Best Conversations You've Had With Bankers?
What are some of the best informal conversations you've had with bankers at networking events, information sessions, informational interviews, or other events?
Personally, I met a banker at a networking event last year who was a huge Chicago White Sox fan, just like me, so we talked about the White Sox for over an hour.
What stories do you guys have? Any conversation topics or mutual interests that have led to great conversations and meaningful connections?
I have a very interesting story of meeting a banker in an informal setting! After a lovely Italian dinner at Rosebud's, I was getting ready to leave the restaurant when a stranger came up to me with my wallet, which I had unknowingly dropped. After profusely thanking him, I struck up a conversation with him and it turns out he worked at Deutsche Bank. We connected over many shared interests and he gave me a lot of advice about the field in our long conversation. We also exchanged contact information; although I have not reached out to him as of yet it is nice knowing that I have the option to.
There was this elderly gentleman I met while hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It was only after I had complained to him about sore muscles, altitude sickness, bugs and heat for half an hour that I found out he was a banker from NY. Needless to say I was too embarrassed to even think about "meaningful connections".
Do you remember his firm, or initials....
Do remember the firm. Just feel awkward about looking him up as this was a few years back.
"You're hired"
Not a conversation, but a fellow classmate of mine was wasted and met an equally wasted VP from Deutsche Bank in a club in London. My friend got his card and they met for a coffee. Pretty good way to meet a potential analyst
That is very funny, indeed. Did the friend benefit from this acquired connection in any way or reach out to him again after the coffee?
In the short-term I don't know, but that summer he got a PE internship instead of IB so probably not (this happened in November)
.
I was interning in a city away from home and cold emailed an MD I found on LinkedIn. Two weeks later he emailed me back and we had a very nice 2 hour dinner. The whole conversation was honest and genuine, just a really fun guy to hangout with. Very insightful as well.
Had a Monday morning interview for an IB position in a Midwest city. Hadn't seen my friend in said city in quite some time, so we went out on Sunday night, which turned into a complete shit show. Became obliterated drunk, and my friend took me home and set my alarm for me. First and only time ever I woke with puke on my pillow, which I know is fucking stupid of me.
Had multi-round, in-person interviews that day, and the first included breakfast. I could not chew breakfast for the life of me because my mouth was bone dry. Pretty sure my eyes were blood shot, and I may have still been a little drunk. Unbelievably, I still managed to get an offer. Wish I could remember the conversations...
hahah that's crazy what a story
Met a banker from Rothschild who came to my school for a campus presentation. He looked absolutely tired, probably pulled an all-nighter or something. After the presentation, going through the motion of sharing how awesome Rothschild was, I was talking to him in more detail when my phone rang (it's an OST of a popular anime), this guy just lit up and we spent the next hour talking about mangas and anime.
A couple analysts at Macquarie, London, once told me all about 'the' beer cart that gets rolled out onto the floor at 5pm on Fridays - great if you're relatively done for the day, excruciatingly painful otherwise..
Met an MD at William Blair for coffee. Was supposed to talk about his job, but he let slip he was hungover because he was at a concert last night. Turns out that concert was for one of my favorite artists (it's country music). Starts complaining that where we live (big city), many of his friends don't like country music, and I tell him I have the same problem in college, and we start talking about music for a solid 45 minutes. Then it turns out we both played rugby, and we started talking about that and then began comparing injuries to see who was tougher. Pretty cool dude.
I set up an informational interview with an analyst at a small PE shop in the Philadelphia area (where I'm currently going to school). Gave the analyst a call expecting just the typical networking call and he answered the phone and said something along the lines of "Thanks for speaking. I have on the line the founder and an MD on the line and we have a few questions for you..." It turned into a grill-fest that I was completely unprepared for and completely flopped. It was implied at the end of the conversation that it didn't work out.
-Had a convo about ai with the former head of j bush -Consolidation in financial services with the now chair of nasdaq -vc as extreme call options with former head of venture debt for svb, ball player under Maddon, elways roomie -best strains of grass with dude who manages serious mlb $
JPM were visiting our campus, and one female MD's eyelashes looked amazing. I asked her what type of Mascara she used, and the conversation ended up about make up. She gave me her contact info, I e-mailed her, she asked for my CV and I ended up getting fast-tracked through the interview process.
plot twist. You're a guy.
very much not a guy.
Sexted with the daughter of two GS VPs (or higher).
Had a superday, where the MD and I ended up chatting about another MD we knew in common. She revealed to me that the MD we knew used to be Power Rangers child actor back in the day. We just laughed for the last 10 minutes of the interview.
Mind you, I'm a woman. One of the best experiences I’ve had in the industry.
I was overseas and found myself royally screwed over transportation to my hotel. The locals really did a number. But this guy was also coming off my flight and offered to get me wherever I needed to go. Fellow American, early/mid 30’s. Trust-worthy, right? Turned out to be absolutely nicest guy I’ve met. He was super gentlemanly and helpful. Moved mountains in no time. The craziest thing was discovering that he was a fellow restructuring guy (vp @ Evercore). We met for drinks and talked literally until the restaurant's closing because the guy was full of witty jokes and had a lot of insight into the industry. Stayed in touch since.
Met a VP from a top MM shop on a pub crawl in Copenhagen.. Led to quite a number of stories from that eventful night, and returned to NYC within 1-2 days apart from each other. Passed me his card and I have never reached back out since.
We still never talk sometimes.
One lovely afternoon, I was strolling through Central Park when I noticed a young woman about my age walking in the opposite direction. I informed her that she was of supple form and that her gluteus maximus was absent of a proper slapping. 7 minutes later I was beaten over the head and handcuffed by New York's finest.
While sitting on the mahogany bench provided in my jail cell in midtown Lincoln Correction Facility, I was anxiously awaiting trial when I was confronted by an elderly man. He turned out to be a senior vice president in Goldman Sach's Special Situations Group. We had a enthralling discussion about the direction of OJX17 commodity futures for orange juice and how it translated into promoting equal rights for women. We both agreed that it was essential America encourage millennials to return to traditional moral values. Alas our conversation ended when Egbert Benson the attorney general of NY arrived to bail him out and I was sentenced to 72 hours of community service at an animal shelter in Queens.
Aspernatur dolorem sunt iste quo suscipit velit exercitationem. Et sit facilis itaque voluptas accusamus omnis. Nisi eius ullam dolore accusantium cum eum voluptatem. Adipisci ipsa libero quaerat facere rerum nihil. Ducimus ducimus qui quia. Itaque quam ipsa id ex eaque labore fuga voluptas.
Nemo veritatis facilis rerum dolore reiciendis. Alias voluptatem adipisci odit quis nihil. Ullam in quis sapiente officiis.
Suscipit ut earum nisi ratione repellat rerum cum similique. Hic animi totam aliquid iure non qui ducimus aut.
Esse corporis distinctio non beatae voluptatibus magnam. Eius quaerat excepturi dolore ut ut quod qui eius. Deserunt magni voluptate modi repellendus officia quis. Officia est nemo ea nihil officiis. Debitis reprehenderit asperiores qui nihil.
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...
Sed impedit ipsa eum dolore laborum voluptatem et. Distinctio doloremque ullam delectus. Debitis vel optio nemo quia sint ullam quam. Neque dolorem odit in.
Qui quibusdam sint nihil corporis blanditiis id fugiat. Quam aut voluptatibus molestiae animi.