Software Engineer to Growth Equity
I'm a current Software Engineer at FB/Google with four years of experience hoping to move to growth equity. I want to move primarily because I feel like I've topped out on what an engineer can make, and I would like to take more ownership on the company-building side of the table without taking on the risk of being a startup operator. I'd also like to increase my compensation ceiling. I also generally like writing arguments and presenting ideas more than writing code, or writing about the technical details for the design of some new service.
I'm not sure how to make this transition happen. Without revealing too much, I went to a top 5 CS school where I majored in CS/Math and had above a 3.5. I'm taking the GRE now with an idea of applying to HSW just to see how it goes. Does going to an MBA make the most sense given the financial burden, or does even applying to an investment banking analyst program make more sense? Would the compensation be significantly better (including carry) than working at FAANG and trying for L6/E6?
What is the compensation level at L6/E6 at FAANG? After MBA, you will most likely be a post-MBA senior associate which typically gets you close to $300K - $350K of base + cash bonus excluding carry typically on average.
I'm making about 400k now. Getting to L6/E6 takes 2-3 years from here. The bumps are usually not dramatic since in tech, you should be building up to the next promotion gradually over years of working. You'll get to something like 500-600k at G/F.
I think you are better off staying where you are. You will have a lower comp coming out of a MBA program than where you are today $400K, which is competitive with mid-level finance professional in IBD / Buyside. The lifestyle would also be much worse in finance than at FAANG, typically running 80 - 90 hours with work on the weekends. Career risk is also much higher in finance. Frequent layoffs in IBD and fund closures on the buyside.
My understanding is that growth equity would have higher upside in the long term and more reasonable hours than banking. Personally, I'm someone who likes having more work to do because I'm not one to have too many hobbies and only have a few friends.
What’s long term goal? Run a start-up/manager role at a tech company?
I think lots of growth equity people see that as the long-term role. The GE investing space is really crowded these days, so it’s much harder to do well there.
I do want to have a broader view within a technology organization than "the guy who writes code" or even the CTO, since I find the strategic aspects of running a tech company far more interesting. Product Management can be a good transition, but it's constrained to a single product in a single company/vertical and doesn't give you a broad view of many different aspects of the tech landscape. VC just seems like shooting ideas with money/funding science projects/etc. I want to feel like I can get consistent wins in my job.
I think the long term would be joining the C-suite at a mid-stage tech company or get to partner at the investment firm I'm at.
What are the economics of being C-suite at a mid stage growth company? How would they compare to something like growth equity partner?
Aliquid cupiditate error delectus sequi labore repellendus debitis. Accusamus unde dolorem et corrupti incidunt et provident. Tempore iste ut quibusdam accusamus. Et facilis numquam sint nihil enim non eos. Est velit eveniet libero fugit est.
Dolor sit quisquam nihil magni et enim minus est. Ea ad recusandae officia porro sunt iusto aut. Laudantium ipsum commodi ipsa et impedit repellendus alias est. Nesciunt nulla reiciendis ullam similique dolorem enim. Officia eveniet et totam dignissimos veritatis esse.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...