Top 10 Finance Mentors (2025-2026)
Discover the top 10 Finance Coaches and Mentors in 2025-2026. Expert coaches with proven success in helping applicants break into the finance industry.
Posted October 23, 2025
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Table of Contents
Breaking into finance takes precision and a strategy tailored to your story. The coaches below are proven operators who’ve hired, trained, and placed candidates at top firms, and who know how to help you stand out in ultra-competitive processes. From unconventional pivots to on-cycle gauntlets, this curated list spans a range of specialties so you can find the right fit for your goals. See all coaches here.
Ryan T.
Experience: Former Wells Fargo Securities healthcare investment banker who executed $10B+ across 90+ transactions. Trained three analyst classes and currently instructs new IB hires at Training The Street. Has helped undergrads and MBAs place at top banks like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.
Specialties:
- Investment banking recruiting
- Technical mastery: accounting, modeling, valuation
- Interview prep with real case studies and market materials
- Networking strategy using an extensive IB network
If you want end-to-end IB prep, Ryan brings the rare combo of staffer insight and professional IB training expertise. He’s especially strong for candidates who learn best with structured materials, real interview cases, and direct feedback. Candidates will find a thoughtful advocate who meets you where you are and builds a clear path to offers.
"Ryan truly cares about his students and goes above and beyond to help them. Compared to many coaches he has both the technical chops and qualitative nuance to help you land what you want. He is able to guide your career through a holistic lens that takes into account your professional and personal circumstances as well. You can tell he is passionate about what he is doing. If you want to kickstart or advance your career please seek out Ryan!"
- Patrick S., Coached by Ryan
→ Book a free intro call with Ryan
Scott B.
Experience: Spent nine years as an analyst at a ~$4B long/short hedge fund and later transitioned into VC at Lightspeed. CFA Charterholder with an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Specialties:
- Hedge fund and public equity recruiting
- Stock pitching, idea generation, and research best practices
- Lateral transitions and nontraditional candidate positioning
- Grad school strategy (MBA)
Scott is ideal if you’re pursuing a career in hedge funds or are making a lateral move without a traditional path. He has coached analysts on sharpening their diligence and knows how unconventional profiles can win interviews and offers. Expect rigorous thinking and coaching that helps you sound like an investor.
"Recruiting into VC from an MBA program is hard. Compared to traditional pathways like I-Banking or Consulting, there's less structure and guidance available in the VC process. I worked with Scott to transition from consulting into VC. It was hard to get traction because all the firms wanted "operators" not consultants. Scott was incredibly helpful keeping me motivated. We worked on my CV, and also crafted a personal narrative that resonated with my interviewers. It's hard to stand out from the talent pool in the VC space, but Scott helped me with interview prep, and his unique approach helped me land a role. It felt like while my classmates were running in circles, I was running focused direction. I couldn't have done it without Scott."
- Zach C., Coached by Scott
→ Book a free intro call with Scott
Max M.
Experience: Former tech equity investor who has worked at Banyan Square Partners (private equity), Thomas H. Lee Partners (buyout PE), and Goldman Sachs IB. Has supported hundreds of mentees across HF, PE, and IB.
Specialties:
- HF, PE, and IB recruiting strategy
- Interview prep (technical and fit)
- Resume and narrative refinement
- MBA admissions coaching
Max combines frontline investing experience with a strong coaching track record across the entire finance sector. He’s a great match for ambitious candidates aiming for top HF/PE seats or elite IB groups, as well as those who want clear feedback that turns stories into compelling, offer-ready assets.
"Here is my honest review of Max after working with him for a couple of months. He was a game-changer but not in the way you might expect. When I started working with him back in October, I was about to finish my MBA and had been prepping to break into ib on my own for a while (I come from a finance background but no ib experience whatsoever). To be honest, I thought I could just piece everything together myself using free resources online. Turns out, I was prepping blindly and wasting time on things that didn’t actually matter (as expected). So I decided to pull the trigger and bought a tailored coaching package with him. Max showed me the actual roadmap and saved me so much time by focusing on what actually matters in interviews and not just what people say online. I was hesitant at first because let’s be real, paying for coaching can feel like a gamble sometimes (you don’t know if it’s going to pay off). But looking back, it was the best investment I have made so far. I was trying to break into banking in Denver (which is a much smaller market compared to NY or Chicago), so I had to be extra strategic in how I networked and positioned myself. Max helped me refine my story, build real relationships, and walk into interviews with confidence. Four months later I landed an ib internship at a boutique firm in downtown Denver. If you’re not sure about coaching, here’s my advice: if you’re serious about breaking in and willing to put in the work, book with him. He’ll make sure you get where you want to go."
- Juan G., Coached by Max and landed a role at Industria Partners
→ Book a free intro call with Max
Shawn K.
Experience: Finance professional with experience at Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan. Supports candidates across IB, Finance & Business Management, Global Markets, and Product Strategy & Transformation.
Specialties:
- Early-career finance recruiting
- Resume reviews and technical interview prep
- Recruiting roadmaps
- Targeting IB, markets, and strategy roles
If you’re starting your finance journey or need to organize a recruiting strategy, Shawn brings clarity and structure. He’s particularly well-suited for candidates navigating technical aspects and mapping roles across banking and markets. Expect approachable coaching that helps you move decisively.
"Shawn has been an incredible mentor throughout my consulting interview preparation. His deep experience with case interviews, structured frameworks, and hypothesis-driven problem solving consistently stood out. He not only helped me break down complex problems clearly and effectively, but also provided thoughtful, actionable feedback after each session. Shawn's ability to think strategically and coach with clarity makes him an outstanding resource. I highly recommend him as a coach for anyone preparing for interviews."
- Varun V., Coached by Shawn and landed a role at Bain
→ Book a free intro call with Shawn
Jamie W.
Experience: Venture capital investor focused on healthcare companies, who previously worked as an analyst at Bank of America, executing nine-figure transactions. MBA from Harvard Business School.
Specialties:
- Pivoting from banking/markets to VC
- Consumer and healthcare investing perspectives
- Capital markets to buy-side transition
- Interview prep and networking strategy for VC
Jamie understands how to translate capital markets strength into a compelling VC candidacy. If you’re aiming to pivot into venture, she’ll help you package your experience and show up like an investor. Great for bankers and operators seeking a thoughtful, mission-aware move into VC.
"Jamie is a fantastic coach. She gave me incredibly helpful and thoughtful advice as I prepped for a FT Associate role in investment banking. Our session definitely prepared me for the interview and I highly recommend Jamie to any aspiring banker looking for top notch coaching. Thank you Jamie!"
- Jonathan S., Coached by Jamie
→ Book a free intro call with Jamie
Genever O.
Experience: Private equity associate at BlackRock and ex-Goldman Sachs investment banker with $10B+ in closed transactions. Serves on the associate board of America Needs You, supporting first-generation college students.
Specialties:
- IB and PE recruiting
- Storytelling for first-gen, low-income, and international candidates
- Transitioning from banking to PE/VC
- Practical case preparation
Genever brings real perspective and a coaching style grounded in advocacy and results. She’s a standout for first-gen, international, and nontraditional candidates who need sharp positioning and calibrated technical prep to compete at top firms. Expect tailored guidance that helps you find your edge.
"Genève is not only an incredible coach and mentor, she is also a trailblazer committed to lifted up other Black women and women of color as she climbs! She supported me as a freshman in college interested in finance at the time and helped me navigate the complex process of competing for an internship at Goldman Sachs. Although in the midst of that process I realized investment banking is not aligned with my passions, Genève‘s guidance and coaching gave me the confidence and tangible skills (such as creating an elevator pitch, preparing for case/technical interviews, and resume writing) to continue exploring different career paths successfully. Her support and mentorship ultimately helped me land my first job out of college as a consultant, so I cannot recommend her enough!"
- Amira T., Coached by Genever and landed a role at Boldly Go Philanthropy
→ Book a free intro call with Genever
Joseph A.
Experience: Worked as a Senior Associate at American Securities and currently studies as an MBA candidate at Harvard Business School. Led UGA’s investment banking training program, mentoring dozens of students who placed across major finance hubs.
Specialties:
- PE recruiting (on-cycle and off-cycle)
- Interview navigation
- IB-to-PE transition
- Due diligence and case preparation
Joseph knows the PE process from both the candidate and investor side, and can demystify the process. He’s ideal for bankers targeting upper-mid-market companies who want structured prep and honest calibration. Candidates benefit from his hands-on mentoring background.
"Joey is very good at breaking down different technical concepts and giving me mocks for fundamental concepts like accounting basics. His lesson slides are very helpful in helping me prepare for a technical interview. I received 2 MM bank offers after working with him."
- Coached by Joseph and landed roles at Nomura and Lincoln International
→ Book a free intro call with Joseph
C.C. G.
Experience: Principal at Menlo Ventures, investing in AI applications, and previously worked as a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow. Has also worked in product management at Meta and Microsoft, with VC experience at Bain Capital Ventures and NFX.
Specialties:
- Breaking into VC
- AI and software investment theses
- Strengths-based narrative and networking strategy
- Positioning backgrounds for venture roles
For candidates targeting VC, C.C. offers rare insight from both product and investing. She’s adept at helping candidates articulate their unique value proposition for venture firms. Expect a strengths-based approach that builds confidence and lands you in the right rooms.
"Very tactical advice on how to get into VC. Highly recommend!"
- Coached by C.C.
→ Book a free intro call with C.C.
Isha A.
Experience: 6+ years in finance and has interviewed at 50+ top PE funds. Ex-Y Combinator founder with experience at KKR, The Riverside Company, and Dunes Point Capital. Active angel investor with strong VC networks.
Specialties:
- Recruiting for non-target and international candidates
- Tailored resume and outreach strategies
- Technical Interview Prep
- Breaking in via relationship-building
Isha excels at getting overlooked candidates noticed, especially international, low-income, and first-gen applicants. She pairs sharp technical prep with a highly customized networking plan that opens doors. If you need a strategic partner to break into VC or PE, she’s a powerful ally.
"Isha is a sharp, thoughtful coach who brings clarity and confidence to every step of the private equity recruiting journey. She has a rare ability to simplify the complex and make sure you're not just prepared but truly competitive. Highly recommend working with her."
- Parag B., Coached by Isha
→ Book a free intro call with Isha
Abe F.
Experience: BYU finance student and future Barclays New York Summer Analyst (2025). Began recruiting from community college while working full-time at Walmart, ultimately leading a 65+ person e-commerce operation. Mentors candidates to align skills with the right IB opportunities.
Specialties:
- Investment banking recruiting for nontraditional backgrounds
- Long-term goal setting
- Storytelling for lower GPA, diversity, and transfer candidates
- Early-stage technical prep
Abe’s pathway, from asylee and community college to a top IB offer, makes him a relatable guide for candidates who feel underestimated. He’s empathetic and focused on helping you choose environments where you’ll thrive. If you’re navigating obstacles like limited experience or a lower GPA, Abe will help you turn your story into your strength.
"I met Abe during this last recruiting cycle, and he was one of the main reasons I was able to break into a bulge bracket firm despite coming from a non-target school that has only placed three people in investment banking in its history. As a first-generation immigrant, I connected with him immediately. He was thorough in his help, connecting me with others who supported me along the way. Abe regularly checked in with me and held mock interviews that were notoriously hard but prepared me extremely well for super days. His dedication and support were invaluable in my journey. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to break into investment banking or any high-stakes field."
- Mateo G., Coached by Abe and landed a role at UBS
→ Book a free intro call with Abe
Find the Best Coach for Your Finance Journey
The right mentor can compress years of trial and error into a targeted plan for IB, PE, VC, hedge funds, or adjacent finance roles. Explore coach profiles, review their specialties, and book a free 15-minute intro call to find your match, or browse all coaches here.
Not sure where to start? Schedule a free strategy and coach-matching call with the Leland team, and we’ll point you to the best-fit experts for your goals. Find the right coach and start building your finance career today.
Read More:
- The 10 Best Venture Capital Fellowships
- The 50 Most Common Venture Capital Interview Questions
- How to Get Into Venture Capital: Lessons Learned Interviewing 100+ Investors
- The Best Finance Newsletters and Podcasts to Subscribe To
- 20 Most Frequently Asked Investment Banking Technical Interview Questions
- How to Nail the Second Most Common Investment Banking Interview Question
- The Best Venture Capital & Private Equity Newsletters and Podcasts to Subscribe To
- 35+ Free Resources to Break Into Investment Banking
- The Best MBA Programs for Investment Banking
- Investment Banking Interview Guide: Tips From an Expert
Top Finance Coaches – FAQs
What’s the difference between coaching for investment banking vs. private equity recruiting?
- While IB coaching focuses heavily on technical mastery, which includes understanding financial models and valuation methods, and networking into banks, PE coaching emphasizes case studies, such as analyzing past deals, headhunter navigation, and deal experience translation. A strong finance coach will tailor prep to the unique demands of each path.
Can a finance coach help me if I’m from a non-target school or have a lower GPA?
- Yes. Many finance mentors specialize in helping nontraditional candidates stand out through networking strategy, storytelling, and targeted technical prep. Coaches can help you frame your background as an asset and build relationships that get you past resume screens.
When should I start working with a finance coach for recruiting?
- Ideally, you should start working with a finance coach 6-12 months before applications open, especially for IB recruiting. This timeline allows you to refine technicals, perfect your story, and build a strong networking pipeline. While timelines may vary, starting coaching earlier ensures that you’re confident and prepared when opportunities appear.
