The Investment Banking Leaders Podcast

Why Most Bankers Fail at the VP → Director Transition (And How to Get It Right)

Why do so many investment bankers struggle to make the jump from execution to origination? In this episode, Matt Zimmer, Head of Investment Banking at William Blair, shares what it really takes to succeed at the senior level, from building a 700-person global platform to developing the next generation of leaders. We cover: - The mindset shift from VP to Director - Why perfect execution is the foundation of origination - How client trust, collaboration, and high standards drive long-term success. Matt also shares powerful lessons on: - Leadership - Culture - Scaling teams. Including why great leaders act as “player-coaches,” eliminate toxicity fast, and build organisations that punch above their weight. If you want to transition from executor to leader, this episode is essential listening. Investment Banking Leaders Club: https://ibleadersclub.com/Host: Peter Nieberg (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peternieberg/)Guest: Matt Zimmer (https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-zimmer-0bab705/) / https://www.williamblair.com/Sponsor: Altrum (https://www.altrum.com/) *Recorded February 3rd 2026*

From Medical School to Wall Street: How Great Investment Bankers Think Beyond the Deal

What separates transactional bankers from truly trusted advisors? In this episode, Philip Ross [https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-ross-48a80bba/], Vice Chairman at Jefferies [https://www.jefferies.com/]shares his unconventional journey from medical school to Wall Street, and the principles that have shaped his 28+ year career. Philip explains why the best bankers think in 10-year relationship arcs, stay relentlessly client-centric, and hold themselves to exceptionally high standards, even when no deal is on the table. He also breaks down how VPs and Directors can move beyond execution to become strategic partners clients trust. A masterclass in leadership, origination, and long-term thinking from one of the industry’s most respected voices.

How to Build an Investment Banking Boutique from Zero, and Why Origination Is the Real Power

Most investment bankers are trained to execute. Very few are trained to originate and that’s why most never make partner or build their own firm. In this episode, Marcel Brix, Co-Managing Director and shareholder at Blok Management, shares how he went from intern to co-founder of one of Germany’s fastest-growing boutique investment banks and why he now spends 90% of his time on origination. We break down: * What really changes when you move from executor to originator * How Marcel helped scale a boutique from zero to 20+ people * Why discipline, routines, and soft skills matter more than technical brilliance * How VPs can start building a personal deal pipeline today * The leadership mindset required to grow a firm without losing culture If you want to advance faster, build leverage, or one day launch your own boutique, this episode is a must-listen. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome to the Investment Banking Leaders Podcast Why this episode matters for ambitious bankers 02:00 – From intern to boutique banker: Marcel’s unconventional path Why big banks weren’t the right fit 06:30 – How Bloc Management was born The deal that changed everything 09:00 – The brutal early days of building a boutique Doing everything yourself — models, pitches, admin, and sales 14:30 – Why origination is the real career unlock in investment banking The skill most bankers never properly develop 18:00 – The partner problem: execution vs. origination Why many bankers hit a ceiling 21:30 – How Marcel spends 90% of his time on origination Funnels, LinkedIn, podcasts, and consistency 26:00 – Advice for VPs trying to become originators How to carve out origination time without dropping execution quality 30:00 – Should bankers learn sales? Why soft skills matter more than most admit 34:00 – Discipline, routines, and compounding habits Why success is a marathon, not a sprint 38:30 – Leadership lessons from building a firm from scratch How to lead without ego 42:00 – Treating interns like future partners Why culture compounds over time 45:00 – Building and protecting culture while scaling Putting people first — even before shareholders 48:00 – Book recommendation: Atomic Habits Why small habits drive outsized results 49:00 – One piece of advice for bankers who want to build their own boutique Start earlier than you think Investment Banking Leaders Club: https://ibleadersclub.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVJrR0JDUHpBamVaOTFaU1ZxcENhVFJSM2ZwQXxBQ3Jtc0tsX0FjdnRKNXpkSkpudjJna0NLbUdMakVDelNueGlhTjJ2SHVYT2VzcENmSzZleFlpeU16SzhTeTBvUDlCeVJxNFJ2QTZZbFNyNU9tUmZ3eldrbjRFMVJOeS10SHlkc1BSWno3ZS1pbl9rdXBYZFlMMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fibleadersclub.com%2F&v=o1e04YBlQgA]Host: Peter Nieberg (  https://www.linkedin.com/in/peternieberg/  [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazk4OEpnMmF2WTFHbjRXbmFPeGczVlhNSlRxQXxBQ3Jtc0tsV21Lb3JBWmJ4bVRaRU9lWG8yRGtpUnVUdW52bHpiSGNqM1BsYXZIaUVFOVRZZ3pkdnNpR0ZmTU9OUTZ0MkJJcTNSSmdwT05Xa3ZNWmZqSVN4YTJiR2pNQnZna2lKWjlVVDNxTlZ3M2JnUkJ6bXUxZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fpeternieberg%2F&v=o1e04YBlQgA])Guest: Marcel Brix: (  https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-brix/  [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHdIcHZFa2VsNkVSWWpsQnRETl9uZkFtMjBrUXxBQ3Jtc0tuSTMxYUhwYVZPd2gxMVBzcWFWQm5pU0Y4RnNkSFVzeW9TNTdRbWIzSDktR045T0kySVBSZmZsQk52d0E4TmZtQ3VKRWxsOTBmb0w2T1o3U2plTk9MV0NHY2h6TFFCSjFndTV2THVHV28xTFFielU4TQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmarcel-brix%2F&v=o1e04YBlQgA]) / https://www.blok-management.de/en/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVFoQUFmSHJqSDh2aXR2VGFWLVJoNDZiXzlTUXxBQ3Jtc0tubUhnZVg4d29KcjJnUHVESVJPaUhPZ0Jqc3RBTWtkWWxHWGJOZlR6elh2cmJYQTVNTFJFbmgtUi1HeWdwRDZBWDNzTlNXM2JCUFZSSW03dzUtYTB2YnpDLWU4Y091TGhQX3g5M3d1T3BCb1J6SE1aaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blok-management.de%2Fen%2F&v=o1e04YBlQgA]Sponsors: https://www.altrum.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazJQWHZ2bm9wWnBkS2w4YzVBTjlRUjloRGFYUXxBQ3Jtc0tud2NJVnhEVGFfVEwybV9xWDBUNGxvaHpUc0pCWVBhSXdtY1FQaGtSckVkeHNNcWpZaUk2Ql8tS00tZmtYZXQzOThudDZyRldoU2oxbFNPTmFGTy1abWEzWnNDNk1PSkphS0FwZVQyN1BpSG55Z2d6OA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.altrum.com%2F&v=o1e04YBlQgA]

From Small Town to Shareholder Battles: How Kai Liekefett Became the World's Top Activism Defense Lawyer

Welcome back to another great episode of The Investment Banking Leaders Podcast! In today's episode, we will explore how one man's refusal to lose and deep belief in integrity built the world's most elite shareholder activism defense practice. From a small steel town in Germany to Wall Street, Kai Liekefett became the world's top shareholder activism defense lawyer. He unpacks the "soap opera" of corporate battles, how he built a booming practice with constant BD, and why asking “why” is the key to leadership, learning, and client trust. To learn more from Kai, tune into Episode 38 of The Investment Banking Leaders Podcast today!

From Dreamer to Dealmaker: Luis Carlos Ochoa Paris on Building Valoriza Group & Leading with Grit

Welcome back to The Investment Banking Leaders Podcast! In this episode, our host Pete Nieberg chats with Luis Carlos Ochoa Paris, founder of Valoriza Group.From his early days in Colombia reading the Wall Street Journal to becoming a top independent investment banker in Latin America, Luis shares his journey, lessons learned, and leadership advice.Don't miss this inspiring conversation covering client trust, grit, international exposure, and the impact of AI in investment banking!Join the Investment Banking Leaders Club for more valuable resources at ibleadersclub.com.00:00 Introduction to the Podcast00:41 Meet Luis Carlos Ochoa Paris01:07 Luis's Journey to Founding Valoriza Group07:09 Keys to Building Trust in Cross-Border Transactions09:26 Client-Centric Culture at Valoriza14:25 Leadership Lessons from Family and Mentors15:56 The Role of Discipline in Personal and Professional Life18:13 Importance of Networking and Client Relationships22:13 The Power of Networking in Business23:36 Transitioning from Execution to Origination23:46 Insights on Working at Citi28:00 Advice for Aspiring Global Bankers30:28 Finding Passion in Investment Banking35:44 The Role of AI in Investment Banking39:25 Recommended Reads for Leaders42:00 Final Reflections and Advice