Working for Blackstone has been both educational and exciting. It has helped me to develop a unique perspective on investing, as I learn from some of the most experienced and brightest within the industry. It has also allowed me to build a strong professional and personal network while supporting me with the resources to advance to the next level of my career.
What makes Blackstone a unique place to work?
Blackstone’s culture of promoting from within makes it unique. In the Real Estate Group, for example, many of the professionals joined the firm as analysts and have been promoted to leadership roles. This entrepreneurial culture combined with the institutional-quality franchise makes for a great place to work.
What surprised you the most about Blackstone/your group when you first joined?
I was surprised by the amount of responsibility I was given when joining Blackstone directly from college. As an example, shortly after moving into Real Estate, I was tasked with helping oversee our investments in the office sector, which totaled over 45 million square feet at the time. This experience provided me with an excellent introduction to owning and operating real estate assets and made me a better investor.
What’s your typical day like?
My typical day is focused on identifying attractive investment opportunities for our investors and executing on these transactions. The investments range across all real estate asset classes and capital structures. One of the great things about my job is I am involved in all aspects of the investment, including sourcing, underwriting, financing, presenting to our investment committee and ultimately closing the transaction.
2005
Graduated from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce
2005
Joined Blackstone’s Restructuring Group as a 1st Year Analyst
2007
Joined Blackstone’s Real Estate Group as a 3rd Year Analyst
2009
Promoted to Associate
2012
Promoted to Principal
I knew that people at Blackstone would be smart and hard working, but I was surprised by the collegial atmosphere in the real estate group. The team truly likes each other and enjoys working together and this creates a pleasant work environment.
What makes Blackstone a unique place to work?
Blackstone has a unique blend of demand for excellence and high quality of life that I have not been able to find elsewhere. The real estate group values success but also places huge value on integrity and personal character.
What assignments/deals have been most rewarding?
As a liaison with our limited partners I often have the privilege of working with our high profile partners, which is always challenging and rewarding. I am also fortunate that, being on the front lines with our partners; I am often (undeservedly) the recipient of praise for our investment decisions. It is very rewarding to be acknowledged for helping to achieve an increase in a portfolio that will ensure that pensioners have benefits upon retirement.
How has Blackstone helped your career aspirations?
Blackstone is a challenging work environment, full of smart, hard working and motivated individuals. Being surrounded by talent encourages me to continue to strengthen my skills which, in turn, has helped me to move forward in my career.
2001
Graduated from law school and joined a major NY law firm
2005
Joined a private equity real estate firm
Blackstone has shaped and developed me to be not just a critical and creative thinker, but also an effective leader. Everyone I’ve collaborated with here has worked hard to make me better at what I do.
What drew you to joining Blackstone?
The brand and industry position are unique and outstanding. That got me to the first interview. But it was meeting the people that made me certain this is where I wanted to make my career.
What’s your typical day like?
Every day offers variety, unpredictability and the need to think creatively. My focus ranges from deal sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities to transaction negotiation and structuring, and helping portfolio companies with their operating and financial issues.
What advice would you give potential candidates?
We’re looking for business judgment, interpersonal effectiveness, intellectual horsepower and most importantly, strong commitment. Don’t take yourself out of the running if you have a non-traditional background.
1998–2002
Associate, Consultant and Project Leader at The Boston Consulting Group
2002–2004
Harvard Business School
2003
Summer Associate in Blackstone Private Equity
2004
Joined Blackstone Private Equity full-time, promoted to Managing
Director in 2010
For an institution with such global scale and resources, it feels like a (relatively) small firm. And colleagues are uniformly capable and motivated – it’s hard to find a weak link.
What surprised you the most about Blackstone/your group when you first joined?
How much responsibility I was given, and this coming from a summer associate who knew what to expect. Within 2 days of joining the firm full time, I was thrust into a complex multi-party workout with just an SMD, an MD and an analyst on the team. This was a thoroughly enriching and demanding experience all at once.
What assignments/deals have been most rewarding?
Generally speaking, assignments where I’ve been operating at a level beyond my title, and thinking creatively with counterparts to solve problems in fluid situations, have been the most rewarding.
How has Blackstone helped your career aspirations?
Having switched groups within the firm, I can personally attest to Blackstone’s efforts to advance peoples’ careers. I believe the firm understands that its people are its most important asset, and so invests accordingly.
2001
Graduated from Amherst College
2007
Graduated from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, joined full-time as an Associate
2010
Promoted to Vice President in Restructuring
2011
Transferred to the Private Equity / Capital Markets Group as Principal
Blackstone is still a relatively small place in terms of number of employees, despite its global reach and leadership position in alternatives. If you have good ideas, the firm will put talent and resources behind them, which ultimately is the best thing for your career. We provide people with a broad range of exposure and then reward smart initiative-taking.
What surprised you the most about Blackstone/your group when you first joined?
I was most surprised by the opportunistic nature of the firm’s business strategy – Business groups are
able to identify opportunities and organize people and resources to capitalize on them quickly. It is truly an extraordinary place from that perspective.
What’s your typical day like?
We spend a lot of time crafting customized investment solutions for our clients. It would not be unusual to meet with a public pension plan or sovereign wealth fund in the morning and then spend the rest of the day working with our portfolio managers and hedge fund partners to construct an investment solution that meets the client’s risk and return objectives.
What advice would you give potential candidates?
This is a very down-to-earth place, and we place a premium on hiring people who can work in teams. We look for the smartest, hardest-working people that we can find, but don't forget to bring your personality and sense of humor to the interview as well.
1995
Graduated Yale Law School and began federal clerkship
1997
Joined Davis Polk & Wardwell as a corporate associate
2005–2009
Joined Blackstone as a Vice President in BAAM, named Head of Global Business Strategy for BAAM, promoted to Senior Managing Director
2011
Joined BAAM's Investment Committee and launched its first dedicated Product Development Group
I decided it was time to move to a platform that could help me further my investing ability. I found that at GSO/Blackstone, I could surround myself with some of the most talented investors in the world.
What makes Blackstone a unique place to work?
It's the people that truly define GSO/Blackstone. I can't imagine another environment with a higher concentration of motivated, intelligent, and creative people who strive to succeed through collaboration with their peers and colleagues.
What’s your typical day like?
My typical day involves getting up early to check on the overnight markets and digest any news out of Asia or Europe. From there I start to get a sense for what has moved overnight and what our trading desk will try to achieve that day based on new price movements as we move toward the US market open. The latter part of my day is spent monitoring our existing risk and working with the research team on any new investments or trades.
What advice would you give potential candidates?
The best advice I'd give to potential candidates would be to find a mentor here at Blackstone, or wherever they end up in their career. This should be someone who takes a vested interest in their professional development and success. Once they've identified that person, ask as many questions as possible, and work as hard as you can.
2003
Graduated from Harvard University undergraduate with a BA in History of International Relations and began work at Citibank
2006
Took a job at GSO Capital Partners to work on the trading desk in the hedge fund group
2010
Promoted to run the trading desk for GSO's hedge fund products
I’ve been challenged nearly every day since I first joined as a summer associate in 2006, and those challenges have brought me great opportunities to learn and advance my career.
What surprised you the most about Blackstone/your group when you first joined?
The collegial atmosphere probably surprised me the most. Blackstone has a reputation as a challenging place to work, but the M&A group’s steady growth and collaborative culture have provided ample opportunity for career advancement at all levels.
What assignments/deals have been most rewarding?
We advised AIG on their government-backed restructuring during the height of the global financial crisis in 2008. As part of that assignment, I worked on a number of divestitures that had to be completed very quickly in order to maximize proceeds to repay AIG’s loans from the government. It was rewarding to help find solutions in such a unique and challenging environment.
What advice would you give potential candidates?
It’s important for candidates to understand the difference between investment banking cultures that are transactional in nature and those that are more strategically oriented. Because we don’t engage in underwriting or trading, you have to truly enjoy tackling very challenging problems dealing with financial and business strategy in order to succeed at Blackstone M&A.
1999–2005
Financial Audit and M&A Consulting, PricewaterhouseCoopers
2005–2007
MBA, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
2006
Summer Associate, Blackstone M&A
2007–Present
Associate, then Vice President for Blackstone Advisory Partners
Blackstone is a highly entrepreneurial and commercial firm. It is a great place for people to learn from the best. It is still a relatively small firm in terms of headcount but the global strength of Blackstone’s brand is quite remarkable.
What’s your typical day like?
I've been at the firm 16 years and every day is different and brings new challenges. I have worked
on a diverse array of interesting assignments: mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, restructurings, privatizations and investments all around the world.
How has Blackstone helped your career aspirations?
Blackstone continually gives its employees new challenges: I was given the opportunity to move to London in 2007 to work on the start-up of our Corporate Advisory business in Europe. This experience has been quite enriching from both a personal and career standpoint.
What advice would you give potential candidates?
Blackstone is a great place to work, learn and have a meaningful career. As the firm continues to grow into new product areas and geographies, there are continually new opportunities for our people.
1995
Graduated from the Wharton School - MBA in Finance, Palmer Scholar
1995–1996
Wolfensohn & Company Associate
1996
Joined Blackstone as a lateral Associate in the Corporate Advisory Group
2007
Joined Blackstone’s London office with a role to assist in the build out of the European and International Corporate Advisory business
2012
Relocated back to the New York office to focus on the real estate, luxury and business services sectors
We work with large companies and their creditors to craft and navigate complex balance sheet restructurings and financial solutions. Restructuring processes are extremely demanding on a business and its employees. Working hand-in-hand with management to achieve success in difficult times is extremely rewarding.
What surprised you the most about Blackstone/your group when you first joined?
Employee enthusiasm for the work we do and the spirit of cooperation. Even the most senior employees are eager to provide advice, debate theory and work through technical challenges. It is both comforting and motivating that every colleague at Blackstone finds a great level of enjoyment in the work we do.
How has Blackstone helped your career aspirations?
The roots of our firm grew in the entrepreneurial spirit of our founders. This spirit continues to drive the development of everyone at Blackstone and encourages alternative perspectives and ideas.
What advice would you give potential candidates?
Figure out what you really want to do and speak to as many people as possible about your decision. We spend a significant amount of time and effort searching for the best and brightest candidates. You should spend the same trying to figure out what role will best suit your skills and interests.
We want very well-rounded people with intellectual flexibility and a strong interest in financial problem solving. We like enthusiastic candidates who can apply their life experiences to create and analyze unique solutions to complex situations.
2000
Graduated from Bowdoin College with an AB in Economics and Legal Studies
2002
Joined Blackstone after 1.5 years at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
2004–2005
Attended Columbia Business School and interned as a Summer Associate at Blackstone
2006
Returned to Blackstone
Blackstone has helped me develop immensely through enhancing my management, leadership and negotiation skills. Having worked as an analyst prior to Blackstone, I wanted to be in an environment that helped me close the gap between myself and those whom I respected and to whom I reported.
What drew you to joining Blackstone?
When thinking about my next career move, I sought an environment that had high caliber people and
afforded those people a high degree of responsibility. I sought a platform that was conducive to success. Blackstone clearly hit all those points.
What surprised you the most about Blackstone/your group when you first joined?
Given the high profile and complexity of the deals, I was surprised by how lean deal teams were and how much responsibility was given to each team member.
What advice would you give potential candidates?
It’s critical to not only focus on obtaining a specific title or function, but it’s equally as important to find a culture and group of individuals that support your development and growth. Without the latter you may find yourself in the career you wanted but not enjoying it and asking yourself, why?
2004
Associate at JPMorgan
2008
Joined Blackstone as a Summer Associate in the Restructuring & Reorganization Group
2009
Graduated from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
2009
Joined Blackstone as an Associate in the Restructuring & Reorganization Group
Blackstone and Park Hill employ some of the best people in their fields, and as a result, I am constantly learning from my colleagues and clients. In my work specifically, no two fundraising processes are the same, so there are always opportunities to learn more and be challenged.
What surprised you the most about Blackstone/your group when you first joined?
Coming from a large investment bank, I was first surprised by how flat our organization truly is – a lot of firms say they are, but our senior professionals in Park Hill are truly accessible for advice and input.
What assignments/deals have been most rewarding?
One of the best parts of my job is helping clients raise funds – in some cases, their first institutional fund. It’s rewarding to see them successfully invest that capital and generate great returns for their investors.
How has Blackstone helped your career aspirations?
Blackstone and specifically, Park Hill offer a lot of opportunities for advancement and growth. As part of a small group, there are always opportunities to take on more responsibility and grow professionally. In addition, Blackstone offers a lot of programming and opportunities to work with and get to know colleagues in other groups.
2004
Graduated from University of Virginia
2004–2005
Investment Banking at Merrill Lynch & Co.
2005–2008
Associate, Park Hill Group
2008–2011
Director, Park Hill Group, Currently Principal, Park Hill Group