Trojan Investing Playbook

Trojan Investing Society
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The Trojan Investing Playbook is the Trojan Investing Society's podcast. Our goal is to make the world of investment banking recruiting more transparent and approachable for students. TIPs will bring to you insightful conversations, industry professionals, and a game plan to have a successful recruiting journey. 

  1. Mar 30

    Hedge Fund Recruiting w/ Daniel M.

    Breaking into hedge funds as an undergrad is one of the most competitive and least transparent paths in finance. In this episode, we sit down with a Michigan Ross junior who recently went through the process to break down how it actually works - from early preparation to landing a sophomore summer role. We cover what makes hedge fund recruiting different from banking, how to build a strong stock pitch, and what it really means to develop an investor mindset. We also discuss what separates top candidates and what ultimately gets you the offer. If you’re interested in public markets investing or want to better understand this recruiting path, this is a great episode to listen to.

    48 min

  2. Mar 2

    Breaking into Buyside

    This week, we sat down with Aditya Vijayanagaram, Incoming Analyst at Ares Management (Direct Lending, LA), to break down how he went straight to the buyside out of undergrad. We cover what private credit actually is, how buyside recruiting differs from banking, what firms look for in candidates, and how to demonstrate an investor mindset in interviews, especially in credit-focused roles where downside analysis is key. If you’re interested in private markets or considering skipping IB for the buyside, this episode is a practical guide to getting started.

    29 min

  3. Feb 9

    Corporate Development 101 w/ Davis Schmitz

    This week, we sat down with Davis Schmitz, who began his career in investment banking at Lincoln International and is now Director of FP&A and Corporate Development at Mantis Innovation, to break down what Corporate Development actually looks like in practice. We discussed why he made the transition from IB to in-house M&A, how Corp Dev differs from traditional advisory roles, and what skill sets matter most coming from an investment banking background. If you’re interested in where an IB foundation can take you, especially into strategy-driven, operator-focused roles, this episode offers a clear, practical Corp Dev 101 from someone actively in the seat.

    43 min

  4. 12/08/2025

    Breaking into Tech IB

    We’re joined by Finny Ho (Perella Weinberg Partners) and Lucas Turcuato (Barclays), both Incoming Summer Analysts, to discuss what makes technology investment banking unique - from staying ahead of rapidly evolving tech sectors to how technical you really need to be. They also share a few recruiting blunders and key moments that helped shape their outcomes, offering practical insight for students heading into the next recruiting cycle.

    50 min

  5. 12/01/2025

    NYC Recruiting with Aarav Sethi

    This week, we spoke with Aarav Sethi, an incoming Summer Analyst at Lazard (NYC), about the logistics and timelines behind New York specific recruiting and how it differs from other regions. Aarav also shared his personal recruiting journey and offered practical advice on what sophomores should prioritize going into winter break to stay competitive.

    36 min

  6. 11/03/2025

    Breaking into Restructuring

    Our guest this week is Leo Kim, a USC senior and Director of Capstone for the Trojan Investing Society, who summered at Houlihan Lokey’s Restructuring Group. Leo shared what makes RX unique, how to approach the recruiting process, and insights from leading Capstone, TIS’s technical training program focused on Excel modeling.

    28 min

  7. 10/27/2025

    Behaviorals that Stand Out

    We sat down with Ishan Tandon, Incoming Analyst at Perella Weinberg Partners, to discuss how to craft standout behavioral stories, approach interviews with confidence, and differentiate beyond technicals.

    53 min

  8. 10/20/2025

    Breaking into Industrials IB

    In this episode, we sat down with Justin Lim (Incoming 2026 Summer Analyst at Perella Weinberg Partners). He shares his experience recruiting Industrials, tips and tricks to have success, and they key technicals that matter most!

    40 min
See All (14)

About

The Trojan Investing Playbook is the Trojan Investing Society's podcast. Our goal is to make the world of investment banking recruiting more transparent and approachable for students. TIPs will bring to you insightful conversations, industry professionals, and a game plan to have a successful recruiting journey. 

Information

  • Creator
    Trojan Investing Society
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Trojan Investing Playbook