Forging careers in private equity

Breaking into private equity (PE) requires a balanced blend of strong analytical and financial skills, a keen business acumen and a high degree of interpersonal abilities. For those ready to master the multi-disciplinary toolkit of skills and chart their path in an industry where demand for talent is high, the Advanced Private Equity Experience (APEX) at Kellogg offers unparalleled preparation.

APEX is more than just a course; it’s an immersive journey where students engage directly with private equity transactions, mergers and acquisitions and corporate restructuring. Through hands-on projects, mentorship from accomplished alumni, and collaborations with industry leaders, the program equips students with the tools to navigate the dynamic private equity landscape.

Meet two Kellogg MBAs who have taken advantage of the school’s premier program and credit APEX as instrumental in accelerating their private equity ambitions. Both brought impressive PE experience to Kellogg and have leveraged the program to deepen their expertise and expand their networks.

James Griffin ’25 Two-Year MBA Program started his career in investment banking and private equity working as an investment banking analyst in the Financial Institutions Group at Credit Suisse. Prior to embarking on his MBA, he was a private equity associate at Aurora Capital in Los Angeles, primarily covering business services and industrials.

Prior to earning his MBA, Alex Amato ’24 MBA spent three years at a PE fund and was confident he’d continue down the career path upon graduating. As Amato considered business schools, the high-touch, mentorship-driven aspect of APEX appealed to him and became a key deciding factor for attending Kellogg. He currently serves as vice president at Gauge Capital. 

Building lifelong connections and cultivating a knowledge sharing system

Amato attributes the access to both alumni and his classmates as one of the integral components APEX. “Over the course of two years, I was able to build solid relationships, and the depth and breadth of these intentional connections is a differentiator that can open doors to professional opportunities throughout my career,” says Amato. “Whether it’s tapping someone for advice, making a mutual connection for a deal of some sort, or being a sounding board for others.”

Courses like Private Equity Deep Dive provide actionable frameworks that continue to serve him as he continues along the investor path. “The insights I’ve gained — both technical and relational — have had a lasting impact on my career.” 

Insights beyond the balance sheet

“APEX has already played a pivotal role in my career journey and introduced me to several mentors including members from the Private Equity Advisory Council (PEAC),” says Griffin. “They have guided me through the internship recruiting and long-term career planning process — their advice has been invaluable. I’ve been able to jump on calls multiple times to receive career advice, and they’ve generously opened their rolodex.”

Beyond mentorship, Griffin emphasizes the unique camaraderie among his APEX peers. “It’s a cohort of like-minded individuals who share similar goals. During summer internship recruiting, I leaned on my peers for advice and support, which was an incredibly collaborative and reassuring experience.” 

Amato also believes that the personalized attention in APEX plays a major role in fostering a tight-knit community. “The APEX program embodies the pay-it-forward mentality of the supportive alumni network at Kellogg,” he says. “The program guarantees each student at least one-on-one focus from a Kellogg mentor with professionally relevant experience.”

During his time at Kellogg, Amato observed that his peers brought diverse experiences to the table, ranging from middle-market PE investing roles similar to his own, to positions at larger Mega Funds and smaller lower-middle-market funds. He also noted that some worked in non-investing roles including sponsor-focused investment banking, fund-level operations, business development or consulting.

APEX’s ties to Chicago’s robust middle-market PE ecosystem offers students unique career opportunities. “Many of the alumni serving on the PEAC board either work for middle market private equity firms or have vast networks in the space,” explains Amato. “If you are interested in building a career in middle market private equity, the APEX program will connect you with people who can help make it happen.” 

APEX — where ambition meets action and transforms into impact

With a front-row seat to real deals, both Griffin and Amato would agree that the Private Equity Deep Dive course is one of the program’s highlights. Professor Jose Liberti co-teaches the course along with members of the PEAC Board and features real-world deal walkthroughs led by accomplished Kellogg alumni.

Griffin is looking forward to diving into this component of APEX. He’s excited to learn from Dave Schnadig, co-president at Cortec Group, as he presents Cortec’s acquisition of Yeti and breaks down the transaction step-by-step. “It’s one thing to read case studies but to hear directly from the people who led these deals — that’s extraordinary,” he shares.

With only a couple of quarters left at Kellog, a standout moment for Griffin has been the Global Entrepreneurial Finance course, an APEX-program requirement, with Professor Liberti. “I’ve worked across several industries in multiple U.S. geographies, but I had no cross-border investing experience,” he says. “Jose’s practitioner-oriented teaching helped me understand the nuances of analyzing international opportunities. These lessons will be crucial if I decide to work with a globally focused fund.”  

The APEX edge 

For Amato and Griffin, APEX is more than a program — it’s a launchpad. The skills, insights and connections created at Kellogg are helping them build their careers and how they approach PE for years to come.

As demand for private equity professionals continues to grow, APEX ensures its students don’t just keep pace but lead the charge in an ever-evolving industry. APEX is a transformative experience giving PE professionals invaluable hands-on learning opportunities and a network to gain a competitive edge. 

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