After decades of tech, cyber, and risk consulting, I would love to pivot into VC or PE. I’d appreciate some thoughts on the feasibility of such a transition and how to go about it. My pedigree is a combo of the top management consulting firms, but no MBB. MBA. I have done at least a dozen or so DD projects and have led teams as part of two high profile divestitures. Is this worth anything? How do I sell it?

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Honestly your experience lends better to going to an early stage cyber security startup in a leadership role than going to VC or PE. That would be a good way to get into VC long term if that’s what you want. Put yourself on some startup exec recruiting firms radars Or start doing some startup advising on the side

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VC and PE are very different, figure out which one you want to be in first, that will help with your story more

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That’s some of the guidance I seek. My work has been entirely in PE, but don’t want to exclude VC. Fundamentally, the question is if my skills and experience are easily transferable to either and, if so, how to market such experience.

VP you say decades so assuming you’re 40+?

Already very difficult to break into PE as a 24 year old with 2 years in IB/Consulting and even more as a 28 year old with an MBA...almost impossible without any actually front office buyside experience (which is not as an advisor doing DDs) at 35+

The best way for you could be to impress a very senior partner on a project or work stream that they bring you on at a senior position OR show that you have the skillset, network, pedigree to raise money for an established fund and come in at a senior level...harder route is to raise your own fund.

Other than utilizing your relationships with senior PE professionals or starting your own fund I cannot see any path to you breaking in.

You could possibly get hired by a consulting firm that is well connected to PE funds (Bain, McK type) at a senior level possibly in your area of risk. Try to win projects alongside the PE groups, establish your PE network and after a few years execute to a senior role.

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I think for a PE Ops Team your background sounds reasonable - less knowledgeable with how recruiting works for these teams though. P1 was referring to investment team.
Probably not a fit for VC given what you’ve said.

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For PE, you need to find a story on why a PE should hire you and put you on the payroll (basically getting a cut of whatever management fees and carry) vs being able to hire a consultant (like you are now) and do what they want you to do. If you can figure that out, you will get yourself a job. Note that typical consultant fees are baked in as part of any buy side or sell side transaction, so the PE firm is technically not paying for it directly.

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Hmm, this “minor” detail of who pays for my services is quite the monkey wrench ☹️. It explains why we are doing work that I would’ve thought they should be doing it themselves. That is, I wonder where/why they draw the line between the internal tech teams that oversee the transaction post-deal vs external consultants. Sounds like it will be pretty tough to join a PE firm.

Or perhaps join McKinsey and leverage the talent to start a cyber SPAC 😉

Here is an example - Apax Partners have someone specifically for cyber. Otherwise it’s usually overall tech. https://www.apax.com/people/our-team/john-nugent/

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Looking for some insight/curious to hear how others would handle this situation:

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