Quitting before my 3rd year of consulting: How should I spend my year before my 2020 PE Associate gig?

Hi all. I'm starting at a large PE firm in summer 2020 and I want to do something other than my third year of consulting before then. Here is what I am thinking:

  • Work at an impact investing group until then (area of personal interest, have offer)

  • Work as a Chief of Staff (Series A-B, area of personal interest, no offer yet, preferred) or Co-Founder/early employee (not ideal) of a startup

  • Work in a mid-level capacity in one of this or next year's batch of IPO growth companies (e.g., WeWork) (semi-ideal, would rather "roll up my sleeves")

  • Stay in consulting in order to reap title increases to help business school chances (not ideal, hate my company)

  • Other option that I am not thinking of but are acceptable paths to take before starting 3rd year gig (e.g., no dropping off the face of the earth option)

On one hand, impact investing is cool and will help my story if I ever want to get in the space. On the other hand, investing is investing, I'm doing that next year, and getting startup experience would be pretty unique.

Thoughts?

6 Comments
 

I would pursue option 2 or 3. It will give you much needed insight into how companies really work, which should come in handy in your PE gig.

“Self-control is strength. Right thought is mastery. Calmness is power. ” - James Allen
 

Firm was ok with it, and I found others at other firms who have done similarly in case anyone stumbles on this thread in the future and is wondering how it panned out.

 

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