Middle East SWF --> M7 MBA --> HF?

I've been offered a place at a SWF in Abu Dhabi, possibly the largest there, after working with an MBB firm for 2.5 years. This was purely a result of networking and sharing with acquaintances. Consulting was my plan B to begin with tbh, doubly so in the middle east, considering my school wasn't that great in Europe. The fund is going to be heavily into distressed debt for the region given the anticipated currencies fall & foreign capital exodus, so this is a good chance to get macro exposure as well.

I don't know if it's feasible but I'm thinking I take the offer, apply for an M7 MBA after 2-3 years, then land HF from there? Could this possibly work or do I have to do a MF PE first?

For what it's worth I completed the CFA charter.

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Definitely possible. Heck if I were you I'd network tremendously in Abu Dhabi, and might just go straight to starting my own HF there skipping the M7 MBA.

Lots of money in that region & SWF experience at the end of the day is direct investing experience (I'm assuming you have a FO type role)

HFs tend to be very meritocratic, so if you can prove you deserve a spot, you will get one irrespective of whether you did MF PE or not.

I never did MF PE or IB, was able to pitch my way to a HF internship which ultimately ended up converting into a full time gig. I was also able to land a VC internship via networking & no my dad was not an LP at either firm, or knew anyone there for that matter.

It's all possible, at least in my experience there doesn't seem to be a cookie cutter route to the HF world. 

 

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