Making Partner at H&F / KKR / TPG / BX

On this site it seems that everybody is 2 and out when it comes to MF PE programs, but I was wondering what it takes to make Partner? Would someone need to source a deal & execute alone to prove their capability?

6 Comments
 

Would someone need to source a deal & execute alone to prove their capability?

This question is so far outside of anything you should waste time thinking about. That's something most folks have to do at the SrASO/VP-level to be even considered contenders. The people who actually make it to MD/Principal at these places to even get the opportunity are 0.01% of people who go into PE. It takes all the same political maneuvering combined with excelling in execution that would be required to move up through any large institutionalized corporate environment.  

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion
 

Yes of course it's very hard, but would say it's easier to make partner in a more specific strategy like Credit/RE/Infra etc. than pure buyout. Looking at the past analyst classes (2010s) at my IB group, a lot of them are MDs or partners now at megafunds / other good funds, although my group is quite niche (Credit/RE/Infra focused)

 

It's never easy to make partner anywhere and arguably the hardest/near impossible at the places you've listed for the next few decades given how top heavy they are. This isn't a useful thought exercise because even if someone could give you a completely step by step detailed analysis of how to go from A to B, you're so young & early in your career it will be meaningless to anything you'll need to ever consider on the job or when picking a career path. 

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion
 

agree that it isn't really useful to think about -- I'm not OP. I just think there's something to be said about joining a strategy that has less competition (RE/Infra/Credit/Impact etc) and thus a higher probability (odds are still low obviously) of moving up 

 

Doesn't really exist. All of these areas have a ton of competition (or in Impact's place just suck). 

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion
 

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