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If you're new here, my name is Jahlen Brown. I'm a HarvardBusiness School student and former private equity analyst. I spent four years working in the industry, closed over $1 billion in transactions, and worked 80-hour weeks while building my MBA applications. Today, I create content to help ambitious professionals break into elite careers, earn admission to topbusiness schools, and create opportunities they never thought possible.
How I got here...
20: Committed to breaking into private equity and became the first person in my family to work in finance
21 yrs old: Finally broke into private equity and started myfirst internship at a real estate fund. Became involved with Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), helping underrepresented students break into competitive careers
22 yrs old: Graduated Rutgers University Summa Cum Laude and landed three private equity job offers. Began my career in acquisitions in NYC
23 yrs old: Became the protégé of Joe Plumeri II, former CEOof Citibank, Willis Group, and Primerica
24 yrs old: Private equity fund consolidated and learned Iwas getting shoved out. Experienced my first major setback and began searching for new opportunities
25 yrs old: Started a new private equity role, signed myfirst M&A deal, and decided I wanted to create even bigger opportunities for myself. I began preparing for business school while working 80-hour weeks
26 ys old: Accepted into 11 business schools, includingHarvard, Wharton, Columbia, Booth, and Dartmouth
26 ys old: Earned approximately $910,000 in scholarships,including full-tuition scholarships to Cornell and Yale
26 ys old: Became the first person in my family to attend anIvy League institution
26 ys old: Achieved all of this despite having a low GMATscore while working 80-hour weeks
Today: I'm attending Harvard Business School and documenting everything I learn about admissions, recruiting, entrepreneurship, investing, and career growth.
I grew up in a lower-class family, attended communitycollege, transferred to Rutgers, worked my way into private equity, and eventually earned admission to the best business schools in the world.
I was never the smartest applicant
I just refused to quit after I got knocked down
If you stick to your goals, you can do far more than youthink
To everyone chasing a bigger future:
Keep betting on yourself
Keep moving
Never quit
Jahlen