Sourcing/BD → execution in PE — realistic path or pipe dream

Looking for outside perspective, ideally from people who’ve either made this jump or watched others try.

Current situation: I’m in a business development / deal sourcing role at a lower middle market PE fund, outside of NYC. I’ve had ambitions to move into an execution seat — actual deal work (modeling, diligence, structuring), not sourcing/relationship-driven work. I also want to move to NYC, ideally sooner rather than later.

I recently got an offer for an SAE-type sales role at a growth-stage startup, based in NYC, with a significant comp bump (base + OTE well above what I make now, plus equity). It would get me to NYC almost immediately, and it’s the kind of BD-heavy work I’d probably be good at and enjoy day to day.

Here’s my actual question: is the BD-to-execution jump in PE realistic at all without going back for an MBA or lateraling through IB first? Or is that path mostly a fantasy people tell themselves while doing sourcing work? If it’s genuinely a long shot from where I sit, I’d rather just take the sales job, bank the money, get to the city I want to live in, and stop treating “eventually get into execution” as a real plan.

Curious if anyone here has made that jump from a sourcing/BD seat, or has seen it happen — and if so, what it actually took. And if it’s basically not happening without a materially different resume, I’d rather hear that straight than keep chasing it.

Appreciate any honest takes.