Leland+ Content Library

Breaking Into Investment Banking from Non-Traditional Backgrounds [6/16/2026] (Recording)

If your resume doesn't follow the traditional finance recruiting path, this session will show you how to position your background so it reads as an asset, not a gap. We'll cover how to reframe non-traditional experience for banking roles, which transferable skills actually resonate with hiring managers, and how to approach networking when you don't have built-in alumni pipelines. Attending live means you can describe your specific background and get a direct read on how a recruiter or banker would interpret it, which a recording simply cannot replicate. The coach works with non-traditional candidates regularly and will share the patterns that tend to separate the ones who break in from the ones who stall out.

Beyond the Deal: How Private Equity Actually Creates Value [5/27/2026] (Recording)

After this session, you will understand how PE firms actually measure and drive value creation after an acquisition, not just how they talk about it in interviews. We will cover the operational levers that matter most in a typical hold period, how value creation plans get built and stress-tested, and what separates firms that consistently hit their return targets from those that struggle. Attending live means you can bring your specific questions, whether you are trying to understand a firm's portfolio strategy or preparing to discuss value creation in an interview, and get a direct answer grounded in how these situations actually play out. The coach works inside this world regularly, and this session is a chance to hear how a practitioner frames problems that most candidates only encounter in case studies.

How Candidates Actually Land Elite Boutique Offers [4/30/2026] (Recording)

Elite boutique investment banking offers are highly competitive, and the candidates who break through are intentional about how they position their experience and navigate the process. This session is for students targeting firms like Evercore, Lazard, and PJT who want to understand what actually differentiates successful applicants. You’ll learn how to build a focused recruiting strategy, position your background to signal strong fit, and approach networking and interviews in a way that leads to real traction. Join live to hear how an experienced coach evaluates candidates targeting elite boutiques and the patterns they see across successful applicants. You’ll also have the chance to ask questions about your own recruiting approach and get real-time guidance typically shared in 1:1 coaching sessions.

What It Takes to Pass the PE Technical Round

After this session, you will know how to structure a leveraged buyout model under time pressure, articulate an investment thesis that holds up to pushback, and answer the deal experience questions that consistently trip up strong candidates. The focus is on the patterns that separate people who pass from people who stall: where the logic breaks down, what interviewers are actually stress-testing, and how to think through a case you have never seen before.

Breaking Into Growth Equity: How Funds Think, Hire, and Invest

Growth equity is where high-growth companies scale—and breaking in starts with understanding how funds operate. This session offers an inside look at how growth equity firms think, hire, and invest. You’ll learn how funds evaluate opportunities, what they look for in candidates, and how recruiting differs from PE or VC. Whether you’re exploring the space or preparing to recruit, you’ll leave with clear insight and momentum to pursue growth equity with confidence.

How to Network Effectively for Competitive Finance Roles

Networking is a critical differentiator in competitive finance recruiting, but most candidates approach it inefficiently or inconsistently. This session breaks down how to build genuine relationships, conduct high-impact outreach, and turn conversations into real opportunities across investment banking, private equity, hedge funds, and related roles. You’ll learn how to prepare for networking conversations, follow up strategically, and avoid common mistakes that quietly hurt your chances.

Technical Interviews & Core Finance Concepts

Technical interviews are where candidates rise or fall, and mastering the fundamentals is essential to getting an offer. In this session, you'll learn how to approach the most commonly tested finance concepts—from valuation and accounting, to financial statement analysis and market drivers—in a clear, structured, and interview-ready way. We’ll cover typical technical questions, what interviewers listen for in strong answers, and how to avoid the common mistakes that signal inexperience. Whether you’re starting from scratch or sharpening your edge before first-rounds, you’ll walk away with frameworks, study priorities, and practice tactics to approach technicals with confidence and communicate like a future banker.

Behavioral Interviews & How to Tell Your Story

Landing an investment banking offer starts long before the technical questions—your behavioral responses and personal story often determine whether you even move forward. In this session, you’ll learn how to craft a compelling narrative that highlights your motivations, showcases your strengths, and aligns with what banks actually look for in candidates. We’ll break down common behavioral questions, effective frameworks, and the biggest pitfalls that sink interviews, plus how to tailor your story whether you’re coming from finance, consulting, engineering, or a non-traditional background. You’ll leave with clear strategies, practice prompts, and a structured approach you can use to walk into interviews with confidence and tell a story that sticks.

Ask Me Anything: IB Recruiting Insights from a Former Lazard Banker

Breaking into investment banking is competitive—especially if you're targeting elite boutiques or specialized coverage groups. In this AMA-style workshop, Akaash P.—a former Lazard banker with hands-on experience across Media & Telecom, Restructuring (RX), FIG, Energy, and Software—will give you an inside look at what it takes to stand out in IB recruiting. Drawing on cross-sector banking and investing experience, as well as coaching candidates into top groups at elite firms, Akaash will answer your questions on technical prep, industry-specific expectations, crafting a differentiated story, and navigating competitive recruiting processes. Whether you're aiming for M&T, RX, FIG, Energy, or Software roles, or simply want to understand the landscape better, you’ll leave with clear, actionable insights to elevate your recruiting strategy.

Crack the IB Technicals: 10 Questions You Must Be Prepared to Answer

Get ready to master the core technical questions that consistently show up in investment banking interviews. In this session, we’ll walk through the 10 fundamentals—valuation, accounting, enterprise value, DCFs, accretion/dilution, and more—that every strong IB candidate must be able to explain with clarity and confidence. You’ll learn how interviewers evaluate your answers, what separates a solid response from a great one, and how to practice effectively so you can walk into recruiting season fully prepared.