by meridith dennes | Feb 26, 2026 | Interviewing, Lateral Recruiting
The Exit Everyone Overlooks: Why Your Next Move Might Be Another Bank You’re 18 months into your post-MBA banking role and something feels off. You’re not exactly sure what it is, but you know you’re not happy. You started thinking about PE because... 
by meridith dennes | Feb 25, 2026 | Exit Opportunities, Interviewing, Lateral Recruiting
The narrative is seductive: escape the brutal banking hours, maintain strong compensation, gain strategic influence, and build a sustainable career. Corporate development has emerged as the hot exit for post-MBA investment banking associates and VPs, positioned as... 
by meridith dennes | Feb 22, 2026 | Buy Side, Exit Opportunities, Lateral Recruiting
Private equity owns a record 13,000 U.S. businesses. But it’s sitting on 31,000 companies valued at $3.7 trillion that it hasn’t yet been able to exit. For two decades, private equity delivered on its core promise: taking illiquid risk in exchange for... 
by meridith dennes | Feb 18, 2026 | Interviewing, Lateral Recruiting
Optimize Your Profile So the Right Headhunters Find You — and Stop Wasting Your Time Let’s set the scene. It’s 11:30 PM. You just wrapped up a pitch — slides sent, comments incorporated, MD finally signed off — and your phone buzzes with a LinkedIn... 
by meridith dennes | Feb 10, 2026 | Compensation Trends, Interviewing, Lateral Recruiting
Sign-on bonuses, guaranteed compensation packages, relocation stipends, deferred payouts — these are the building blocks of investment banking recruitment and retention. They’re also squarely in the crosshairs of new legislation in California and New York... 
by meridith dennes | Feb 7, 2026 | Interviewing, Lateral Recruiting, Networking
The phone rings. A recruiter has a “compelling opportunity” they’d love to discuss. Before you take that meeting, it’s worth doing some groundwork. The lateral process in investment banking tends to move quickly, and a little preparation up...