecutive years; Early promoted to associate by one year for exceeding performance expectations (top 1% of the class) ● Origination, structuring, pitching and execution of Equity-linked instruments (convertible and exchangeable bonds, hybrid structures, liability management) for clients across EMEA
Education
Birla Institute of Technology and Science
Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) Hons., Electrical and Electronics Engineering
2010 - 2015
Pursued a 5 year integrated degree in M.Sc. (Hons.) Economics and B.E. (Hons.) Electrical and Electronics
Birla Institute of Technology and Science
Master of Science (Hons.), Economics
2010 - 2015
Activities and societies: Finance Head of Operations at Nirmaan Organization, Core Member of Department of Accomodation, Reception and Hospitality