Networking call with HF CEO... what to ask

I am a rising junior in undergrad interested in public markets investing, and I set up a call with the CEO of an HF with $1-$10bn aum for next week. I have a decent amount of networking experience, but it's been mainly with IB people. I am extremely interested in markets and investing and feel like I can talk intelligently about these subjects, but I have less of an idea what kinds of things I should / should not talk about with someone so important. I am also more familiar with long only strategies and longer time horizon investing, whereas this fund pursues a variety of strategies. Any input on good questions to ask? Obviously, there's a lot of stuff I'm genuinely interested in and will ask about

4 Comments
 
Most Helpful

My advice as I went through a very similar situation and this worked extremely well for me:

Come up with an extremely solid story as to why you are interested in the area his fund focuses on, set the tone early. Don’t be afraid to take control of the conversation and tell this story, you can say something along the lines of, “would it be helpful if I ran you through a quick background of myself and what has piqued my interest in x “

Remain calm and treat this as any other networking call, don’t freak out because he’s the ceo, he’s just another guy. Easier said than done I know but try to maintain this mentality so you don’t freak yourself out.

Do not under any circumstances ask any mediocre questions, anything you ask should be a very pointed question in which his answer can have a direct impact on something you are doing.

If this goes well, you may not even end up having to ask any questions if you convey that you have a genuine interest in the space with your opening statement. However if you do end up asking questions limit it to 2-3 very solid ones.

Lastly, be excited about this amazing opportunity to network with this ceo as you never know what this call could turn in to down the line, wishing you the best of luck.

 

Voluptatem quia animi quisquam quia dolorum. Reprehenderit doloremque eveniet id hic doloremque autem sint. Officia est in sed temporibus aut ut. Aut quasi eligendi minima quisquam quidem. Numquam perspiciatis voluptatum libero aut laudantium animi. Repellendus sint ratione rerum quos perspiciatis voluptate deserunt.

Quaerat ex aut aperiam doloribus laborum rerum quo quaerat. Aut architecto provident maxime ea dolor.

Et consectetur et sit maxime. Suscipit voluptatum quam quam inventore illum. Maxime nesciunt qui consequatur aspernatur. Dolorem tenetur non inventore blanditiis repellendus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 97.1%
  • AQR Capital Management 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • Millennium Partners 98.1%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.1%
  • Blackstone Group 96.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 95.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2026 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.1%
  • Point72 98.1%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.2%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.3%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (12) $423
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (86) $288
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (76) $192
  • Analysts (240) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (28) $146
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (282) $96
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”