Career Path of a Managing Director Business Development at Compass Diversified
Katharine's career path was unexpectedly shaped by a "complete career switch" from product management to investment banking, a decision inspired by interactions with investment bankers at a startup. This transition, despite lacking formal finance training, was facilitated by initiative—auditing a university finance course—"it cost me absolutely $0"—and culminated in a move to a private equity firm, previously a client, where Katharine now leverages strong communication and organizational skills to source investment opportunities.
Career Exploration, Investment Banking, Private Equity, Networking, Communication
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Katharine (Katie) Melzer
Managing Director/Head of Business Development
Compass Diversified
University of Michigan
UCLA Anderson School of Management - MBA
Business Management & Admin
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Business Strategy
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Katharine's unconventional path into investment banking, showcasing initiative by auditing finance courses without formal enrollment to gain necessary skills.
2. Her diverse internship experience, starting in advertising and transitioning to product management in a startup, highlighting the exploration of different career paths before finding her niche.
3. Her emphasis on transferable skills such as strong communication and organizational skills, demonstrating their importance in her career progression from investment banking to private equity
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experience in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
I graduated from the University of Michigan with a major in organizational studies. This field combines economics, communications, and psychology, which provided a good foundation for a career in business.
During college, I interned at an advertising agency, as I was interested in a creative role within the business world. However, this wasn't the path my career ultimately took, and I was unsure of my direction after graduation.
I ended up at a startup company as a product manager, which I really enjoyed. I observed investment bankers presenting buy-side ideas and potential division sales, which sparked my interest in investment banking.
This exposure led me to pursue a career switch into investment banking. I joined an analyst program a year after graduating, which was a bit unconventional. While I had the economics, communications, and psychology background, I lacked finance knowledge.
I approached a university professor and asked if I could audit his finance course for free. To my surprise, he agreed. I made sure to obtain the syllabus and materials and attended every lecture.
I taught myself finance over about two semesters, without taking exams or receiving a grade. After this self-study, I applied to and was accepted into an investment banking program.
I never initially planned to be an investment banker. The work involved long hours and high intensity, but I enjoyed interacting with various companies and management teams. I found it fascinating to understand what drives a company's success and what leads to its downfall.
My time in investment banking allowed me to live in several global cities, including New York, Chicago, London, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. During this period, I met my current employer, a private equity firm.
We had collaborated on many deals, and I particularly enjoyed sourcing businesses and working with their management teams. This aspect required strong interpersonal and communication skills.
I then joined the private equity firm that was previously my client. My role involves identifying businesses for investment.