I saw someone post a Q&A on here before about this timeline. It was really helpful. I was wondering how many others had the same experience and how realistic this timeline is.
BB --> MM PE --> M7 --> Megafund
I don't know why this would be considered "impossible." Sure, this is very difficult, but with enough networking and killing it during your BB and MM PE years, I don't see why this can't be a possible route for some people.
From my knowledge, moving around in PE isn't easy and can raise questions - i.e. if you begin searching for something else after you just moved to the MM PE, then why not wait for carry? There will be lots of questions - be prepared. I'd say that this is a v. difficult timeline to execute.
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People will want to know why did you move to M7 after just 2 years? Most move to PE to make the carry...
Also, M7 would not guarantee a spot at the Mega Fund. So there is a chance you will lose carry at the MM PE and then not get into the Mega Fund. What will you do then?
Nothing is ever impossible, but there are structural issues within the industry that makes the path that you outline very unlikely.
The distribution of professionals across levels within any given PE firm is an hourglass with a large base and very skinny middle. That means that there is significant attrition at the MBA level (ie. there are way more pre-MBA positions than there are post-MBA). It's pretty common for PE funds to give return offers to their best associates so their post-MBA classes are generally pretty full 2 years in advance and they won't recruit at the MBA level (aside from diversity initiatives).
So you have a dynamic where not only MFs don't really hire much, but you also have to compete for the few open positions with a ton of former MF associates didn't get a return offer from their previous firm but who generally all place at H/S. It's also much harder to get into processes when you don't attend HSW. As such, it's way more typical for MBA grads to move down (ie. going to a smaller fund) than to move up. Generally speaking, PE is an industry where it's incredibly hard to trade up.
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