Regarding career prospects, the course provided foundational knowledge and essential qualities for pursuing opportunities in Private Equity or Investment Banking. In terms of professional expertise, the curriculum delivered sufficient knowledge for an Analyst level, as well as relevant insights for subsequent career stages. I found the training most valuable for its detailed instruction on research methodologies and modeling techniques, including key considerations. Overall, my impression of this training program is that the instructor demonstrated a strong commitment to sharing expertise in both theoretical concepts and practical industry challenges, offering fundamental knowledge suitable for Analyst-level professionals. Notably, the instructor strictly adhered to all confidentiality protocols concerning reference materials.
Through this training, I’ve gained a clear direction and understanding of what I need to prepare for, as well as a better grasp of my future career path and potential advancements. Moreover, I feel more confident knowing that I’m well-prepared and have the opportunity to enter the PE and IB fields.
Regarding the course, I’m satisfied with its thorough preparation and systematic knowledge delivery. Most importantly, the content is highly practical. I’m sure everyone would be impressed with the knowledge gained from this training and the real-world examples shared.
While I won’t reiterate what others have reviewed, I want to highlight something that truly impressed me: the dedication of Vinh and the entire Vietnam Investment Nurturing Hub team. I particularly appreciate their meticulousness and attentiveness, from sending meeting links and materials to the way instructors prepared real-world examples and adhered to NDAs. The well-prepared lectures and data sourced from reliable sources all demonstrate a high level of professionalism, organization, and attention to details – qualities essential for a career in PE and IB.
A good instructor is one who practices what they teach. Courses taught by such instructors are bound to be of high quality. I eagerly anticipate more advanced courses offered by the center. Additionally, I hope the center can organize more gatherings for students, perhaps casual coffee talks, to foster a sense of community and expand our networks. This would be incredibly valuable for individuals aspiring to work in PE and IB.
The training course has provided me with the knowledge and direction for my preparation, both in terms of soft skills and technical skills. It has helped me to visualize the big picture and have a comprehensive overview of my career. Throughout the course, I was very impressed and satisfied with the teacher’s professionalism and dedication.
The training course has given me more knowledge and skills to break into PE/IB. From research, financial analysis, modeling, valuation, and risk analysis, Mr. Vinh has conveyed many valuable insights, helping me realize that my previous skills in these areas were not up to standard and what I need to do to improve and perfect them. He is also very dedicated in providing advice within his ability and putting himself in the current position of the students to help them imagine the path to their desired job and outline a possible direction to achieve it. I thank him for providing such a beneficial course as someone who has many years of experience and continues to dedicate time to training the younger generation.
I have been working as an analyst for over eight months, mostly learning and improving my skills on my own. I am very eager to continue working in the PE-IB industry, but since my experience is still limited and my understanding is mainly based on observing senior professionals, I am not entirely clear on the essential skills required. As a result, I sometimes feel overwhelmed. However, the insights and guidance shared by Mr. Vinh have helped me visualize the ideal qualities of a professional in this field. This has become a guiding principle for me to continue improving myself and maintaining my passion for the industry.
Throughout the training program, I gained an overview of the nature of the PE-IB industry in Vietnam and the expectations for professionals in this field. The course content was highly practical, making it particularly valuable for someone like me, who lacks extensive experience, in shaping skill development and career direction.
The training program provided participants with a wealth of highly practical knowledge. What I appreciated most about the course was the extensive, detailed, and high-quality content. However, I also felt that the amount of knowledge covered in each session was quite overwhelming. Additionally, I found the tuition fee to be somewhat low, considering the valuable skills and knowledge delivered throughout the course.
The training program provided me with essential knowledge and the fundamental skills required of an Analyst, giving me a comprehensive perspective on the PE-IB industry. What I was most satisfied with was the clear and punctual schedule, the well-structured lessons—from general concepts to detailed knowledge—and the instructor’s clear teaching style, along with his encouragement for students to participate actively. However, I would have liked to receive more homework assignments.
In addition to teaching fundamental theoretical concepts, Mr. Vinh provided me with valuable materials on soft skills and practical industry-related examples, especially a wealth of resources for further self-study. What I appreciated most about the training program was Mr. Vinh’s dedication to teaching and the reliable learning materials that allow students to continue developing their skills independently.
I am grateful to have learned professional knowledge from someone as experienced as Mr. Vinh. Especially valuable were his insights on building financial models, the best practices to follow in the workplace, and the lessons he has gathered from over 20 years in the industry. These insights are truly invaluable.
I don’t have much experience in building financial models, so the models I created before were quite messy and unstructured. In this course, with Mr. Vinh’s guidance, I realized how well-structured and methodical a proper model can be. Although it initially takes more time to organize and prepare the data, once everything is put together, the process becomes much faster and more efficient. I also found his approach to structuring models very logical. Thank you, Mr. Vinh, for teaching us such an effective modeling method!
I also want to thank Mr. Vinh for organizing such a well-structured and knowledge-rich course for us. Through this course, I learned what an analyst in PE-IB is responsible for, the different stages of a deal process, and the specific tasks an analyst is involved in. Additionally, the course provided training in essential hard skills, including research, analysis, financial modeling, and legal aspects. Among these, I was most impressed by the modeling skills due to their completeness and logical structure. The legal insights also helped address my doubts about whether I should pursue an additional law degree. Gaining perspectives from an industry professional gave me a clearer understanding of what I need to prepare to work in this role in the future.
I am truly impressed by Mr. Vinh’s dedication and professionalism. He is incredibly passionate and inspires everyone through the way he teaches and patiently answers our questions.
Thank you, Mr. Vinh. I originally started out in accounting, so every lesson in this course introduced me to something completely new. When I decided to transition into the PE industry, I realized that there was still so much for me to learn, such as creating PowerPoint slides and, most importantly, building financial models.
Regarding financial modeling, when I studied using foreign materials, I found that many line items were tied to foreign regulations, which made them confusing and discouraging to follow. However, Mr. Vinh simplified financial models and presented them in a very effective way. In U.S.-based materials, percentage changes are typically placed directly below each line item, making calculations quicker, but this presentation style is not as suitable when presenting to an Investment Committee. Mr. Vinh’s approach to structuring models is much better suited for that context.
I am truly grateful for the insights he shared, including recommended reading materials, PowerPoint skills, and financial model templates. These were all completely new to me, and I deeply appreciate the guidance.
I am also very grateful to Mr. Vinh for providing us with the opportunity to access such valuable knowledge. I am still new to the industry, but I have already started working with some corporate analysis modules. However, after attending Mr. Vinh’s class, I realized how little I actually know and how my understanding is still not solid, especially in the industries I plan to explore further.
I would also like to thank Mr. Vinh and everyone for accompanying each other on this journey and participating in such a valuable course. Personally, I already have a fair amount of experience in analysis and valuation, but honestly, every time I learn a new lesson, I gain new insights and different perspectives—some of which I had never realized before. I truly hope that in the future, I will have the opportunity to work with everyone in the group.
I had the opportunity to learn from Mr. Vinh in both the Analyst and Associate courses. There were two aspects of the courses that I found particularly valuable:
Financial Modeling Skills: This skill is not part of the CFA curriculum, and my previous work at the bank did not involve this level of financial modeling. As a result, I had not had the opportunity to apply these skills in a practical setting. However, Mr. Vinh’s thorough and step-by-step instruction enabled me to develop and implement a financial forecasting model, including balance sheet and cash flow statements. With Mr. Vinh’s guidance, I was able to apply these skills to build my own model, although I still need more practical experience to fully refine it.
Financial Analysis Skills: I had gained some experience in analyzing and evaluating companies during my time at the bank. Mr. Vinh’s course provided a structured and logical framework for the knowledge and skills related to financial analysis and valuation, and it also gave me new perspectives on how to analyze a company. I was particularly interested in the concept of key drivers, which are the fundamental factors that drive a company’s growth.
I feel very fortunate to have taken Mr. Vinh’s courses, and I highly recommend them to others. I wish him continued good health and success in inspiring future students.
Throughout the Associate-level course with Mr. Vinh, I have not only enhanced my expertise but also developed many practical skills in the field of PE-IB in general and in the role of an Associate in particular. Specifically:
Regarding professional knowledge, the training course has excellently fulfilled its mission of conveying a complete and clear process of advising on transactions, from the initial deal sourcing phase to the deal closing phase. It also covers the implementation of follow-up plans and strategies that a PE fund can employ to enhance the value of businesses (value-add strategy). I believe the knowledge provided in the training course is not only comprehensive but also very in-depth, delving into specific aspects, ensuring that students gain both a panoramic view and an in-depth understanding of the deal.
In terms of working skills: This is an aspect that I highly appreciate in the training course because through practical exercises in class (directly participating in the execution of a specific deal under the guidance of Mr. Vinh), I had the opportunity to identify my shortcomings through Mr. Vinh’s reviews and improve them. After completing the training course, I also felt a significant improvement in analytical skills, report writing, and financial modeling.
Especially, I am most satisfied with how Mr. Vinh conveys knowledge throughout the training course. He is very dedicated and enthusiastic in guiding students.
Having completed two consecutive courses and provided numerous reviews, and receiving many inquiries from IB friends, I, NA, would like to share this post to inspire others to join the course. In essence, the course has several outstanding points:
(1) Analyst specializes in backend tasks: Data entry, a small part of modeling, writing analytical research, compiling documentation, etc. I had nearly one and a half years of internship at two PE funds, during which my tasks were mainly as instructed: photocopying, translating contracts, translating reports, creating small research pieces, processing data, and creating valuation models. However, at that time, I didn’t understand the purpose of these tasks and how they contributed to the deal, so I was mostly discouraged. I think this phase is a common mindset among Analysts because, due to confidentiality, even Associates may not be fully involved in the entire deal process.
Join the Analyst course to understand the PE-IB Transaction Process. Comprehend the ‘Dharma’ of the Analyst position. After completing the course, I realized many values during my internship (and more deeply than my mentor’s scolding) – a solid foundation for my current job.
(2) IB-PE requires legal proficiency. Previously, I was confused about studying VB2 at the Law School to pursue this profession, but my colleagues criticized, ‘Studying won’t be practical, so why bother.’
Lectures on Law by Mr. Vinh Vo-Sang, CFA in the Associate class are very helpful. They guide me on a self-learning path and save me from the unnecessary effort of studying VB2.
(3) Open (growth) mindset instead of a Closed (fixed) mindset. This factor is crucial when looking at investment business leadership, but I think it is even more important for deal makers.
This year, many incidents happened to me that made me self-reflect, mainly because I met many people with exceptional mindsets (competent + positive). Mr. Vinh is one of those I deeply respect. He often says three years is a generation, if that’s the case, there’s probably a decade between him and me. However, he is incredibly open-minded, always sharing and answering all our questions. He not only answers the question asked but also relates it to practical experiences, exceeding expectations. I’ve learned a lot from him about communication and behavior.
(4) About the curriculum, you can message me (even though I previously posted a story about the Associate course outline).
What I’ve learned most from Mr. Vinh is his approach to problem-solving. From due diligence to writing reports for the Investment Committee and crucially, determining investment opportunities (what could be more accurate than learning to view an investment opportunity from someone who was a fund CEO), … in general, it’s excellent
Although the course has ended (still owe an assignment – an analysis + a teaser), and I will likely continue learning in other courses soon, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Mr. Vinh Vo-Sang, CFA. I hope he will offer many more training courses on IB-PE expertise for me to continue learning.
This year has been fortunate in terms of education
One of the wisest decisions I made this year was to enroll in two PE-IB professional courses at Vietnam Investment Nurturing Hub, led by Mr. Vinh Vo-Sang!
The course content is well-organized, easy to understand, and covers a comprehensive range from soft skills to hard skills, legal aspects, modeling, and business. What’s even more valuable is the knowledge and practical experience that Mr. Vinh shares during the lectures – very dedicated and not holding back any professional secrets. There are insights from real-world experiences and a mindset for approaching problems that I’m certain I wouldn’t find anywhere else outside of his class!
Indeed, I have broadened my perspective while taking the Associate course, gaining exposure to aspects like negotiation that I hadn’t had the opportunity to explore before. I also now understand what deal structure entails and how to reflect it in the model.
One of the most profitable investments of 2023. I express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Vinh Vo-Sang and Vietnam Investment Nurturing Hub!!!
P/s: Many thanks to Mr. Vinh Vo-Sang for providing extra motivation for me to study in the UK and have the wonderful experiences I am enjoying now.
TRAINING SERIES WITH DISTINCTIVE ‘SIGNATURE’
After completing the Private Equity – Investment Banking for Deal-makers training course at both the Analyst and Associate levels, I have gained tremendous value from the course, especially from Mr. Vinh. The value encompasses both knowledge and professional expertise, the necessary skills during deal execution, a comprehensive perspective on a real deal, the right mindset when approaching deal-related issues, and practical workflow.
For me, this is a training series with unique ‘signatures.’ At the Associate level, I was impressed from the very first stage, the Deal-sourcing phase. The way of selecting the Target company from the Deal-sourcing stage is not just another case study; for me, it is a ‘real-time deal simulation.’ Everything from information, figures, plans, strategies, personnel is happening in real-time. During the screening and various analyses (macro, trend, industry, company, key competitor, etc.), numerous findings, controversial issues, arguments, risks, and opportunities are revealed.
Addressing each issue will help reflect on the Financial Model more accurately and align it with reality. This significantly aids in analysis, report writing, and subsequent tasks. Besides listening to Mr. Vinh convey knowledge during each session, if you dedicate time and focus on the assigned tasks after each class, you will undoubtedly encounter many challenges that may not arise in your current job. At this point, questions will arise in your mind, and for me, this is when the ‘Signature’ appears.
The more ‘precious’ the question, the more the answer from Mr. Vinh exceeds expectations. As long as it doesn’t fall under ‘confidential,’ Mr. Vinh will answer with experiences derived from specific deal-making, market realities, and enthusiasm, as if a founder is seeking partners to collaborate, without holding back any professional secrets.
At the Associate level, most have not yet participated in the entire process of completing a specific deal from the deal-sourcing stage to deal-closing. Therefore, some answers you receive from Mr. Vinh may be challenging to find someone to explain in your current job, including direct superiors.
After temporarily completing the Financial Model and calculating the preliminary Valuation, the stage related to Deal-structure follows, then the Term Sheet (preliminary presentation to the Investment Committee, drafting a term sheet, negotiating terms, etc.). You will experience feelings of slight pressure when presenting to the IC, even though it’s assumed. Subsequently, the constant ‘head-spinning’ feeling during negotiations between the Buy-side and Sell-side will follow. However, you will receive feedback, suggestions, and clarification of encountered issues directly from Mr. Vinh, with insights from someone who is not only the Managing Director of an investment fund but also participates on the boards of several companies and directly designs the training course. In daily work outside, you will hardly find any BOD willing to spend time guiding you on what is right and what is not. There is only doing the work and evaluating it based on job effectiveness, perhaps through self-study, learning from colleagues, learning through direct superiors, learning through networking. And for me, this is a continued ‘Signature.’
After completing the training course, I personally noticed a significant improvement in skills, from analysis, report writing, handling financial models, devising deal structures, negotiation, having a holistic view of a deal from the deal-sourcing stage to deal-closing, delving deep into the details of each issue, understanding the tasks that need to be done, contacting relevant parties, understanding the standards for meeting the requirements of a PE investment fund, and adopting a standard, professional mindset from the beginning.
Although the Associate course has ended, I am determined to soon register for the next courses at higher levels to enhance my capabilities and address any shortcomings. And not forgetting, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Mr. Vinh and Vietnam Investment Nurturing Hub.
P/S: Highly recommend for those who intend to delve deeply, systematically, professionally, and want to get involved in careers related to the PE-IB industry.
The course consists of 10 sessions with very rich content, focusing on the knowledge and skills necessary for deal-makers. Throughout the learning process, Mr. Vinh always teaches in a very systematic manner, starting from the general to the specific, always applying theory to real case studies. Through this, I have a deeper understanding and mastery of the key concepts. At the same time, Mr. Vinh always emphasizes that alongside professional knowledge, the nurturing of soft skills and a good attitude are extremely important. A good deal-maker is someone who embodies all these elements.
Before attending the course, my understanding of the profession of private equity (PE) and investment banking (IB) was extremely limited. After completing the course, I truly have broadened my horizons, understanding what PE-IB entails and recognizing the shortcomings that I need to improve upon if I want to go further in this profession. In addition to teaching, Mr. Vinh also provides advice and shares experiences accumulated over the years of working in the profession, which for me, are invaluable and greatly appreciated.
The most correct thing I did in 2024 was to enroll in this course and meet Mr. Vinh – someone who has inspired me greatly in my career. In the future, when Mr. Vinh launches the next Associate-level PE-IB course, I will definitely enroll to upgrade myself, refine my specialized knowledge, and listen to the valuable lessons of experience from him.
The course has expanded my understanding of the PE-IB field, with Mr. Vinh imparting invaluable insights into the mindset and skillset essential for deal-making. While seemingly minor, these nuances are crucial in this industry, enhancing my abilities both in the present and for future endeavors within PE-IB.
The course content is comprehensive, spanning 10 sessions that encapsulate nearly every aspect of a PE-IB analyst’s daily duties. While some topics may not be groundbreaking to all, Mr. Vinh’s structured slides and supplementary materials have been instrumental in organizing my knowledge, fostering a deeper understanding of job intricacies, and refining my professional skills. Even tasks as seemingly straightforward as Word, PowerPoint, or Financial Modeling are approached with a standardized framework by Mr. Vinh, ensuring clarity and completeness in the final product.
The course content closely aligns with real-world work. The course provided me with: (1) an insider’s perspective on the daily work of a professional buyside analyst/IB, (2) a mindset for a long-term career in the industry, and potential career transition opportunities, (3) a place to ‘return to’ in terms of expertise, with a helpful instructor and a lovely community of peers. The Analyst course is genuinely worth studying for those with limited experience or those who want a better understanding of the industry. If you’re new to the field, it can really be said to be a course that will save you 1-2 years of work experience.
Mr. Vinh conveys information simply and easily to understand. He answers questions in a detailed and specific manner. Thank you, Mr. Vinh, for sharing your experience and knowledge in the course. The course helped me gain direction and a clearer view of the career landscape in the industry.
The course helped me understand the overall nature of the work and the knowledge and skills required for investment banking. Additionally, I gained insights into how certain theories, ratios, and indicators are applied in practice, and I acquired a basic understanding of the process and logic of financial modeling. What I am most satisfied with about the training course is the content related to financial modeling, which is very easy to understand, logical, and practical. Furthermore, Mr. Vinh is very welcoming and provides detailed explanations for questions in the class.
I attended the PE-IB professional training course at the Vietnam Investment Nurturing Hub to hear more from Mr. Vinh about the PE-IB profession!
My perspective when entering this profession is to try to be able to “dance to any tune” (metaphorically, as I don’t know any dance moves except vague memories of a PE class from two years ago). So, this PE-IB Analyst training course is genuinely valuable and helpful for my work. From business analysis to modeling, the instructor’s explanations are easy to understand, and he gets to the heart of the matter. Moreover, there are many practical examples for students to visualize. Condensing all the knowledge about analysis, modeling, laws, and the deal process for both IB and PE into 10 sessions is not an easy task, but the course has done it fairly comprehensively. Listening to the instructor’s genuine sharing about the profession, his past experiences, I truly feel that he is passionate and dedicated to his profession and is very inspiring for students.
I’m looking forward to the Associate-level course!
I highly recommend this course for 3rd and 4th-year students, recent graduates like me (I’m actually cheating because I’m about to submit my thesis tomorrow), or anyone interested in the investment field in general and PE in particular.
The course is highly applicable. I now have a clear understanding of how to conduct standard research, and I hope to have more opportunities for learning further. What makes me most satisfied about the training course is the open approach by which Mr. Vinh answers everyone’s questions.
I am very satisfied with the course. The content covered the fundamental standards of knowledge, which was both basic and useful, making it easy to synthesize and apply. The instructor was experienced, dedicated, and shared enthusiastically with a practical approach.
I am very satisfied with the training course. What I am most pleased about this training course is the quality of the study materials and the dedication of the instructor in each session.
For me, this course provides several values: (1) an overall understanding of knowledge, (2) enhancement of financial modeling skills, and (3) a nurturing community at Vietnam Investment Nurturing Hub for networking opportunities.
In my personal opinion, (1) Legal documents and (2) Financial modeling are two highlights of the program. In my current role, I haven’t been exposed to many documents like SPA, LOI, etc., so this is an opportunity for me to gain a comprehensive overview of essential information that needs to be grasped. Regarding financial modeling, even though I had practical experience before, the instructor’s methods (e.g. the plug-in) helped streamline the model-building process. The course’s value provides newbies with an overall perspective on the PE-IB industry’s roadmap/process and concretizes checklists for required skillsets and knowledge.