I am not a natural. I do not come from a finance background. What I have is the result of two years of consistent effort. Looking back, joining PGP was one of the most important decisions I made.

Before joining PGP, my technical foundation was limited. What I did have was clarity. I knew I wanted to break into investment banking. Given that North America recruiting largely takes place during sophomore spring, my preparation was structured over a six-month period. During that time, I worked through accounting, financial modeling, and market analysis in a systematic way. At the same time, I was trained on networking, focusing not just on outreach, but on how to build meaningful conversations and expand my exposure to the industry.

During sophomore spring, I focused heavily on behavioral preparation, targeting opportunities in New York. However, without diversity-related advantages, I was not able to convert those opportunities. At that point, I pivoted toward Hong Kong recruiting.

By junior year, interview invitations began to come in. By then, I had already gone through a significant number of mock interviews. The process no longer felt unfamiliar. Execution became more controlled. In the end, I secured Morgan Stanley IBD. The outcome was not immediate — but it was earned.

Q: What was your reaction when you received the offer?

A: Very positive, though not entirely unexpected. The interviews had gone well, and I had a sense that I had performed at the required level.

Q: What did you take away from this recruiting cycle?

A: This process made one thing clear: Effort compounds. The level of competition is high. There are many strong candidates. I do not consider myself the most naturally gifted, so my approach was straightforward: invest more time, build depth, and repeat the process. A significant portion of my time was spent refining technical knowledge and going through repeated mock interviews. One advantage of PGP is the ability to iterate continuously. If you are willing to invest the time, the structure allows for sustained improvement.

Q: Why IBD?

A: IBD provides direct exposure to how capital is structured and deployed. Working across transactions accelerates learning, and the range of exit opportunities remains broad. It is a strong foundation.

Q: IBD hours are known to be demanding, how do you think about that?

A: It is part of the role. Preparation matters, both physically and mentally. The environment is intense, but that is also what drives the pace of learning.

Q: Why did you choose PGP?

A: The initial interaction made the difference. Natasha’s approach was direct and structured. It created confidence early on. More importantly, the process was not isolating. Beyond training, there was consistent support, particularly during periods of pressure. That helped maintain stability throughout the cycle.

Q: Did you have concerns before joining?

A: Yes. Compared to more established platforms, PGP had a lower profile in terms of marketing. There were also initial questions around scale and experience. However, after understanding the track record, multiple recruiting cycles and mentors with both industry and training experience, those concerns were resolved.

Q: What would you say to candidates still preparing?

A: This process rewards consistency. Shortcuts may exist, but they are not reliable. In the long run, disciplined preparation is what translates into results.