My first call with Natasha was enough for me to feel a strong connection to PGP.

What stood out immediately was the approach. Unlike traditional programs that rely on pressure or urgency to drive decisions, PGP focused on building confidence, ensuring that I did not feel lost or isolated throughout the recruiting process.

The candidate started with no background in finance. From there, she secured a Sophomore Program at a leading European investment bank, progressed into a top-tier private equity internship, and received a return offer.

Ultimately, she made the decision to turn down the buy-side and pursue Credit Suisse IBD, a transition that reflects a meaningful shift in both capability and conviction.

This journey was built on two key elements: developing confidence and refining direction. Through multiple internships, she was able to understand her own interests, rather than following a predefined path. In today’s recruiting environment, that level of clarity is rare. We are proud to have her as part of PGP.

Disclaimer: Certain details, including past internships and academic institutions, have been anonymized to protect candidate privacy.

I studied at a university with a strong finance culture, where recruiting was both highly visible and intensely competitive. Like many others, I entered the process without a clear sense of why I was doing it.

I had not taken formal finance courses, nor did I have a background that exposed me to the industry early on. After being rejected by multiple finance and business-related student organizations, I began to question whether I was suited for this path at all. At that point, confidence was low.

Through a close friend’s recommendation, I scheduled a call with Natasha. I still remember the feeling after that conversation: clarity, energy, and a renewed sense of direction. For the first time, I realized that hesitation and overthinking were not going to change anything. Execution would. Within 30 minutes, my mindset shifted.

After discussing with my family, I joined PGP’s Unlimited Program. I was assigned two mentors, one focused on behavioral development, the other on technical training. The initial assessment was straightforward:
my lack of confidence stemmed from insufficient technical depth.

As a result, my training plan prioritized technical development early. I attended two to three sessions per week. Within just over a month, I had built a foundation across modeling, stock pitching, and asset allocation.

Around that time, I attended a campus event and met a COO from a leading European investment bank. The conversation went well. The fit was natural.

He referred me to a Sophomore Program. After multiple rounds of interviews, I received the offer.

Looking back, that outcome was closely tied to the technical preparation I had completed. Within a short period, I had gone from no exposure to finance to being competitive within my peer group.

Following that, I interned in Private Banking at a leading European investment bank.

During the internship, I realized that asset management was not the right fit for me.

Compared to portfolio allocation and investment advisory, I found myself more interested in how capital is structured and deployed in the primary market.

At that point, Natasha connected me with a mentor at Blackstone. Under his guidance, I developed a strong understanding of LBO modeling. I began applying to private equity roles, going through multiple rounds of interviews, including modeling tests and full-team evaluations.

Thanks to repeated mock interviews, I was able to approach these processes with confidence. Eventually, I secured an off-cycle internship at a top-tier private equity firm. At that stage, I felt a strong sense of achievement. From having no background in finance to working in private equity during university, the progression was significant.

During the internship, I applied what I had learned in training directly to my work. The feedback was strong, and I was given a clear indication that a full-time return offer was likely. However, over time, my perspective evolved. The private equity investment cycle is long, often spanning five to ten years. As someone at the beginning of my career, I found it difficult to evaluate decisions on that time horizon.

More importantly, I realized that I wanted to build a strong investment track record, one that is grounded in repeated execution and deal experience. That led to a decision.

I chose to turn down the return offer and pivot toward investment banking. I believed the sell-side would provide a more intensive training environment, with exposure to multiple transactions, stronger execution experience, and a solid foundation for long-term investing.

After a full semester in private equity, my technical foundation was solid. However, buy-side and sell-side interviews assess different dimensions. I returned to structured preparation, refining my resume and working through behavioral questions repeatedly with my mentor.

Over the course of two months, I completed the process and secured an offer for the Credit Suisse IBD Summer Internship Program in Hong Kong.

This recruiting journey has been a period of significant growth. I now have a much clearer understanding of financial markets, but I also recognize that this is only the beginning. My goal is to become a disciplined investor, to continue improving, and to build a track record I can stand behind.

Finally, I would like to thank Natasha and all the mentors who supported me throughout this process. That support, consistent, structured, and direct, made this level of growth possible.