Public bio:
Current GP in emerging EU based VC.
Venture Partner at Tiburon-Munich based VC with 200+ investment track record & 2 unicorns.
Previous experience in Private Banking - JP Morgan (2 years), Citigroup (4 years - $1BN+ AUM, $3BN+ in Debt Portfolio)
Public bio:
- 25-year old finance professional with nearly 3 years of M&A investment banking experience.
- Strong experience in technical concepts related to corporate finance, accounting and valuation
- Sophisticated LBO, accretion/dilution, DCF and value creation modeling skills gained through robust deal work
Public bio:
Seiji Ishii: WSO Public Bio
About the mentor
- Senior Advisor at Fin Capital and Coalition Greenwich (CRISIL Group). This dual role is strategically focused on accelerating capital and cultural innovation within the Japanese financial industry, supporting Fin Capital's core investment theses in areas like Capital Markets Modernization and Next-Gen Infrastructure & Data.
- Global Financial Markets and Asset Management Leader with over 30 years of experience across Japan, Asia-Pacific, and global markets.
- Proven track record in strategic leadership, market entry, and revenue growth for top-tier financial institutions and investment managers, including London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), Acadian Asset Management, Millburn International, Wellington International Management, GAM Japan, and BlackRock / Merrill Lynch IM.
- Former Representative Director / Head of Japan at Coalition Greenwich, providing full strategic and operational leadership for the Japan business and advising on Investment Management, Global Markets, and Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) strategies.
- Previously served as Executive Ambassador (Part-Time) at Stanford Research Institute (SRI), driving Japan business development in fintech and AI consulting.
- MBA (Finance) from Stanford Graduate School of Business, USA.
- Member of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai), actively contributing to committees focused on Startup Promotion and Advanced Science & Technology Strategy, which informs advisory and investment work.
- Recognized as an industry speaker and thought leader at events by CFA Japan, S&P Global, and ISDA, with a focus on Japan's asset management and capital markets development.
Expertise
- Global Asset Management & Investment Strategy
- FinTech & Venture Capital
- Japan Market Entry & Strategic Consulting
- Capital Markets Modernization
- C-suite Network Building
Public bio:
- Former equity derivatives/quants strategist at J.P. Morgan Tokyo.
- Former senior equity analyst at Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
- Former convertible analyst at Merrill Lynch Tokyo.
- Former equity derivatives strategist at Barclays Securities in Tokyo.
- Ph.D. in physics (The University of Texas at Austin 1992).
Public bio:
Strategic Finance & Investment Expertise – Over 8 years of progressive experience in corporate finance, private equity, and real estate asset management, delivering consistent 10–12% annual portfolio growth and driving value creation across diverse investment portfolios. Proven Track Record in Value Enhancement – Spearheaded customized asset management strategies, achieving increase in NOI & significant portfolio valuation uplift; successfully executed the strategic sale of underperforming assets, unlocking $80 million in cost savings. Advanced Financial Planning & Analytical Acumen – Expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, competitive benchmarking, and risk assessment, supporting strategic decision-making and optimizing investment performance. Technology-Driven Operational Efficiency – Championed digital transformation initiatives, leveraging IoT and predictive analytics to enhance asset monitoring, achieving reduction in maintenance costs and improved lifecycle management. Private Equity & Transaction Advisory Experience – Strong background in deal structuring, valuation, and investor reporting, with exposure to M&A processes, IPO preparation, and VC fundraising (secured pre-seed funding at HealthySure). Stakeholder & Leadership Excellence – Recognized for exceptional stakeholder engagement and ability to communicate complex financial insights to senior leadership and investors, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and enhancing transparency. Global & Cross-Functional Exposure – Hands-on experience across multiple geographies (Hong Kong, India, international markets), collaborating with legal, finance, property management, and construction teams to execute capital projects and strategic initiatives. Strong Technical Proficiency – Skilled in Argus Enterprise, CoStar, Capital IQ, Bloomberg, Power BI, Tableau, SAP, and D365, with expertise in advanced financial modeling, data visualization, and compliance reporting.
Public bio:
Shavayiz Malik is a founder, quantitative researcher, and systematic trader with two successful exits and deep experience building financial infrastructure. He is currently Co-Founder & Head of Quantitative Research at Faraway. He also worked as a quantitative researcher at a leading frontier AI lab, focused on training and evaluating large-scale models for systematic trading, alpha discovery, and market reasoning. Previously, Shavayiz was Lead Quantitative Researcher & Developer at a US$2 billion hedge fund, where he architected The Bracket™ - North America’s first fully integrated issuer-services platform scaling it to more than 350 institutional clients and US$36 million in ARR. He also built several in-house trading systems that remain in production. Earlier in his career, he traded equity derivatives at a major Canadian investment bank, where he became one of the youngest associates on Bay Street to run his own US$5 million book after developing a systematic strategy. He also previously managed a discretionary long/short fund that grew to US$5 million in AUM and delivered a 25.6% annualized return with a 2.4 Sharpe ratio. Shavayiz holds degrees from Stanford University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and McMaster University, with academic training spanning engineering, computer science, AI/ML, and finance..
Public bio:
I'm a finance professional with a background in USD rates vol trading and a growing focus on fintech and alternative investments. Over the years, I’ve worked across trading, product, and strategy roles, gaining hands-on experience in market dynamics, risk, and innovation at the intersection of finance and technology. I’m passionate about helping the next generation navigate careers in finance, from breaking in to thriving on the job. Looking forward to sharing insights, offering practical guidance, and helping mentees succeed in this competitive industry.
Public bio:
From building a healthtech venture at 17, to exploring AI x hyperspectral imaging with ISRO, diving into debt investments, product strategy, corporate finance, and venture capital, I’ve spent the last decade navigating the tension between wanting to do everything and learning to channel that energy into building something with focus and meaning.
Now, that focus is to help finance teams stop wrestling with data and start making faster, smarter decisions.
Public bio:
George Wu is an investor, venture builder, and career strategist with over a decade of experience helping founders, professionals, and executives unlock their next stage of growth. Drawing on a career that spans venture capital, corporate innovation, and early-stage commercialization, George blends structured analytical thinking with practical coaching to help clients clarify their value, communicate their strengths, and design intentional, high-impact career paths.
As Head of Ventures at Disruptive Edge and Venture Partner at Spatial Capital, George has partnered with Fortune 500 executives, early-stage founders, and emerging investors to evaluate opportunities, accelerate venture growth, and navigate pivotal career and business decisions. Previously, he led venture programs at Dalhousie University and Koru LP (the venture studio of the $269B AUM Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan), where he guided teams from idea validation to investor readiness, coaching dozens of professionals transitioning into entrepreneurship or new leadership roles.
With an MBA from Ivey Business School and a BSc in Commerce from the University of Virginia, George brings a deep understanding of both strategy and personal growth. His coaching philosophy combines strategic clarity, self-awareness, and storytelling—empowering clients to present their authentic narrative with the same rigor and confidence that investors expect from founders.
Today, George helps ambitious professionals redefine their career trajectory, whether breaking into venture capital, pivoting into innovation roles, or positioning themselves for leadership in fast-evolving industries.
Public bio:
- Current Investment Banking Associate at Leading Spanish investment bank, leading and coordinating M&A transactions across F&B, healthcare, energy, industrials, tech, and retail sectors with +10 closed deals succesfully
- Previous Investment Professional at energy transition PE fund, focused on sustainable infrastructure investments with over €2.1Bn in deployed capital
- +3 years experience as Investment Banking Analyst in leading Spanish investment banks
- MSc in Finance from IE Business School
- BSc in Business Administration from University of Navarra
- CFA Level I passed
- Native Spanish and bilingual English
- Enthusiastic traveler, two-time marathon runner, hiker (summited Kilimanjaro), pianist, and avid skier
Frequently Asked Questions
Can’t find an answer? Please send an email to [email protected]
The WSO mentor service runs at a very slight profit (~5-10% net margin) in order to help motivate amazing professionals to provide great (free) advice in the forums (many mentors have green "mentor" buttons next to their usernames) which strengthens the entire WSO community. Luckily, there is a surprising number of elite professionals within the WSO community that love giving back to motivated candidates. We also recently automated the mentor matching with an algo that helps reduce the manual work needed on the backend should a requested mentor not be available. Prices range from as low as $57 up to $997 depending on the package you purchase and the mentor you select. Given the success of our service and the number of repeat clients we have, we know that we can afford to run on thin profit margins and serve thousands of applicants. We also know that many of you will follow the advice of our mentors and invest in additional courses and/or services from WSO.
After checking out, your request will immediately be sent to the mentor you selected. You will be expected to fill our some basic information (location, industry preference, etc) along with upload a Word version of your resume in order to help the mentor decide if they feel like they are a great match. As soon as they accept (usually within ~9-12 hours), an email will be sent making an introduction. Your mentor will introduce him/herself and then proceed to review your current resume and/or offer times when you can connect for a mentor session. Over the following days, you will schedule a time that is mutually convenient for you initial phone call to go over what you need help with (mock interview, career consultation and/or both). If you would like to continue with this mentor, you can schedule more hours anywhere from 1 hour to 3+ hours with him/her over the following weeks & months.
Typically the match happens within 12hrs. If your preferred mentor has not responded within 9 hours or they indicate they can't take you on as a mentor, we will notify other top mentors that have the most in common with the mentor you selected (based on our matching algo). These backup mentors will indicate to you if they are available and you have the choice to move forward with one of them, get a refund or wait longer for your preferred mentor. If for whatever reason we cannot match you in time and/or there are no mentors that are available that you'd like to work with, we will refund your purchase in full, no questions asked.
We have an incredible team of 1,000+ dedicated mentors across top firms all around the world. Our #1 goal is to make sure you are placed in the hands of the most competent and detail-oriented professional in your specific target industry. This coupled with our strict process ensures a smooth and thorough experience. Why do we use actual professionals? The answer is simple: they are the ones ACTUALLY SCREENING APPLICATIONS for their own firms! They know what it takes to make it out of the trash pile and into the interview pile. On top of this, since we have been doing mentor sessions for over a decade across THOUSANDS of clients, we are able to immediately identify a top mentor and feed them more clients to ensure happy customers like you (due to our strict screening process). Our team includes investment bankers at all the top bulge brackets and elite boutique banks as well as private equity, hedge fund and VC professionals at the most prestigious funds. We also have reviewers at the top management consulting firms in the world, elite prop trading firms, top corporate finance roles as well as other related finance careers.
Usually these are all self-limiting beliefs, but if you're unsure if we are a good match for you, please send us a quick email to [email protected] and we can send over some bios if we think there might be a potential good match for you.
Too Young / Too Inexperienced: We do NOT recommend our mentor service until you at least have at least some relevant WORK experience that we can leverage. For the young clients out there, this means an internship, ideally in your target or related industry. If you are still in high school, it is unlikely that you have this experience. The earliest we'd recommend doing a mentor session is early freshman or early sophomore year as you prepare for summer internship recruiting. If you have no relevant experience then it probably doesn't make sense to sign up for the service. Our mentors are amazing, but they aren't magicians. If you tell us you really want to be in Investment Banking or Private Equity (for example) and everything in your background points to law or medicine, it's going to be an uphill battle. On the other hand, if you have unrelated experience but you have started the transition process by taking relevant classes and joining relevant clubs and associations, we'd love to work with you. You may not be the most competitive candidate, but we will highlight the most relevant education and functions at your current job that would translate well across industries.
Too Old / Too Experienced: We DO recommend our mentor service for more experienced professionals that are looking to make a transition or have an interview coming up. We have several very senior mentors that can answer the tough questions and make sure you are up to date on the latest trends in your target industry. However, before you move forward, we encourage you to give yourself an honest assessment. If you are looking to make the transition and have not made any steps outside of considering this mentor program, you probably aren't ready. If you've taken steps (education, new degrees, courses, etc) and feel like you're ready, we're on board and eager to help!
Yes, but if you have a negative attitude you are unlikely to have success. If you think a mentor session is an automatic referral, please don't bother to hire us.
Yes, our mentors often do refer our clients for open positions at their firms (over 20%), however, this should not be asked of our mentors to avoid a conflict of interest and it should not be expected as part of the service. It is up to you to impress the mentor if this is your goal, however, we believe you can gain much more out of the experience by being honest about your weaknesses and concerns with the mentor so there can be an open dialogue on how to improve your chances.
The only discounts are for larger packages and more hours purchased at once. This is an incredibly labor intensive 1-on-1 service using finance professionals that typically make well over $200/hr and are doing this primarily to give back.
This is a personal question and the answer is naturally subjective. If you are serious about landing a job in investment banking, private equity, hedge funds, trading, asset management, management consulting or any other competitive industry, it's more than likely that the answer to that question is a resounding "YES".
Career services advisers at your school are not screening applications for interviews...neither are your classmates. If you do happen to have a friend in the industry, are they going to take the hours necessary to give you a realistic mock interview? Odds are that their time is limited outside the office and if they do give you some guidance, it won't be as thorough as our expert mentors. If you look at the competitive nature of recruiting nowadays, why would leave your application up to chance when many of these jobs pay well over $100,000?
Join the 1,000+ candidates just like you who have already used the WSO Mentor Service
If you’re reading this, you’re here for a reason: because you want to be one of the very few who gets an an elite job and because you need help doing it. The choice really is yours. And your opportunity really is limited.
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