In this episode, we sit down with Lily Oh, an investor whose career has taken her from Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong to CVC Capital's Asia tech team, HarbourVest in Singapore, and now Harvard Business School. We discuss the biggest investment opportunities across Asia, how AI is reshaping private equity, and what differentiates markets like Korea, Japan, Singapore, and India. She also shares insights from evaluating deals alongside some of the world's leading private equity firms and offers career advice for students interested in private equity. Whether you're interested in global investing, tech, or the future of AI, this episode is packed with valuable insights.
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If you're new here, my name is Jahlen Brown. I'm a Harvard Business 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 top business 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 my first 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 CEO of Citibank, Willis Group, and Primerica
24 yrs old: Private equity fund consolidated and learned I was getting shoved out. Experienced my first major setback and began searching for new opportunities
25 yrs old: Started a new private equity role, signed my first 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 GMAT score 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 community college, 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 you think
To everyone chasing a bigger future:
Keep betting on yourself
Keep moving
Never quit
Jahlen
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