Middle Market Coaches

I have spent over 7 years in finance, interviewed at over 50 PE funds and recruited for the PE fund i previously worked at. I have a deep understanding of how to prep for interviews, make your application stand out and most importantly, stay focused on the goals to find the right fund for you.

Hey! My name is Milton, and although I'm originally from the East Coast, I've been living and working in Chicago for the last 2+ years. When I'm not working or coaching, I enjoy spending time cycling, climbing, or relaxing by the lake, as well as exploring the Midwest. I've been working in private equity for the past 2+ years and began my career in Big4 consulting before transitioning to investment banking. My goal in mentoring folks on Leland is to provide the foundation and mentorship I wish existed when I was making my way from a non-target school to investment banking, and ultimately to private equity. Over the years, I've had the privilege of coaching both students and young professionals, helping them navigate the complexities of IB and PE recruiting. Whether you're looking to break into private equity or advance your career in the field, I'm here to provide guidance and support. My coaching approach is collaborative and flexible, ensuring that you can get the most out of our time together. Don't hesitate to reach out, and let's see how we can partner together to take the next big step in your career.

Welcome to my profile! With 10+ years experience in private equity, I am here to help you navigate the competitive landscape of this industry. I hold an MBA with Honors from Chicago Booth and have held key roles at top firms like QHP Capital and Incline Equity, where I honed my skills in investment strategies and business growth. My journey from an Associate to a Principal has equipped me with the insights needed to guide aspiring professionals in their career paths. Whether you're looking to break into private equity or advance within the field, I offer personalized coaching to help you achieve your goals. Let's connect and chart your path to success!

◆ I'm a Principal at Warburg Pincus, a top 10 global PE firm managing $100B+, and I'm the most senior finance professional coaching on Leland ◆ As an active hiring manager, I've personally interviewed hundreds of candidates and made the hiring decisions, so I know exactly what the person across the table is looking for ◆ I've coached dozens of clients who have landed offers at Blackstone, Warburg Pincus, General Atlantic, FTV Capital, among others. I've also helped many of these same clients get into HBS, Stanford GSB, and Wharton ◆ I have 15+ years experience in finance: Blackstone M&A, then a decade at Warburg Pincus, with an MBA from HBS and a finance degree from Wharton ◆ I wrote the "Comprehensive Finance Interview Guide" over a decade ago while prepping for my own PE recruiting, and I've been refining my system ever since ◆ I work with candidates at every stage, including resume help, mock interviews, or a full multi-month partnership covering networking, resume, story, technicals, and modeling tests

Welcome to my profile! I'm Jacob, and I'm here to help you break into the competitive world of private equity. With hands-on experience as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Bank of America and a full-time analyst role at Blackstone in their Strategic Partners Group, I bring a wealth of industry knowledge to my coaching. My journey also includes a stint at Solas Capital Management LLC, where I honed my skills at a long/short hedge fund. I've successfully coached numerous individuals, guiding them through the intricacies of private equity recruitment and helping them secure positions at top firms. Let's connect and craft a strategy to achieve your career goals in private equity!

Former private equity investor who led associate recruitment for my firm for two years and received multiple entry level and lateral offers throughout his career. Completed multiple live deals during one of the busiest periods in the history of the industry.

I’ve spent my career working in private equity and investment banking, and I try to bring that real-world perspective into how I coach. Most recently, I was a Private Equity Associate at The Carlyle Group, where I worked on multi-billion dollar investments, built models, and partnered closely with management teams through the full investment process. Before that, I was an Investment Banking Analyst at Moelis & Company, where I developed a strong technical foundation in valuation and deal execution. I’m currently finishing my MBA at Harvard Business School and will be joining a private equity firm as a Vice President, so I have a clear, up-to-date view on what actually matters in recruiting today. I’ve also spent a lot of time mentoring and helping others navigate the process, which has shaped how I approach coaching. My focus isn’t just on getting you to the “right answer,” but on helping you think like an investor—building the judgment, communication skills, and intuition that top private equity firms are really looking for.

I made the investment banking to private equity transition myself after spending ~3.5 years in J.P. Morgan's M&A group in New York. During my time at JPM, I worked across industries on domestic and cross-border transactions representing $50bn+ of aggregate transaction value and gained extensive experience analyzes businesses, valuation, transaction execution and discussing deals. I ultimately went through PE recruiting myself and now work as an Associate at a lower-middle-market private equity firm. Having gone through the process firsthand, I can help bankers understand what changes when you move from executing transactions to thinking like an investor. I'm particularly helpful with PE resume positioning, "Why PE?", deal walkthroughs, investment merits and risks, LBO and technical preparation, behavioral interviews, and mock interviews. My style is straightforward and practical and I'll help you identify where you answers are strong, where they fall short, and how to communicate your banking experience in a way that demonstrates actual investment thinking rather than simply strong execution experience.

I help ambitious professionals break into private equity — and convert interviews into offers — across growth equity and buyout roles. My approach goes well beyond traditional interview coaching: I work as a dedicated external PE preparation partner, helping candidates diagnose why they are not converting, sharpen their investor narrative, master technicals, develop stronger investment judgment, prepare deal discussions and case studies, and perform under pressure in live recruiting processes. Preparation is highly personalized and can include firm-specific interview strategy, custom technical and behavioral flashcards, realistic mock interviews, detailed written feedback, and targeted remediation between rounds. I bring the perspective of an active investor and deal practitioner. I’m the Founder of Zeus Global, an independent private equity platform where I lead transactions from sourcing and underwriting through diligence, structuring, capital formation, and post-close value creation, with a focus on software and tech-enabled services. Previously, I led growth and middle-market investing at a $5B family office and held investment roles at LeapFrog Investments and the Africa Finance Corporation. I earned my MBA from Stanford GSB. Having taken a non-traditional path into investing myself, I’m particularly effective with candidates moving from private credit, consulting, operating roles, engineering, or other adjacent backgrounds who need to translate strong experience into the judgment, technical fluency, and communication style expected of a private equity investor.

With a robust background in both investment banking and private equity, I have successfully navigated the competitive recruiting landscape to secure positions at top-tier firms like Lazard and a newly formed $500M private equity fund. I also recently served as Director of Growth Strategy at a leading PPM company, where I was instrumental in shaping strategic growth initiatives. As someone who has been through the rigorous recruiting process and emerged at the top of my field, I am passionate about helping others achieve their goals in private equity. My hands-on experience and deep understanding of what top firms are looking for will guide you through each step of the recruiting journey, from resume crafting to interview prep and offer negotiation. Whether you’re breaking into the industry or looking to advance your career, I’m here to provide actionable insights, personalized feedback, and a roadmap to success. Let’s work together to elevate your career and secure your next role in private equity.