The Investment Banking Leaders Podcast Podcast By Hosted by Peter Nieberg - Founder IB Leaders Club cover art

The Investment Banking Leaders Podcast

The Investment Banking Leaders Podcast

By: Hosted by Peter Nieberg - Founder IB Leaders Club
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Unlock the secrets of investment banking success from those who’ve reached the top. The IB Leaders Podcast is built for ambitious investment bankers committed to growth, leadership, and long-term success. Whether you’re an Analyst or Associate aspiring to lead, a VP or Director making the critical shift from execution to origination, or a Managing Director seeking fresh perspectives, each episode features in-depth conversations with the industry’s most accomplished leaders. Our mission is simple: connect you with the best minds in investment banking so you can learn, grow, and lead.Hosted by Peter Nieberg - Founder, IB Leaders Club Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Why Most Bankers Fail at the VP → Director Transition (And How to Get It Right)

    Why Most Bankers Fail at the VP → Director Transition (And How to Get It Right)
    Mar 24 2026

    Why do so many investment bankers struggle to make the jump from execution to origination?

    In this episode, Matt Zimmer, Head of Investment Banking at William Blair, shares what it really takes to succeed at the senior level, from building a 700-person global platform to developing the next generation of leaders.

    We cover:

    - The mindset shift from VP to Director

    - Why perfect execution is the foundation of origination

    - How client trust, collaboration, and high standards drive long-term success.

    Matt also shares powerful lessons on:

    - Leadership

    - Culture

    - Scaling teams.

    Including why great leaders act as “player-coaches,” eliminate toxicity fast, and build organisations that punch above their weight.

    If you want to transition from executor to leader, this episode is essential listening.

    Investment Banking Leaders Club: https://ibleadersclub.com/Host: Peter Nieberg (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peternieberg/)Guest: Matt Zimmer (https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-zimmer-0bab705/) / https://www.williamblair.com/Sponsor: Altrum (https://www.altrum.com/)
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    40 mins
  • From Medical School to Wall Street: How Great Investment Bankers Think Beyond the Deal

    From Medical School to Wall Street: How Great Investment Bankers Think Beyond the Deal
    Jan 27 2026

    What separates transactional bankers from truly trusted advisors?

    In this episode, Philip Ross, Vice Chairman at Jefferies shares his unconventional journey from medical school to Wall Street, and the principles that have shaped his 28+ year career.


    Philip explains why the best bankers think in 10-year relationship arcs, stay relentlessly client-centric, and hold themselves to exceptionally high standards, even when no deal is on the table.


    He also breaks down how VPs and Directors can move beyond execution to become strategic partners clients trust.


    A masterclass in leadership, origination, and long-term thinking from one of the industry’s most respected voices.
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    45 mins
  • How to Build an Investment Banking Boutique from Zero, and Why Origination Is the Real Power

    How to Build an Investment Banking Boutique from Zero, and Why Origination Is the Real Power
    Jan 19 2026
    Most investment bankers are trained to execute.Very few are trained to originate and that’s why most never make partner or build their own firm.In this episode, Marcel Brix, Co-Managing Director and shareholder at Blok Management, shares how he went from intern to co-founder of one of Germany’s fastest-growing boutique investment banks and why he now spends 90% of his time on origination.We break down:What really changes when you move from executor to originatorHow Marcel helped scale a boutique from zero to 20+ peopleWhy discipline, routines, and soft skills matter more than technical brillianceHow VPs can start building a personal deal pipeline todayThe leadership mindset required to grow a firm without losing cultureIf you want to advance faster, build leverage, or one day launch your own boutique, this episode is a must-listen.TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Welcome to the Investment Banking Leaders PodcastWhy this episode matters for ambitious bankers02:00 – From intern to boutique banker: Marcel’s unconventional pathWhy big banks weren’t the right fit06:30 – How Bloc Management was bornThe deal that changed everything09:00 – The brutal early days of building a boutiqueDoing everything yourself — models, pitches, admin, and sales14:30 – Why origination is the real career unlock in investment bankingThe skill most bankers never properly develop18:00 – The partner problem: execution vs. originationWhy many bankers hit a ceiling21:30 – How Marcel spends 90% of his time on originationFunnels, LinkedIn, podcasts, and consistency26:00 – Advice for VPs trying to become originatorsHow to carve out origination time without dropping execution quality30:00 – Should bankers learn sales?Why soft skills matter more than most admit34:00 – Discipline, routines, and compounding habitsWhy success is a marathon, not a sprint38:30 – Leadership lessons from building a firm from scratchHow to lead without ego42:00 – Treating interns like future partnersWhy culture compounds over time45:00 – Building and protecting culture while scaling Putting people first — even before shareholders48:00 – Book recommendation: Atomic HabitsWhy small habits drive outsized results49:00 – One piece of advice for bankers who want to build their own boutiqueStart earlier than you thinkInvestment Banking Leaders Club: https://ibleadersclub.com/Host: Peter Nieberg ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/peternieberg/ )Guest: Marcel Brix: ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-brix/ ) / https://www.blok-management.de/en/Sponsors: https://www.altrum.com/
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    49 mins
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