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Simone J.

Simone Johnston

  • Columbia Business School Logo

    Columbia Business School

  • Lazard Logo

    Lazard

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Starting at 1:00 PM UTC

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About

I’m a second-year MBA student at Columbia Business School with a background in investment banking, private equity, and consulting. Before business school, I spent over four years at Goldman Sachs, where I was promoted to Associate, and have since gained experience at Lazard in Investment Banking and Three Ocean Partners in Private Equity. I also successfully navigated MBA recruiting across investment banking and private equity. I’m passionate about helping others navigate the MBA admissions and recruiting processes. Whether you're preparing your business school application, breaking into investment banking or private equity, perfecting your resume, or practicing technical and behavioral interviews, I can share practical advice from my own experiences. My goal is to make these processes feel less intimidating and help you put your best foot forward.

Why do I coach?

I coach because I know firsthand how competitive and intimidating investment banking recruiting can be, especially if you don't come from a traditional finance background or have an established network in the industry. Having spent over four years at Goldman Sachs and Lazard, I've experienced the recruiting process from multiple perspectives and understand what it takes to stand out. Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to have mentors who helped me navigate technical interviews, networking, and career decisions, and I want to pay that forward. I genuinely enjoy helping candidates build their confidence, strengthen their technical skills, and tell their stories in a way that resonates with interviewers. My goal is to make investment banking recruiting feel more approachable and help others land opportunities they may not have thought were possible.

Work Experience

Lazard Logo

Investment Banking Summer Associate

Lazard

May 2026 - Present

Building valuation analyses including DCF, comparable company, and precedent transaction frameworks used in deal team recommendations

Goldman Sachs Logo

Associate - Real Estate Banking

Goldman Sachs

June 2021 - September 2025

Interviewer

Advised institutional clients on real estate financing and capital markets transactions, including acquisition financings, refinancings, and securitizations across office, multifamily, and industrial assets and led a team of 3 analysts on underwriting, valuation, and pricing work supporting commercial real estate lending and securitization mandates

Education

Columbia Business School Logo

Columbia Business School

MBA, Finance

2025 - 2027

I am in my second year at Columbia Business School where I have successfully recruited for Investment Banking and Private Equity

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