Private Equity Coaches

I bring deep, hands-on experience from the world of private equity, having been a PE associate and then led and scaled PE-backed businesses as President and operator. I understand firsthand the recruiting process, the diligence required to evaluate opportunities, and the expectations PE firms have for top talent. With an MBA from Stanford, I’ve built my career navigating the intersection of finance, strategy, and operational leadership—skills I now use to help clients break into and thrive in private equity. My coaching blends insider knowledge of how PE firms think with practical, tactical guidance on resumes, interviews, case prep, and networking. Whether you’re a consultant or banker targeting the buy side, or a professional exploring a transition into PE-backed operating roles, I’ll help you position your story, sharpen your skills, and approach the process with confidence. Clients come away not just prepared for the mechanics of recruiting, but with the insight and judgment to stand out to firms seeking future leaders.

After my time at Bain & Co, I moved to an Operating Partner role in a large Private Credit fund, where I lead our distressed turnarounds (similar to a PE turnaround). I work with all teams internally - Credit, Portfolio Management, and Origination - to manage and turnaround key portfolio companies and drive EBITDA improvements. I have deep experience with Private Equity / Private Credit interviews and recruiting.

I successfully broke into private equity from a non-target school, where I learned firsthand that the traditional recruiting funnel doesn't work for everyone. I’ve navigated the process and can help you build your own playbook for breaking in, just as I did. My biggest value-add is helping you master the networking strategy that will get you in front of more decision-makers. We'll focus on targeted outreach and crafting messages that actually get responses. While I can cover the foundational technical concepts and conduct mock behavioral interviews, my primary focus is on empowering you to build a network and a resume that will be your greatest asset. I've successfully helped several others break into this competitive industry. I'm here to guide you through the critical early stages of networking and resume prep and am flexible on however I can support you throughout the rest of your job search.

Hi I'm Sharif! I'm a Wharton Undergrad who interned in middle market private equity last summer. In addition, I am very familiar with the summer analyst recruitment process at PE mega funds and had many final round interviews before choosing to sign a summer analyst offer with Houlihan Lokey in the Restructuring Group.

I spent 3 years working at Sylva (PE fund buying training / L&D firms) as an Operating Partner. I ran their Chief of Staff and BizOps Network businesses, growing them 40% YoY. I reported directly to the CEO / Managing Partner. I was brought into Sylva by way of acquisition; my company Upslope was a training firm for Operations professionals. I started a search fund, diligenced 100+ companies, acquired one, and have grown it 30% YoY. I am in the process of acquiring another company to bolt-on.

Leveraging over two decades in finance, including leadership roles at Principal Partners Capital Group and top firms like Bank of America and Deutsche Bank, I bring deep private equity and M&A expertise to my coaching. With 8,000+ hours training finance professionals, I specialize in guiding individuals to break into and excel in private equity. Whether you are looking to strengthen your LBO modeling skills or prepare to ace PE interviews, my approach centers on creating tailored learning plans for each session, ensuring you achieve your goals. Let's connect and strategize your path to success in Private Equity!

With an MBA from Harvard Business School and a career spanning top-tier investment banking and private equity shops, I bring firsthand insight into what it takes to succeed in the industry. I began my career at Lazard, where I built a strong foundation in M&A execution, before transitioning into private equity, where I’ve held investment roles at Siris Capital, BayHawk Capital, and Vantage Equity Partners. Over the course of my investing career, I’ve led multiple platform investments and executed dozens of add-on acquisitions across a range of industries and deal structures. Whether you're preparing for interviews, navigating the recruiting process, or thinking through career transitions, I bring a practical, investor-level perspective to help you differentiate and win.

I recruited directly into private equity from undergrad at Goldman Sachs and have gone through the on-cycle process.

With a robust background in private equity and strategic finance, I bring a wealth of experience to help you navigate the competitive landscape of private equity careers. As a former Private Equity Associate at Ara Partners, I worked on five portfolio companies and closed two platform investments in the energy / decarbonization sector, providing me with firsthand insights into the intricacies of the industry. My journey also includes roles at EIG (an infrastructure PE fund) and J.P. Morgan, where I honed my skills in energy infrastructure and investment banking. I am well-equipped to guide you through the nuances of private equity applications and interviews, especially if you have an engineering background. I am also a graduate of Harvard Business School (MBA) and Princeton University, and closely worked with the admissions team on crafting an overall admissions strategy. I'm happy to assist with business school or college applications and strategies to maximize your admission chances.

worked in advent and nexxus as analyst, associate and lead of investor relations and fundraising.