Career Path Of A Co-Founder And Managing Partner At Auxo Partners
Connor's career trajectory began with focused effort in college, leading to internships in commercial underwriting and M&A at Lincoln International in Chicago, where the experience "taught a ton, mostly about the value of just showing up and saying yes". This led to a full-time role, a transfer to San Francisco, and the eventual founding of Auxo Partners after a period of freelance consulting and entrepreneurial exploration.
Investment Banking, Private Equity, Mergers and Acquisitions, Entrepreneurship, Career Transition
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Connor Frischmeyer
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Auxo Partners
University of Iowa 2016
N/A
Finance
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Connor's career path highlights the importance of proactive engagement in college. He emphasizes the value of joining relevant programs (like the Hawkinson Institute), actively participating in extracurricular activities (business fraternity), and excelling in coursework to build a strong resume.
2. His experience at Lincoln International showcases the significance of internships in shaping career direction. The high-pressure environment provided invaluable learning, highlighting the value of commitment and perseverance. His reflections on his Midwest background demonstrate the importance of leveraging unique strengths and experiences.
3. Connor's transition from investment banking to founding Auxo Partners illustrates the non-linear nature of career paths. His initial uncertainty after leaving investment banking led to freelance consulting, which unexpectedly paved the way for his entrepreneurial journey. This highlights the value of networking and openness to unexpected opportunities.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
I really kicked myself into gear during my sophomore year of college. Before that, I was still exploring my options and not applying myself as much as I did later.
Once I got involved in my sophomore year, I participated in various finance programs at the University of Iowa. I also joined the Hawkinson Institute, a program designed for placing students in investment banking roles.
At the time, I was very enthusiastic about Wall Street and that was my ultimate goal. I worked through that program, took on different roles in my business fraternity, and took some classes. I did everything necessary to build a strong resume for employers and investment banks.
I then had two internships. The first was in commercial underwriting for insurance. The second, which I was most focused on, was in the M&A group at Lincoln International in Chicago. It was a fascinating, albeit very hard and high-pressure, experience.
I learned a great deal, mostly about the importance of showing up, saying yes, committing to tasks, and seeing them through. I also learned about leveraging my Midwest background to differentiate myself from other candidates.
After the internship, I joined the firm full-time. I switched from the M&A group, where I covered industrials, to the leverage finance group, which they called capital advisory. I worked on large loans for private equity groups and buyouts for about a year and a half.
Then, I transferred to San Francisco to help start their TMT office, focusing on software, semiconductors, and electronics manufacturing. I worked in investment banking for about four years before realizing I didn't want to continue in that field, though I wasn't sure what I wanted to do instead.
I left and took some time for soul-searching. About two weeks after leaving, a friend who had left a large management consulting firm and was doing freelance consulting mentioned a client who he thought would be a good fit for me.
He knew I had just left investment banking and that the client needed help raising capital for small acquisitions. He suggested I work with them to pass the time while I figured out my next steps.
I took on that engagement and did a lot of that work. I also tried to build a software company with a friend, which didn't pan out. However, more friends began asking me for finance help, knowing my investment banking background. This experience ultimately led to the formation of Oxo Partners.