From Public Sector to Private Equity at 35 — Harvard ALM Grad's Non-Traditional Path to High Finance

Hey WSO,

Just wanted to share a bit about my unconventional journey into high finance for those who might be considering a career pivot or wondering whether a non-traditional background can break into the industry.

In November 2024, I graduated from Harvard University Extension School with a Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Business Management. Prior to this, I spent my early career in the public administration sector, holding a string of low-level roles — fulfilling in their own right, but a far cry from the fast-paced, high-stakes world of private equity.

At 35, I made a bold decision to pivot into finance. I leveraged my graduate education at Harvard — where I was a finalist in the Harvard/MIT Case Competition and actively participated in Harvard Innovation Labs — to rebrand myself. The coursework, including Private Equity, Venture Capital, Hedge Funds, and Financial Accounting, gave me the foundation I needed to get in the door.

Being based in Connecticut, my proximity to New York City helped. I networked relentlessly and eventually landed a spot as an Associate/Intern at an Investment Bank that focuses on emerging markets. In just five months, I had the privilege to work with nine different entrepreneurs on everything from capital raising to due diligence and investment thesis development, spanning sectors like renewable energy, fintech, healthcare, and infrastructure across Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East​.

That intense hands-on exposure caught the attention of a startup private equity fund focused on high-growth real estate strategies. I was recruited to lead Capital Markets and Investor Relations, where I now help steer a $10M equity raise and underwrite horizontal land transactions. I'm now managing institutional LP communications, and executing real estate deals with IRRs in the 15–20%range​.

While the resume has come a long way, the path here was anything but traditional. No Ivy undergrad, no early stint at a BB or MBB. Just hustle, late nights, a lot of cold emails, and using every tool at my disposal — especially the credibility of a Harvard degree and strategic location near NYC.

If you're a mid-career professional looking to break in, know that it's not impossible. You just need to outwork the room, get smart with positioning, and never stop building.

Happy to answer questions for anyone considering a similar pivot.