Our Coaches

Josh Jia - Coach and Founder - Covers IB, PE (Diversified, Infra, Real Estate), VC, Private Credit, Hedge Funds, Corp Dev, FP&A, Investor Relations, Resume Reviews

Josh Jia is the founder of Finance Interview Coach, the world’s #1 interview coaching service for students and professionals in investment banking, private equity, corporate development, corporate / commercial banking, equity research / hedge funds, and venture capital.

He is the author of the 350 Questions guide is a lecturer at the Dardern School of Business (University of Virginia) focused on investment banking. He has also taught lectures at Princeton, Wharton, UCLA, Queen’s University, Ivey, Rotman, Schulich, Waterloo, and Laurier. Josh has coached clients in 40+ countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and Latin America. Through his efforts, he has placed 300+ candidates in finance roles.

Josh is also the Youtube channel creator of financial modeling and interview prep content, including a step-by-step LBO model walkthrough that has garnered 238k views.
https://youtu.be/ZISikqdTS6w?si=e2Bu0RU2K6ObnHZX

Josh has always been passionate about teaching and helping aspiring investment banking and private equity professionals achieve their dreams. His passion for finance began in high school at the end of 2007, where he heard a tip on a podcast to short homebuilders. He ended up placing first in a provincial stock market competition and winning a scholarship. Josh also started an investment club at Queen’s University called Limestone Capital, which has grown to an alumni base of 150+ people around the world. Using this platform, Josh built the first finance interview prep course at Queen’s University, which included 6 classes and a 250 slide package.

During his time in investment banking (BMO) and private equity (Imperial Capital), Josh has accumulated significant transaction experience, including the C$300M IPO of Sleep Country, the US$156M acquisition of Atlas Paper by Resolute Forest Products, and an extensive private equity roll-up of food testing labs in the U.S. Having worked closely with the sell side and buy side alike, Josh knows exactly how to position candidates for success both for the short term and the long term, and is eager to provide coaching and share his resources in the areas of investment banking, private equity, corporate development, and other subsectors of finance.

Josh is also a Principal at Apex Advisory, a firm that specializes in consulting services for financial modeling, investment memos, due diligence, strategy, and data science.

Outside of work, Josh is a published poet, a passionate Dungeons and Dragons player, and an avid sports fan of basketball, football, and soccer.

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Stella Zhang - IB and Infrastructure PE Coach

With over 6 years of experience in investment banking and private equity, Stella has developed expertise in public M&A, IPOs, financing, and strategic advisory services.

As an Investment Banking Associate at Goldman Sachs Industrials Group in New York, she has been involved in various high-impact deals. Stella also contributed to on-campus recruiting efforts at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

As a Private Equity Associate at a middle-market infrastructure fund in New York, she focused on sectors such as energy transition, the circular economy, and sustainable agriculture. She specializes in structured equity and non-dilutive capital solutions.

In addition, Stella serves as a coach for Kellogg’s Investment Banking and Capital Markets Club, where she has mentored over 20 MBA students in interview preparation, case studies, and networking strategies for investment banking recruiting.

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Rolan Naiman - Debt / Corporate Banking

Rolan has worked as a corporate banker at a large Canadian institution for 7 years providing debt financing to power, utility, and infrastructure companies. Recognizing the foundational role that debt played within all financial transactions initially drew Rolan to the credit side of the business and continues to be a rewarding experience as he helps clients close important deals. Prior to working in credit, Rolan worked at a pension fund in macro strategy research and on the trading floor of a sell-side institution. Rolan graduated from the University of Waterloo with a degree in Financial Economics.

Rolan particularly enjoys sharing his knowledge with others trying to break into the industry. As a self-proclaimed conversationalist, he will happily discuss any finance related topic on end until he is asked to stop.

Outside of work, Rolan enjoys rock climbing, watching hockey, spending time with his cat, and destroying his friends at Settlers of Catan.

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Karl-Joseph Assaf - IB, PE, VC, Hedge Fund Coach

Karl is a senior investment professional at a hedge fund backed by a serial multi-billionaire entrepreneur. He day-to-day revolves around identifying, studying, selecting, and ultimately owning stakes in generational companies led by visionary founders. He also has experience shorting companies. His mandate is global and unconstrained. His investment philosophy is fundamental and long-term. He invests in public and private markets.

In 2022, Karl was asked by the Board of one of the fund’s private holdings to step in as Interim CFO of a growth stage start-up to be the right-hand man of the founder for almost a year. Prior to his role at the hedge fund, Karl was a mid-level investment professional at the Blackstone Group. At Blackstone, he was lucky to have the opportunity to invest across sectors, capital structure, and asset classes for an evergreen multi-strategy fund. His time at Blackstone helped me hone in on the investing style that resonates most with his personality and character. Prior to Blackstone, Karl started his career at Barclays Capital, in their IBD group, focused on natural resources M&A and financing. Karl graduated from the University of Oxford with an engineering degree in 2011. He is an enthusiastic tennis player, skier, and swimmer.

Karl has screened thousands of CVs and interviewed 100+ candidates over time. He can help with the following: CV Review, Secure Interviews, Pass Interviews, Negotiate Compensation, and Career Management (Promotion / Transition). He endeavors to build a growing community of like-minded financial services professionals of all ages to promote support and knowledge sharing.

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Equity Research, Hedge Fund, and Investment Banking Professional

2 years of experience as Equity Research Analyst in Technology group at large bank

7 years of experience in hedge funds and investment banking

Experience teaching and lecturing in classroom environment

Mentored dozens of professionals to help them secure jobs in equity research and hedge funds

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Tech-Focused Megafund PE and Investment Banking Professional (GS/MS/Moelis)

Currently an Associate at a tech-focused private equity megafund

3 years of experience covering TMT and M&A at a top Bulge Bracket in New York

Have helped lead Intern and Analyst recruitment; have insights into the interview processes at numerous firms

Experience teaching and lecturing in classroom environment

Mentored numerous professionals and helped them secure jobs in Investment Banking

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Manager of Strategic Finance and FP&A at FAANG (Fintech, Equity Research / Hedge Fund, FP&A)

Top-ranked Investment Banking & Equity Research VP with 12+ years of experience. Currently a Strategic Finance and FP&A Manager at one of the FANGs

Have worked on the buyside & sellside, at bulge brackets & boutiques, covered multiple sectors (TMT, Consumer Retail etc.)

Been on the hiring committee for Intern, Analyst, Associate & VP recruitment; and have insights into how hiring decisions are made

Mentored 115+ professionals & helped them secure jobs in Banking, Research, S&T, HFs, & Strategic Finance / FP&A over the last 12 years, through resume & cover letter reviews, mock interviews, and career coaching