Manu Sai Bakshi: From Starting Over to Recruiting Wall Street’s Top Talent | EP167
Show Notes
Manu Sai Bakshi arrived in New York with $2,500, a new wife, and a degree that wasn’t recognized in the U.S. Within weeks, he was applying for a job at Macy’s in Herald Square. That humbling beginning eventually led Manu into the hedge fund world, where he spent nearly a decade learning how the industry identifies and hires elite talent before launching Preeminence Advisors during COVID. In this episode, Manu joins Ilana to break down what separates great portfolio managers from mediocre ones, why reputation matters more than a quick fee, and how taking the harder path can become your greatest competitive advantage. Chapters – Introduction – What Is a Hedge Fund? Breaking It Down Simply – From IBM to Macy’s: Manu’s First Days in New York – The Differentiator: Cold Calling When No One Else Would – Almost Fired—and Already Planning His Own Firm – The Moment That Proved He Could Place Portfolio Managers – What Makes a Great Portfolio Manager – Why Reputation Is Everything – Launching His Own Firm During COVID – Building the First Client: Knock Their Socks Off – How People Actually Become Portfolio Managers – Manu’s Favorite Interview Questions and Red Flags – The Biggest Hiring Mistakes Hedge Funds Make – Q&A: How Do You Keep Going When You Feel Defeated? About Manu Sai Bakshi Manu Sai Bakshi is the Founder and CEO of Preeminence Advisors, a boutique search firm specializing in placing elite portfolio managers at multibillion-dollar hedge funds. After immigrating from India, Manu built his career from the ground up before spending nearly a decade leading recruiting inside a systematic hedge fund. Today, he works with senior hedge fund leaders as both a recruiter and strategic talent advisor. Leap Academy Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a new way for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap into bigger opportunities. Get started with Ilana’s free career training at leapacademy.com/training.
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