Thoughts on PE Break-in? Non-Traditional Finance Background, Any Insight Helps

Howdy all,

I am thinking about breaking into a PE investment associate role and would love to get any tips, insight, or thoughts on how I should go about it.

For context, I have an untraditional high finance path but my work ethic/grit has proven my success thus far.

I came from a non-target and networked my ass off for my MM summer analyst role. From there I secured a S&T analyst role (fixed & equity derivatives, spent about a year in both) for the same MM out of school. Around start of pandemic I made a leap to IB at another MM (Energy/Nat Res desk) and have now transitioned to 1st yr associate Corp Dev role for PE backed energy company (80% of my time is spent with the investment team, 20% is a mix of strategy/forecasting).

Given my somewhat unusual background, how competitive do you think my experience would stack up to, lets say, a traditional 2yr m&a BB grad? How do you think I should prep to have an edge? Should I get an mba? cfa? I'm open to all facets within PE (fund size, industry focus, etc.).

Although this is more a "just testing the waters" type of thinking, I'd eventually like transition to a full fledge PE role. I appreciate any of your thoughts/insight.

Stay well everyone