Send us Fan Mail

So many finance hopefuls dream of a career in Private Equity. But what do you actually DO during your internship, starting out as a full-time Analyst, or as an Associate? How do those roles differ at a mega fund vs. a smaller firm? Are there advantages to starting out in Private Equity vs. doing a tour of duty at an Investment Bank or MBB consulting firm?

We sat down with Karina Petrunova, a current Private Equity Associate at Charles Thayne Capital, a lower middle market fund with a software & technology focus, to learn about her path to Private Equity. She shares the specific steps she took to secure her first Wall Street internship during her sophomore year, her junior year internship, and ultimately her role at Vista Equity (a $100bn+ mega fund) out of undergrad. Karina shares insight into the practices that made her a successful intern, analyst, and associate, as well as into her decision making process behind why she chose the firms she did.

If you are considering a career in Private Equity, or want to understand the journey that your friends and loved ones in the industry may be on, this episode is a MUST listen.

For a 14 day FREE Trial of Macabacus, click HERE

Shop our Self Paced Courses:

Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HERE
Fixed Income Sales & Trading HERE

Wealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.

►Maranatha: The New Covenant || Michael Miller