Older article here, but I've seen many similar examples of rising superstar bankers. For those in the VP / Director / MD stage, what does it take to make MD early on? What political positioning / business development / other things that must be done?
There's been some great material on WSO about superstar analysts / associates. Obviously its much harder to identify steps at the higher levels, but I think many would welcome big picture advice for their careers.
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I assume it's next to impossible in IBD - actual deal experience and connections matter. A CEO / BoD is unlikely to entrust some of their most important decisions to someone who simply hasn't seen a ton of different deals before. A lot of these young MDs are usually superstar traders.
This is exactly right. I have seen several guys move up the ladder to VP and even Director fairly quickly, but making that final jump to MD takes some significant deal experience, and not just being on deals, but leading deals. The guys who tend to make it the fastest, following the the path from Associate - VP - Director - MD tend to be the ones who took the initiative to start leading certain parts of the deal process while still Associates and earned the trust of their MD early on. They slowly take more and more off of their Director's and MD's plates and get comfortable working through all aspects of deals and pitches.
Pardon the ignorance, never did IB, what are the different “parts” of a deal that an associate could lead?
These guys are mostly traders and from Goldman Sachs, not from the IB Analyst->Associate->VP->MD Route
Has there been ex-CEOs or very well-connected networkers that make a career move into IB as an MD? I can easily imagine a c-suite exec or a well known SVP doing well as an MD if they have contacts in the industry inside and out
How to make MD before 30? (Originally Posted: 06/11/2013)
From what I've read this is impossible, but I remember reading Forbes' 30 under 30 last year and finding Lucy Baldwin in the list. She made MD at GS at only 28. How in God's name is this even possible? What are your theories?
Be in a bank were middle and senior management get canned / be a trader who rocks
rock that pnl
make MD before 30 if you graduate from Harvard undergrad, Harvard MBA, work at GS then choose to transfer to a lesser bank
Your chances of making MD at GS before 30 are higher than some small bank unless it is contractually stated. Small banks have lower turn over thus slower advancement the title MD is useless if you don't have the responsibility it comes with.
going to a top school increases the chances of getting in, but once u join a bank, what matters from then one is your performance and not your alma mater
Quickest way is to go to medical school
Care to explain this?
Not waste time on WSO
Already losing :/
Who's Lucy Baldwin. Ok, let me see... Checking my GS rolodex..Nope.
Nobody cares of Lucy Baldwin, she's a goofball, a nobody. Irrelevant.
If you wanna check out somebody that has made it, and in fact, runs a $650 MM Hedge Fund, check ou Jennifer's Fan, Founder of Arbalet Capital LLC. http://www.bloomberglink.com/gatherings_participants_bio.php?gathering=…
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