Can I move straight to MD in IB or Partner in PE after being an acquired CEO?
In early 2020, my company and my share was bought out by a Big Tech firm and for the last 3 years I’ve been running the transition to the company until all my stock was vested. It is now. I have no intention at staying at this company climbing the ladder as I am not extremely confident in it’s long-term sustainability.
Is it possible to move straight to an MD or Partner at a fund with over 50bn-100bn AUM? I heard Rothschild brought on Emanuel Macron as an MD after he graduated and only worked 3 years in Frances equivalent to the US Federal Reserve. I’m in the US so I didn’t know if that was possible here and was curious. I’m 26 and don’t particularly feel like retiring as of yet and would prefer to stay in NYC so a little income on the side would be nice. However, after running a tech company for going on 7 years now I feel like I’m past the grunt work of industry and would be more qualified to source deals or run at least a couple desks.
Not sure about those huge funds, but smaller banks surely will. I'm a middle market tech bank that has 3 MD's who all skipped the bitchwork and were C-suite on huge IT companies
My thought as well. Are you referencing a MM or EB though?
Unfortunately neither, is a lower middle market regional bank with roughly 10-15M in fees and around 15 employees. It's a great WLB as it's a M-F 8-5 with MDs taking many virtual days, but not sure if it's what you were looking for.
If you have an incredible network and are able to source billion dollar deals, yeah. Otherwise don't compare yourself to Macron lol
I don't see large cap/MF being "little outcome on the side" anyway so maybe a tech senior advisor would fit you better
Macron was still in school at the same age I spearheaded a successful exit and transition into a F500 company. did I get lucky, probably. Still have done more than he has at my age. My bag ain’t much smaller than his being 16 years younger.
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It's not about the size of the accomplishment necessarily, its the network you can offer to an investment bank. Can you consistantly bring deals for the firm or close them. How strong is your network from your time in tech? Macron was most likely given MD title due to the nepo network he had to offer from a firm perspective, him being Co-Prince of Andorra and all.
Then leverage your connections to become a MD?
Man you don't realize what "ENA" is (the grad school he went to). Basically in France it gives you as much network as all the Ivy combined as most of them end up either at top administrative roles (and France is HIGHLY administrative) or at C-position out of school. He advised on one of the largest 2012 deal in France and became president in the following election. So with all due regards, I don't think that saying you cannot compare to him is an insult.
You might be able to originate super deals and all, we don't know you so who knows, but the simple fact that you have to ask on a forum let us think that you are not fit for it as of right now. GL if you try to follow his path though, would be fun
You sound insufferable
16 years younger? Please. To be on Macron's level you gotta think bigger, like maybe 24 years younger
I think VC makes more sense / is more doable than banking or PE
VC is too much of a dead end career in my opinion and doesn’t provide very much value add or teach anything. Ideally I was hoping to do some kind of Rx work to get a better idea how to strip companies apart. I’m thinking of just walking into one of these EBs and seeing if they’ll give me the job.
If you want to be taught then you should apply to a summer analyst program instead of begging for an MD spot
You should grab coffee with VC people in your network and discuss being an X-in-residence. Have seen operators in residence at a handful of funds and it seems popular with successful founders. Appears they just opine on portfolio companies and opportunities where they have expertise. You could also do some writing and deal sourcing for a big VC or growth shop that targets your specific vertical. a16z and other similar funds publish a ton of content nowadays.
I can’t stand VC but appreciate the sentiment. A lot of the firms and workers rubbed me the wrong way during my Series A & B
Do you mind sharing a little more on your background and what company you sold, or at least generally what service it provided within tech?
Why are you going into being a fund manager from a tech startup?
To leverage myself to take over as a CEO for a Fortune 50 company in like a decade or so. Full mastery of corporate finance, operations, software development, and expansive network in various industries.
I knew someone who was IB Associate then went corp dev manager then worked his way up to be EVP and then OpCo CFO then become another company Chief Development Officer and just recently became MD at a PE fund. Think he is around 45. He was CFO/CDO for maybe 5 years and before that was VP etc level.
Dude if you are this confident, just try it. No point asking internet strangers unless you desperately require validation from others.
The world is your oyster.
I am happy to share my experience. Long story short, I came out of industry after 10 years and joined a MM IB sector team. I had zero banking experience but was brought on as a VP 1. This was a big step back in pay and while I had a strong network from my past and was able to contribute to deal sourcing from day one, I really needed to build up my banking skillset. While I did finance my whole career, I underestimated how many deal reps you need to feel comfortable running deals as a senior banker. The run has been amazing so far and am now a Partner. It took about 5 years to go from VP1 to Partner which is fairly quick and I really think the industry knowledge put me in a great place to succeed. I think more banks need to think about this type of profile but it's very uncommon even at my firm. I say go for it!
The people who can don't ask on WSO
Very unlikely at age 26 - maybe if the bank/PE firm buys you out and you stay to run the company from within, but no one is going to let a 26 year old quarterback deals or "run desks" (also, appealing for a partner role while also not being sure about IB or S&T is kind of proving the point here). And honestly even if a bank did take you on, clients are simply not going to be amused by a guy 30 years their junior trying to sell their $40B company or execute huge deals. This is all just not how it works in a very traditional, "do your time at each level" industry. IB is stuck in the dark ages in some ways and this is one.
I think you are honestly being naive about the value you will provide to a big bank, to the point I'm wondering if this is a troll post.
I'd stay in startup land, seems like you don't like VC but maybe join a unicorn or start another company
https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/how-did-macron…
Just read it and you will understand why many of the forum don’t find that comparison apt.
IB MD, possible but not likely. Try some boutiques. Or maybe some sizeable banks will give you a shot at whatever level they have before MD.
PE Partner, even less likely. Again, unless we're talking LMM, in which case there's just so much variance it is impossible to say what is possible.
Now, VC on the other hand... honestly, if it were 2021 I'd say it was very much reasonable for you to try to land a VC partner role. Times are tough right now so maybe just ride it out where you are. But when the economy recovers, go ahead, shoot your shot. You'll have even more experience by then, and there will be plenty of funds willing to give a successful founder a chance.
These TROLL posts are getting better and better and WSO folks keep falling for them. I’m now motivated to create one myself lol
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