Investment Banking Coaches, Events, and Resources

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.

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.

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.

Hi, this is Shawn! I graduated from the McCombs School of Business at UT Austin with my Bachelor’s degree in Canfield Business Honors & Finance and got admitted to several M7 programs including the Wharton School. Having diverse financial services experience at Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, I am happy to help with resume reviews, technical skills and interview prep, as well as provide general advice on careers in the industry and how best to strategize the recruiting process across areas like Investment Banking, Finance & Business Management, Global Markets, and Product Strategy & Transformation. 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!

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.

Welcome to my profile! I'm Milton Parra, a Vice President at Author Capital Partners, a Chicago-based lower middle market private equity firm. With a background in investment banking and private equity, I have extensive experience advising and investing across the capital structure. I have worked on a range of corporate transactions and sectors, honing my expertise in M&A and restructuring. I am passionate about helping aspiring students and young professionals navigate the competitive landscape and achieve their career goals, whether in private equity or investment banking. Whether you need guidance on networking, interview preparation, or breaking into the industry, I'm here to provide personalized coaching and support. Let's connect and discuss how I can help you succeed.

I started out as a history major with no formal finance training—and I know exactly how daunting investment banking recruiting can feel when you’re not the “typical” candidate. But with the right preparation, I built the skills, learned how to tell my story, and went into recruiting with confidence. The result: I landed offers from every bank I interviewed with, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, and PJT Partners. Now, as a coach, I help others do the same. I work with candidates from all backgrounds to sharpen their resumes, master technicals step by step, and practice interviews until they feel ready for anything. Having also interviewed candidates for superdays, I know exactly what firms are looking for—and how you can stand out. My goal is to help you approach recruiting with the structure, preparation, and confidence you need to succeed.

As an incoming investment banking analyst at Raymond James and a Finance Student Career Coach at Brigham Young University, I specialize in guiding students through the competitive investment banking recruiting process. With hands-on experience from roles at Crewe Capital, Cimarron Healthcare Capital, and Headline Venture Capital, I bring a wealth of industry knowledge to my coaching. I've successfully coached 25+ individuals, providing services such as mock interviews, resume refinement, and networking strategies. Whether you're just starting your journey or need targeted advice, I'm here to help you break into the world of investment banking. Let's connect and craft a personalized plan for your success.

I’m qualified to coach because I’ve successfully navigated multiple competitive recruiting processes and made deliberate career moves across top-tier firms and I know how to teach that process to others. I began my career in FIG investment banking at UBS, receiving a return offer from the NYC summer analyst program and spending 1.5 years as a full-time analyst. I then transitioned to Hunter Point Capital, a private equity firm focused on GP stakes and NAV-based credit, where I completed a two-year associate program. Most recently, I joined Evercore as an experienced investment banking associate, following a targeted and efficient lateral process. Across these roles, I’ve earned offers from strong firms in both investment banking and private equity, which has given me a clear, practical understanding of how recruiting actually works - not just technically, but strategically. I’ve been on both sides of the table, including serving as an Evercore Superday interviewer, and I regularly help candidates refine resumes, master technicals, prepare for LBO and case interviews, and develop compelling behavioral narratives. My coaching focuses on helping people move through recruiting effectively and efficiently, avoiding wasted effort, focusing on what truly matters, and positioning themselves to win offers, because that’s exactly what I’ve done myself.

Break into investment banking with a coach who has done it from a non-traditional background. I worked in IB at J.P. Morgan and later returned to startup banking, advising hundreds of founders on the financial structures, relationships, and positioning that matter most in high-growth environments. I help career changers translate their experience into IB language, navigate the recruiting process, and prepare for technical and behavioral interviews.