Middle Market Coaches

I have spent over 7 years in finance, interviewed at over 50 PE funds and recruited for the PE fund i previously worked at. I have a deep understanding of how to prep for interviews, make your application stand out and most importantly, stay focused on the goals to find the right fund for you.

Welcome to my profile! I’m a Wharton graduate with an MBA from Harvard Business School and bring over 15 years of experience in finance. For the past decade, I’ve been at Warburg Pincus—a top-10 global private equity firm managing over $100 billion—where I’m currently a Principal. Throughout my career, I’ve interviewed hundreds of candidates and directly mentored dozens of Analysts, Associates, and Vice Presidents. I know firsthand what it takes to break into competitive finance roles and advance within them. You may have come across my “Comprehensive Finance Interview Guide,” which I originally wrote over a decade ago while preparing for my own private equity recruiting—just one of many resources I’ve created to help others land top roles. Whether you’re preparing for investment banking, private equity, or business school, I offer targeted and tailored coaching across resume development, mock interviews, technical prep, recruiting strategy, and more.

Based on my extensive experience in private equity and investment banking at top-tier firms such as H.I.G. Capital, Warburg Pincus and J.P. Morgan, I'm highly qualified to coach individuals on private equity recruiting. In addition to technical expertise, my experience in mentoring and coaching others has also equipped me with the skills to guide aspiring private equity professionals through the recruiting process. My ability to communicate complex financial concepts in a clear and concise manner, as well as my strong network within the industry, can be invaluable in helping individuals navigate the often-challenging landscape of private equity recruiting. With my guidance and support, aspiring private equity professionals can develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in this highly competitive industry.

I have a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in the private equity and investment banking industries. In addition to my years of professional experience, I have an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Finance from Brigham Young University. Over the years, I've informally coached numerous individuals at all stages of their careers, helping them navigate the complexities of private equity and investment banking careers and achieve their professional goals. Whether you're looking to break into the industry or advance your career, I can provide tailored guidance and support. I have personal experience making the jump from investment banking to private equity post-MBA. I started out in investment banking as an Associate coming out of business school and then joined a private equity firm as a VP after 2.5 years as an investment banking Associate. I spent the next 20 years in private equity at Reynolda Equity Partners, ultimately becoming a Managing Partner. In 2025, I transitioned my role at Reynolda to Senior Advisor and began investing independently under my 1780 Capital banner. I spent much of my time at Reynolda leading the recruiting effort, interviewing candidates and making hiring decisions for Associates, Senior Associates, VPs and for Business Development positions. While in investment banking, I was also on the recruiting team for HBS and other MBA programs.

I broke into private equity at 19, landed an investment banking job offer mid-flight, and joined KKR straight out of undergrad. Since then, I’ve led ~$3B in deals across buyout, growth, and venture, working directly with founders, CEOs, and billion-dollar funds. I’m especially passionate about helping non-target, underrepresented, and ambitious students get offers. All coaching with me comes with complimentary documents and guides :)

With a robust background in both investment banking and private equity, I have successfully navigated the competitive recruiting landscape to secure positions at top-tier firms like Lazard and a newly formed $500M private equity fund. I also recently served as Director of Growth Strategy at a leading PPM company, where I was instrumental in shaping strategic growth initiatives. As someone who has been through the rigorous recruiting process and emerged at the top of my field, I am passionate about helping others achieve their goals in private equity. My hands-on experience and deep understanding of what top firms are looking for will guide you through each step of the recruiting journey, from resume crafting to interview prep and offer negotiation. Whether you’re breaking into the industry or looking to advance your career, I’m here to provide actionable insights, personalized feedback, and a roadmap to success. Let’s work together to elevate your career and secure your next role in private equity.

With three years as an investor on American Securities’ Investment Team, I bring a comprehensive understanding of the private equity recruiting process, including on-cycle and off-cycle interviews, and navigating headhunter relationships. At American Securities, I was promoted to Senior Associate after my second year and played a pivotal role in the due diligence of new investments and portfolio company management through add-on acquisition due diligence and general strategy support. In addition to my investment experience, I contributed significantly to recruiting efforts, including partnering with third-party organizations like SEO to advance diversity in the industry and directly interviewing / screening investment banking analysts.

Hi I'm Sharif! I'm a Wharton Undergrad who interned in middle market private equity last summer. In addition, I am very familiar with the summer analyst recruitment process at PE mega funds and had many final round interviews before choosing to sign a summer analyst offer with Houlihan Lokey in the Restructuring Group.

Welcome to my profile! With extensive experience in private equity and investment banking, I am here to help you navigate the competitive landscape of private equity careers. I have worked in private equity roles across Vista Equity Partners, Audax Private Equity, and MFG Partners, and have extensive experience with interview preparation, on-the-desk readiness, general career navigation, technical skill refinement, and more. Prior to my career in private equity, I spent 5 years in investment banking with Goldman Sachs, as both an Associate and an Analyst, where I worked on $20B+ of closed deals. Currently, I am pursuing my MBA at Columbia Business School as a Robert F. Smith Scholar, further deepening my expertise in alternative investments and entrepreneurship. Over the last decade, I have coached 75+ students/early stage professionals across a variety of formal and informal capacities. Whether you need help with interview preparation, resume refinement, or networking strategies, I'm here to support your journey. I genuinely love this stuff and remember how difficult my journey was trying to "figure it out" - Let's book time to chat about how I can be helpful!

Top Coach 2026 - https://start.joinleland.com/top-coach-2026/management-consulting https://start.joinleland.com/top-coach-2026/college Please contact me directly for scheduling; only partial availability is shown on Leland.