Investment Banking Coaches, Events, and Resources

I recruited into investment banking out of college and experienced many of the same struggles and roadblocks that I know you are. Because of my lower GPA, I doubled down on my networking and technical / behavioral interview prep, and I eventually received multiple bulge-bracket and boutique offers. I can help you learn the technicals, prepare you for a modeling test, help you with your resume, or help you think through your overall recruiting strategy. I can show you what helped me learn all of those skills, and I can also give you insights on what we looked for in candidates and discussed after interviews that can help you stand out. Let's connect and strategize your path to success in investment banking!

After graduating from Hamilton College, I worked in investment banking for 6 years, with experience across Goldman Sachs' TMT group in San Francisco and Bank of America's Healthcare group in New York. Today, I am a Private Equity Associate at ZMC, a middle-market private equity firm focused on technology, media, and entertainment. I have firsthand experience recruiting for investment banking internships, lateral positions, and private equity. At each firm that I've worked at throughout my career, I have made it a point to be heavily involved in the recruiting process and have conducted numerous interviews for a variety of roles. I have navigated the competitive landscape of investment banking & private equity and have successfully mentored numerous clients to secure positions at top firms. Whether you need help with resume building, interview preparation, or career strategy, I'm here to guide you every step of the way!

I’m Ajay Kilambi, a Wharton student pursuing a B.S. in Finance and an M.S. in Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania. I’ve worked across private equity and investment banking, focusing on healthcare and life sciences, and have gone through the entire recruiting process myself — from networking and technical prep to closing offers. I know how competitive and confusing recruiting can feel, and my goal is to make it clear, structured, and achievable. Whether you’re aiming to break into investment banking, refine your story, or master technicals, I bring real deal experience, insider perspective, and practical guidance to help you stand out and land the role you want.

I have recruited for both investment banking and undergraduate private equity summer roles, starting my recruiting journey at community college while transferring and navigating the challenges of being an asylee without permanent status. I understand the difficulties of recruiting with a GPA of 3.33, limited industry knowledge, being a diversity candidate, feeling uncertain about how to stand out, and dealing with others' uncertainty about you. I am pleased with being able to land a 2025 Summer Analyst role at Barclays NY. Currently, I am a current student at BYU, majoring in Finance with a minor in Computer Science. My focus is not solely on helping you find your ideal career path, but on identifying the firm that aligns with your values, aptitude, and skills, where you will thrive and shine. I encourage you to think long-term about your goals and guide you in recognizing how to achieve them by understanding the different options and their associated risks and rewards. If you're unsure whether I'm the right fit for you, schedule a free introductory call, and let's chat about figuring this out.

Welcome to my profile! I’m a Wharton graduate with an MBA from Harvard Business School and bring over 15 years of experience in finance. For the past decade, I’ve been at Warburg Pincus—a top-10 global private equity firm managing over $100 billion—where I’m currently a Principal. Throughout my career, I’ve interviewed hundreds of candidates and directly mentored dozens of Analysts, Associates, and Vice Presidents. I know firsthand what it takes to break into competitive finance roles and advance within them. You may have come across my “Comprehensive Finance Interview Guide,” which I originally wrote over a decade ago while preparing for my own private equity recruiting—just one of many resources I’ve created to help others land top roles. Whether you’re preparing for investment banking, private equity, or business school, I offer targeted coaching across resume development, mock interviews, technical prep, recruiting strategy, and more.

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 worked for two years at Morgan Stanley in the Tech Banking Group in NYC under Jeff Hoffmeister and Michael Grimes. I worked on a number of IPO and M&A opportunities and made a successful jump to a VC / GE job in NYC investing in Series A/B Tech companies

I am a Harvard MBA with Honors and was accepted out of UChicago as a 2+2 admit to HBS. I worked at Morgan Stanley out of college in the analyst program and became a Partner (Managing Director) for many years. I have coached investment banking for over a decade, and while I am new to Leland, I have coached over 1,000 candidates (I call them "coachees") into virtually all of the major investment banks, private equity, and venture capital firms. I coach internships and full time recruiting for undergraduates (from both target and non-target schools!), MBA recruiting, and also lateral candidates - transitioning from investment banking to private equity, for example, and on-cycle recruiting. My focus is on marketing collateral (resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn review), conducting outreach (using handshake and LinkedIn to reach recruiters), coaching behaviorals and technicals, and mock interviewing. The vast majority of my coachees receive offers!

I was an Investment Banking Associate at Goldman Sachs for four years (2018-2022), where I worked in both capital markets and the Consumer & Retail group. I am happy to help with resume reviews, technical skills and interview prep, as well as providing general advice on careers in the industry and how best to strategize the recruiting process. Whether you’re just starting out or preparing for specific roles, I’m here to offer personalized insights and strategies to support your career journey. Feel free to reach out to discuss how I can support you!

Entering the competitive world of investment banking requires more than just academic achievements—it requires strategic planning, adept networking, and targeted action. As someone who secured 2 bulge bracket internship offers, attended multiple super days with both bulge bracket and elite boutique firms, and received full-time investment banking offers, I understand the ins and outs of this intensive process. Beyond my personal achievements, I served as the Head of the Investment Banking Group in UNC's Finance Society, where I reviewed resumes and coached dozens of students on how to break into banking. Whether it's crafting an impressive resume, acing behavioral interviews, or mastering the art of networking, I will provide you with the tailored strategies that helped me and countless others succeed. Let's together navigate the demanding path toward a successful career in investment banking. I'm here to equip you with the tools, strategies, and confidence you need to stand out in this dynamic field.