In this episode of The Coffee Chat Podcast, our guest Wayllon Lu shares his journey from discovering finance in high school to landing a role at a top investment bank — and why he decided to leave the traditional Wall Street path for a leadership role in corporate operations. We explore lessons from non-target school recruiting, networking strategies that actually work, the balance between technical skills and personality in interviews, and what it really takes to thrive in high-pressure environments. Whether you’re an aspiring banker, a career pivoter, or just curious about the business world behind the scenes, this conversation is packed with real-world advice and insights.Chapters / Key Moments:0:00 – Growing up in Chicago & early career exploration1:12 – The finance spark: Columbia’s corporate valuation course2:17 – Choosing Illinois & finding a business fraternity3:25 – Learning about investment banking through peers4:13 – Landing internships at a small bank and Moelis & Co.4:40 – Transitioning from banking to corporate finance at Pritchard5:26 – Choosing operations over investing roles6:32 – Why leaving the PE track made sense9:19 – Executing a company’s growth plan post-transaction11:09 – Non-target school recruiting mindset12:14 – Campus clubs & case competitions13:48 – Navigating the resume screen with networking14:59 – Two approaches to networking outreach17:27 – The game-changing New York networking trip21:04 – Maximizing email response rates21:36 – Beyond classroom learning: practical prep strategies23:03 – Case studies, modeling, and technical prep programs25:20 – How technical prep feeds networking success27:16 – Using certifications to stand out in conversations28:13 – Minimizing errors & making managers’ lives easier30:09 – Building confidence in high-stakes moments32:01 – The value of speed & efficiency in Excel33:15 – Why technical skills alone won’t win interviews34:16 – Behavioral skills, attitude, and coachability36:06 – Passing the “airport test” in interviews37:28 – Leaving a strong single impression on interviewers