School of IB

Billal Mir

Pre SIB: Engineering, Loughborough University

Post SIB: Boutique Investment Bank

What did you do before you joined SIB?

I had just graduated as an Aeronautical Engineer from Loughborough University, but I knew I wanted to pivot away from engineering since my industrial placement. I knew the skillset was transferable and began looking to pursue a career in Finance/Banking.

How did you decide to join SIB’s full time investment banking course?

I knew there was a considerable void in knowledge as I did not do an Economics/Finance oriented major, yet wanted to pursue a career in the field. I began looking for structured courses that would aid in my development, particularly for interview situations and to get a head start as an analyst. I knew I would pick up the career specific skills and at the same time discover if Investment Banking was really what I wanted to do. SIB is very invested in their students, I could see that clearly through reaching out to their alumni and viewing their track record. All-in-all it was an easy decision to pick SIB over alternatives.

Do you feel you took the right decision by joining SIB?

Absolutely. Although it has been difficult breaking in, the knowledge and practical skills I gained from SIB have been incredibly useful. In networking and attending interviews, I am confident that SIB has provided me with the strongest foundation to demonstrate ability and interest. Although I have just begun, I know the decision to take the course will pay dividends long to come.

What was the best part of training at SIB?

I would not be able to choose between 2 defining characteristics of the course at SIB. The first is the relentless application of knowledge and skills. Through countless case studies and numerous examples, the ideas and concepts are really drilled in. It aids in understanding concepts from the deepest level, and once you have gone through it various times, it becomes like second nature and you can't forget it. The second again, is how invested SIB are in your development on the course and long after you have finished. It was a real struggle to remain committed at times, but the team at SIB backed me all the way.

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Gustaf Linder

Pre SIB: MBA, Lamar University

Post SIB: IBD, Canaccord Genuity

What did you do before you joined SIB?

I completed my MBA from Lamar University in August 2017. In addition, I have an undergraduate degree in Finance from Lamar University where I also played college golf during my under-graduation.

How did you decide to join SIB’s full time investment banking course?

I wanted to have more practical training since I have not had any investment banking experience before. But what really sets SIB apart and why I chose to do this course is that they also work hard for getting you interviews, which is crucial to breaking in.

Do you feel you took the right decision by joining SIB?

Yes, indeed. I have wanted to pursue investment banking for 2 years now and I was struggling to get interviews. SIB provided me with the technical skills, contacts and interview prep that I needed to land a job.

What was the best part of training at SIB?

SIB truly wanted me to succeed. Before the course began, SIB told me that their goal was to land me enough interviews and they have truly delivered.

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Azeem Safdar

Pre SIB: Economics, University of Glasgow

Post SIB: Entrepreneur

What did you do before you joined SIB?

I had just graduated from University of Glasgow with a degree in Economics in June. I had been applying for a variety of jobs before deciding to pursue investment banking.

How did you decide to join SIB’s full time investment banking course?

Whilst my formal education was great in theory, I felt that it was lacking in the practical skills for the day-to-day of Investment Banking. Having read the job requirements for junior analyst positions, I realized that there was a large gap between where I was and where I needed to be. It was then that I stumbled across SIB. I explored their website and felt that it was the ideal program for me to bridge that gap.

Do you feel you took the right decision by joining SIB?

Definitely. It gave me an accurate picture of what an analyst’s life would entail and taught me all the fundamentals of investment banking to a very high standard.

What was the best part of training at SIB?

Chaitanya’s training. He has a very comprehensive knowledge of the subject and a clear passion for teaching. The teaching is grounded in reality and focuses on what employers would actually expect from you from day one. There is also an emphasis on Microsoft Excel and PPT. This was great as my skills were lacking in this area. I also love the fact that SIB works very hard to get its students interviews and for the whole month we are hammered with interview preparation.

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Giuseppe Mosca

Pre SIB: Economics, University of Exeter

Post SIB: IBD, PJT Partners

What did you do before you joined SIB?

I joined SIB after I completed my undergraduate degree in Economics from Exeter. At the time, I had a couple of work experiences on my resume (one of which at a bulge bracket) but had never worked in an Investment Banking role.

How did you decide to join SIB’s full time investment banking course?

I was looking for something that would set me apart. With its small-group in-class format, SIB seemed like the perfect choice among all alternatives. What interested me the most was the possibility of gaining practical experience in the tasks that are usually assigned to first-year analysts. In addition, the placements support offered by SIB is unique. In hindsight, Chaitanya managed to create a great learning platform.

Do you feel you took the right decision by joining SIB?

Without a doubt. The teachings were up to a high standard and the practical training and application enabled me to get a good feel for what was required on the job. Our progress was closely monitored and we received a lot of support and personal attention throughout.

What was the best part of training at SIB?

The best part about the course was the amount of effort that was put into providing us with a job placement. Even after the classes had finished, Chaitanya continued to work very hard for us and made sure did not to stop until we received an interview call. It is extremely important to have someone fighting to get your CV on top of the pile, and I am grateful to have had Chaitanya and SIB on my side.

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Alistair MacKenzie

Pre SIB: Journalism, Deakin University / Exeter Uni

Post SIB: National Bank of Australia

What did you do before you joined SIB?

Prior to SIB I was studying Journalism with Business at Deakin University. I was in the UK on exchange at Exeter University.

How did you decide to join SIB's full time investment banking course?

I was looking for a course that could teach me the exact role of an Analyst at an Investment Bank. I needed to be taught by someone who already had experience in the financial industry. Chaitanya is a former Investment Banker and his knowledge and experience are invaluable. His honesty and integrity as to what he could deliver was comforting and refreshing.

Do you feel you took the right decision by joining SIB?

Absolutely! I learned so much in those 4 weeks. SIB has helped me to prepare for an internship opportunity at the National Australia Bank. SIB’s dedication and assistance with placements and internship opportunities is paramount.

What was the best part of training at SIB?

The best part of SIB is the lifelong friendship you form with the organisation. SIB supports students in every possible way. I am now feeling much more confident to pursue a career in the financial industry. I would recommend this course to anyone looking to break into the financial industry.

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Andrea Sperati

Pre SIB: Business Management, Luiss University

Post SIB: Boutique Investment Bank

What did you do before you joined SIB?

I completed my Master of Science in Business Management at LUISS University in Rome.

How did you decide to join SIB's full time investment banking course?

I decided to pursue SIB’s Program after visiting their website and going through the course outline. I wanted to acquire practical skills in Investment banking from a professional banker, which could help me break in.

Do you feel you took the right decision by joining SIB?

Yes, absolutely!

What was the best part of training at SIB?

The best parts have been the practical analysis of different sectors/companies by using and applying the most important valuation methodologies. Indeed I've learnt how to build an integrated financial model, merger and LBO models from scratch which was very interesting. SIB’s support with job placements is really quite unique!

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Ghulam Jatoi

Pre SIB: MSc, Warwick Business School

Post SIB: Capital Raise Team @ Startup

What did you do before you joined SIB?

I completed my MSc in Finance from Warwick Business School

How did you decide to join SIB's full time investment banking course?

I came across SIB when I was researching for investment banking courses online. SIB’s course content seemed promising. I felt that Chaitanya’s background in the industry would provide me with an edge available to a select few.

Do you feel you took the right decision by joining SIB?

Absolutely! SIB provided me with a practical insight as to how financial models are constructed in practice. Fresh out of university my knowledge was primarily theoretical. SIB helped bridge the gap between academic concepts which are often underpinned by unrealistic assumptions, and their actual application in the real world.
SIB fought very hard and granted me access to interviews which I would have struggled to land on my own. In addition, Chaitanya thoroughly grounded me on how to navigate through the interview process, equipping me with essential technical as well as interpersonal skills.

What was the best part of training at SIB?

Among other things, I really enjoyed building various models in excel (integrated, merger & LBO) from scratch using actual company reports.

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