PE in Southeast Asia

Hi, I'm a second year econ student at a top non-HYP Ivy. I've got no experience and my GPA is very mediocre at a 3.6~ and I haven't got any interviews, let alone offers yet. I've started to cold email some boutique consulting, PE, and IB firms but so far no responses. I'm originally from a developing SE Asian country (think Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar) and I am still verbally fluent in the language, but have limited reading/writing ability. I found a lot of PE firms setting up funds there (although all around $100M AUM at most). Would it be a good idea to try to leverage my background to go back to Asia, or should I try to stick it out in the States? Thanks.

13 Comments
 

Thanks everyone for their input. I was primarily asking about a summer opportunity. Would an internship in Asia at a PE firm seen negatively/useless by recruiters in the States?

 

For what it's worth I interned in SEA (in a Financial Analyst/Cop Dev type role) and the experience was looked at very positively by firms. My junior/senior year I had interviews with large AMs, BBs, a few consulting firms, and one small PE firm and in every interview we spoke at length about my time there. Imo an experience like that that would set you apart well from your peers.

 
"econecon101"

For what it's worth I interned in SEA (in a Financial Analyst/Cop Dev type role) and the experience was looked at very positively by firms. My junior/senior year I had interviews with large AMs, BBs, a few consulting firms, and one small PE firm and in every interview we spoke at length about my time there. Imo an experience like that that would set you apart well from your peers.

Thanks for your insight. If you don't mind me asking, was this as at a MNC or a regional company?

 
"PrivateMarketplace"

I am guessing you come up from a pretty wealthy family to be able afford an Ivy League education (forgive my assumption you are on full scholarship) so I would be one of those people rather setting up those 100M funds than be working in one. Get 2-4 years of experience in the States in IB/PE then go back home and set up your own fund.

Not wealthy at all, I get significant financial aid from my school. I was born and raised in a working class immigrant family in the suburbs of NY. I'm looking to work at a bank or MC firm for at least 5-6 years before starting anything on my own. I just want an internship for this summer and wanted to see the opinion of an internship in Southeast Asia.

 

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