Secrets from the Presentation Center: A Night in the Life of a Graveyard Shift Operator

This is a guest post from Nyla Nox, who worked the graveyard shift in presentation centers of the biggest banks of London for over 7 years.

It’s easy to ignore the back office and brush it off as a “support role” – and hey, even the past coverage of the back office on this site hasn’t been too kind.

But ignoring everyone in the back office would be a mistake if you care about your bonus.

When you need that presentation done by 3 AM and you’ve sent it over for revisions and edits at 2 AM, your fellow analysts or associates won’t be there to save you.

The presentations center will.

And if you don’t treat them professionally and respectfully, you can wave goodbye to your bonus as your MD gets his presentation 30 minutes late.

Before you learn how to befriend them, though, you have to learn why most bankers abuse them and what you should do differently.

Why the Presentations Center?

Healthcare Investment Banking: The Best Place to Check In When Other Bankers are on Their Career Death Beds?

Tony Soprano once said to his shrink after a particularly grueling session:

“I came here today to tell you, in all seriousness, that I’m done.”

And maybe in this crazy economy you’re also done: you’re going to leave your current finance job to pursue sanity and stability.

So you’d better be thinking about healthcare investment banking.

“Healthcare?” you might say. “I don’t know anyone in healthcare who owns giant mansions lined with gold.”

But that’s OK – these “Healthcare Regular Joes” are the ones who have it easier in a rough economy, and access to plenty of other perks.

Here’s what you’ll learn from our healthcare IB interviewee today:

• How to tell your story and break into healthcare IB.
• What majors and backgrounds are common among healthcare bankers.
• Why deal flow is more stable than in other sectors, and the most common deal types.
• The industry sectors within healthcare and how valuation metrics and multiples differ.
• The all-important exit opportunities and where you can learn more about the sector.

Private Equity in Latin America: How to Break in as a Foreigner without Speaking a Word of Spanish

Ah, to start from scratch.

Just move to an exotic country, start a new life, and launch your new career… simple, right?

But then you think about it for a second and realize:

• You don’t know anyone there.
• You don’t speak the language.
• You already have a good job in your home country.

And the list goes on.

Yes, there are a million reasons why most of us think about making the move and then decide against it, but today we’ll hear from someone who took the leap of faith.

Our Canadian interviewee decided, after university and a brief stint in a VC-backed company, to leave everything behind for an internship at an NGO (non-governmental organization) in Bolivia.

That would already be impressive, but then he took another leap when he managed to network his way into private equity and then stayed in Latin America for another 8 years (!).

Oh, and I mentioned that he didn’t speak a word of Spanish when he first stepped off the plane, right?

Here’s what you’ll learn from him:

• The best path to follow to break in, both as a local and as a foreigner, including the application and interview process.
• How expats fare in the PE industry in Latin America  – The pros and cons.
• The key assets firms look for and the importance of connections.
• Money – How much you’ll earn and how much you’ll spend.
• The work culture – Both on and off-the-job.
• The PE scene in Latin America – Past, present and future.