Investment Banking Coaches, Events, and Resources

Fiona Taft is an exceptional coach for investment banking careers, with deep expertise developed through her leadership of career services at UC Berkeley’s elite Master of Financial Engineering (MFE) Program—one of the top pipelines for investment banking, sales and trading, and quantitative finance roles. She has successfully coached students into front-office positions at leading global banks by providing targeted guidance on technical and behavioral interview preparation, networking strategies, and offer negotiation. Fiona has also cultivated strong relationships with top-tier investment banks and led career treks to financial hubs like New York and Chicago, resulting in increased placement rates and stronger employer engagement. Her deep understanding of the finance landscape, coupled with her data-driven approach and individualized coaching style, uniquely equips her to help candidates break into and thrive in competitive investment banking roles.

I started my career at Moelis & Company in Los Angeles as an investment banking analyst in 2020 during which time I closed 4 transactions across buy and sell-sides and helped support the recruiting process for new analysts in the office. During my time at Moelis & Company, I was selected for an early and accelerated promotion to associate (offered to less than 5% of analysts) and was a top analyst at the firm. I have extensive experience navigating the investment banking recruiting process across both bulge brackets and elite boutique firms, and personally interviewed both for traditional M&A and restructuring roles. I am happy to help folks think through prep, networking strategy, and how to leverage offers across firms to maximize your recruiting outcomes.

The candidates who don't get offers typically aren't underprepared — they're overprepared on the wrong things. The pattern I see over and over: candidates who memorized 500 technicals but have a generic "Why Banking." Who can nail the DCF walkthrough but can't actually talk about a deal or a trend with any conviction. Technical accuracy doesn't create separation. Delivery does. I've guided hundreds of candidates to offers at Centerview, Goldman, Qatalyst, and more — through one-on-one coaching and the prep platform I built from scratch. What separated them was understanding that getting the answer right is only 10% of the interview. ——— BEHAVIORALS The hardest part is knowing when your story isn't working. Every candidate has a "Why IB" answer. Very few are memorable. We rebuild your TMAY, your "Why's," and your scenarios from the ground up. I'll interview you, figure out what actually makes you different, and build a narrative around it. The goal: a story that is genuinely yours and impossible to mistake for anyone else's. ——— TECHNICALS Most candidates who fail actually knew the material. They just couldn't deliver it under pressure. I wrote the open-access textbook on IB technicals. I'll identify your blind spots, teach you to structure answers like a senior banker, and show you how to play defense when you're unsure. We turn a "pass" into a "top bucket." ——— MARKET This is where preparation becomes differentiation. Bankers are looking for colleagues, not students — and they can tell the difference between someone who follows markets and someone who's cramming for an interview. Most candidates treat market knowledge like a homework assignment. Bankers can tell. They're looking for the start of a real point of view. We'll carve out your sector niche so you speak with the conviction of someone who's been covering the space for years. This is the section that gets you the callback.

With direct investment banking and investing experience across multiple sectors, I bring a well-rounded perspective to help you target and excel in specialized groups. At Lazard, I worked directly on Media & Telecommunications mandates, gaining firsthand exposure to the strategic and financial nuances of the industry. I also supported several Restructuring (RX) engagements during my internship, giving me practical experience with distressed situations and debt advisory, and I’ve since helped clients successfully place into top restructuring groups at elite boutiques. In addition, I gained Financial Institutions Group (FIG) experience through my work on an insurance-focused private equity investment, developing a strong understanding of how investors and banks evaluate capital-intensive, regulated businesses. Beyond traditional coverage groups, I’ve recruited for and coached candidates into Energy investment banking, having gone through the Houston recruiting process myself and understanding both the technical depth and industry-specific expectations of those roles. I also bring experience in Software, having worked on a growth-stage software investment and successfully coached multiple clients into leading software-focused growth equity and private equity firms. This cross-sector exposure allows me to provide tailored coaching not only on technical and market-specific preparation, but also on how to differentiate yourself for specialized groups. Whether you are targeting Media & Telecom, FIG, Energy, Software, or Restructuring, I can help you craft a compelling story, sharpen your technicals, and position yourself as a top candidate.

I’m a former investment banking Director at Bank of America Securities with ~9 years of bulge bracket experience and ~15 years total in strategic finance. I’ve advised on ~$15bn in completed transaction value across large-cap and middle-market M&A, capital raises, and strategic transactions. I started my career in large-cap Consumer & Retail and Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) coverage groups before helping build Bank of America’s Middle Market Investment Banking platform as the 40th hire, where I later launched and led the Residential & Commercial Services sector coverage initiative. Beyond transaction execution, I’ve been deeply involved in recruiting and talent development. I’ve conducted 100+ interviews, participated in hiring decisions and roundtables, and mentored ~90 associates. I’ve seen firsthand what differentiates candidates who break into investment banking—and what causes strong candidates to fall short—and I focus on helping clients position their experience effectively, communicate with clarity, and approach the recruiting process with the same lens used by hiring managers and senior bankers.

As one of four Investment Banking Career Fellows at the Wharton School (selected for demonstrated excellence in the recruiting process), I coach first-year MBA students on mastering every stage of investment banking recruitment. Drawing on five years of experience helping clients craft compelling professional narratives, I equip clients to present themselves with precision, confidence, and authenticity!

If you want a coach who understands what it takes to earn an investment banking offer and what hiring teams actually look for, I bring both perspectives. I’ve built my career across investment banking and private equity, and I was actively involved in intern and analyst hiring during my time in the industry. That experience gives me a clear view into how candidates are evaluated, where most applicants fall short, and what separates a strong profile from a forgettable one. My coaching is designed to be results-oriented and practical, with a step-by-step plan that covers positioning, networking strategy, technical preparation, and interview performance. What also sets me apart is that I did not come up through the standard pipeline. I navigated a non-traditional recruiting pathway and broke into the industry starting from community college. I know how to build credibility when your background is not conventional, how to craft a story that resonates with bankers, and how to create momentum when you feel behind the curve. Clients work with me for clear direction, honest feedback, and an execution plan that is tailored to their goals and timeline. The end goal is simple: a sharper narrative, stronger interviews, and a process that consistently converts effort into offers.

I have interviewed with and secured investment banking offers from six different banks, including both bulge bracket and prominent boutique firms, before starting my role as an analyst at Deutsche Bank. Following a year at Deutsche Bank, I transitioned to J.P. Morgan, where I dedicated four years to the M&A team, where I assessed numerous internship and full-time analyst and associate applications. I've covered: tech, industrials, consumer.

I have worked at Goldman Sachs (TMT IB), Stifel (TMT IB), and J.P. Morgan (Corporate Banking). I can help you prepare for summer analyst recruiting, full-time recruiting (which is super unstructured), or lateral recruiting -- I've done all 3. I have also helped 75 individuals prepare for technical, behavioral, networking meetings, resume prep, and everything in between.

I'm Emelie, an experienced investment banking professional with a strong background in both academia and industry. With three years of experience in top-tier investment banking at Citi, I developed a strong understanding of what it takes to succeed in one of the most competitive industries. At Citi, I worked in Nordic Investment Banking, gaining hands-on deal experience across M&A and capital markets while collaborating with senior bankers and clients. Just before my associate year, I successfully exited to private equity and joined Axcel, one of Nordics' most prominent private equity firms. In addition to my deal work, I was actively involved in recruiting and interviewing candidates, which gave me direct insight into what banks look for in top applicants, from technical preparation and resume positioning to interview performance and cultural fit. This experience allows me to help candidates understand how to stand out in a highly competitive process. My passion for mentorship stems from my own journey into finance, where mentors played a key role in my development. I know firsthand how valuable the right guidance can be when navigating recruiting, preparing for interviews, and building confidence in technical skills. I’m committed to helping aspiring investment bankers break into the industry by sharing practical advice, honest feedback, and a structured approach to preparation. I hold a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, with exchange studies at The University of Texas at Austin.