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Jerry, Private Equity Associate at Apex Capital Growth Partners: Advize Career Interview
A UCLA economics graduate's journey from founding a successful candy company with clients like Lady Gaga and Dior to becoming a Private Equity Associate at Apex Capital Growth Partners offers a unique perspective on finance.
The interview reveals a path shaped by entrepreneurial ventures in China, an MBA at UCLA Anderson, and an investment banking internship at RBC Capital Markets.
A day in the life involves financial modeling, pitch decks, and navigating the competitive world of mergers and acquisitions, demanding a strong work ethic and deep technical skills.
The interviewee highlights the importance of rapid learning, impactful contributions, and the challenges of maintaining perfection and work-life balance.
Their insights into thriving in the industry—hard work, strong math skills, and excellent people skills—combined with lessons learned about balancing speed and deliberation, make this a compelling story for students considering careers in finance.
A strong foundation from an investment banking analyst position is highlighted, demonstrating a clear trajectory to various lucrative careers, including private equity and venture capital.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jerry Zhou
Private Equity Associate
Apex Capital Growth Partners
UCLA, 2012
UCLA Anderson School of Management, MBA Candidate
Economics
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
None Applicable
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Career Path of an Investment Banking Summer Associate at RBC Capital Markets
After an economics degree at UCLA, Jerry pursued entrepreneurial ventures in China and founded Sparkle Sweets, a successful custom candy company boasting clients like Lady Gaga and Dior; this experience, and a subsequent realization that "finance was something that I didn't understand," led Jerry to pursue an MBA at UCLA Anderson, an investment banking internship at RBC Capital Markets, and finally, a role as a Private Equity Associate at Apex Capital Growth Partners.
Main Responsibilities of an Investment Banking Associate at RBC Capital Markets
Jerry's experience as a Private Equity Associate involved managing daily tasks, acting as an intermediary between senior staff and analysts, and handling diverse assignments including "financial modeling, a live deal, a pitch deck". The transition from investment banking to entrepreneurship highlighted the challenges of being a generalist, necessitating a proactive approach to learning and focusing on larger goals to avoid getting "operationally stuck".
A Day in the Life of a Private Equity Associate at Apex Capital Growth Partners
A day for a summer associate in investment banking at Apex Capital Growth Partners begins around 8:00 AM with planning, followed by "random staffings" from superiors assigning projects like "financial modeling or pitch decks." The work, often until late, involves collaboration with other summer associates and analysts on tasks such as finding merger and acquisition targets, all while navigating a competitive environment with "not 100% retention rate" due to macroeconomic factors.
Most Important Skills for an Investment Banking Analyst at Apex Capital Growth Partners
Jerry, a Private Equity Associate, emphasizes that a strong work ethic and stress tolerance—"a huge positive in the industry"—are paramount for investment banking roles, alongside a deep technical understanding of financial modeling and concepts like "discount rates" and cash flows. The ability to apply these concepts practically, perhaps aided by relevant prior experiences as Jerry suggests, is key for success in this demanding field.
Favorite Parts of Being an Entrepreneur
Jerry's favorite aspects of their roles in investment banking and entrepreneurship both center on rapid learning and impactful contributions; the "process of how it works" learned in investment banking proved invaluable, while creating a company and "providing a benefit to society directly" are deeply fulfilling aspects of entrepreneurship.
Biggest Challenges Faced By Investment Bankers And Entrepreneurs
Jerry's biggest challenges as a Private Equity Associate involve maintaining "perfection" in work product to avoid errors and navigating a demanding work-life balance requiring six-day workweeks; the high-stakes nature of the role also means taking "direct responsibility for...success and mistakes," a key difference from previous roles.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Private Equity Industry As A Private Equity Associate
Jerry, a Private Equity Associate, enjoys being "at the center of" major financial transactions, analyzing data and evaluating deals, citing the recent tech downturn in San Francisco as an example of being "at the forefront of the events unfolding in the economy." This provides Jerry with unique insight and a front-row seat to significant industry developments.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Investment Banking Industry, According To A Private Equity Associate At Apex Capital Growth Partners
Success in the private equity industry hinges on being "very hardworking, very aspirational, and very driven," possessing strong mathematical skills, and enjoying the transactional nature of the work. A genuine interest in finance and excellent "people skills" are also key, as the field is heavily relationship-oriented.
What A Private Equity Associate At Apex Capital Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Private Equity
Jerry, a Private Equity Associate, wished for more practical knowledge before starting, noting that "academic wise versus real life practice is...very different." The biggest gap was understanding the day-to-day tasks, such as "creating pitch decks," and the nuances of formatting and bank expectations, which would have lessened the steep learning curve.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Private Equity Associates
For undergraduate students interested in finance, the "most coveted spot" is an analyst position at an investment bank, providing a strong foundation for lucrative careers in private equity, venture capital, or even starting a business—a path Jerry describes as "most profitable, but also most risky." Typically, a two-year stint as an analyst precedes further career choices.
Significant Career Lesson from a Private Equity Associate at Apex Capital Growth Partners
Jerry's significant career lesson centers on the double-edged sword of "jumping to action really fast," initially beneficial for rapid decision-making and early company growth but ultimately requiring a shift towards "taking more time to deliberate on assumptions" as the company scaled. This involved sanity-checking ideas with trusted individuals to ensure decisions were "probabilistically in the right direction."
College Experiences That Helped a Private Equity Associate at Apex Capital Growth Partners Succeed
Jerry's undergraduate experience at UCLA lacked focus on a corporate career path, initially driven by entrepreneurial aspirations; however, the MBA program allowed for exploration of various career trajectories—"consulting, IB, tech"—leading to a deep dive into the chosen path, and ultimately a position as a Private Equity Associate.
How Identity Influenced a Private Equity Associate's Career at Apex Capital Growth Partners
Jerry's upbringing in a predominantly Asian community in Arcadia provided a sheltered experience, leading to a relatively smooth career navigation. The professional found the diverse American culture "rewarding to learn about," noting no significant hurdles and characterizing the experience as simply "learning."
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