SYEDA ADIBA ARIF

Taosif Amin Khan began his career in commercial banking in Bangladesh before moving into investment banking in the United States after completing his MBA there. He started at a leading full-service investment bank and now works at one of the largest independent advisory firms.

For Bangladeshi professionals hoping to make a similar move, his experience offers a practical look at what investment banking involves, how MBA recruitment works, and what it takes to build a sustainable career in a demanding industry.

What investment banking involves

Investment banking is broadly about advising companies on major corporate finance decisions and helping execute high-stakes transactions. This can include raising capital through equity or debt, advising on mergers and acquisitions, and supporting strategic matters such as shareholder-related transactions and engagements.

“From a work point of view, investment banking isn’t fundamentally different from other client-facing banking roles, because a lot of it is still client and relationship management,” Taosif said.

The work spans business development, relationship management, investor outreach and transaction execution. In everyday terms, bankers stay close to clients, understand their businesses and industries, share market updates, and identify opportunities where the bank can help. For analysts and associates, much of the workload involves building presentation decks and carrying out the detailed analysis behind them.

Once a bank is selected for a transaction, the work moves into execution. Bankers coordinate with internal teams, accountants, lawyers and regulators to draft contracts, manage workstreams and complete the deal.

Taosif said the value of investment bankers lies not only in technical advice, but also in market access and judgement. Bankers can bring a wider universe of investors and buyers to the table, provide underwriting capabilities many companies do not have in-house, and support negotiations in ways that can help clients achieve stronger outcomes.

Life inside investment banking

Investment bankers usually work in coverage groups, product groups or a combination of both. Coverage groups focus on specific industries, such as healthcare, technology or consumer goods, across the full range of banking products. Product groups specialise in particular transactions, such as equity capital markets, debt capital markets or mergers and acquisitions, across different industries. These teams work together, drawing on each other’s expertise.

“Being in investment banking gives exceptional exposure and a very steep learning curve,” Taosif said. “I get to partner with companies at the edge of innovation, work with top management of Fortune 500 companies, and be part of conversations that are crucial for these companies’ financial futures.”

The trade-off is intensity. Investment banking can involve demanding periods, unpredictable schedules and a high level of pressure. Given the nature of the work, Taosif believes discipline is essential.

“Knowing how to use time well and how to balance priorities are important differentiators in having a sustainable long-term career,” he said.

The industry is also highly competitive and fast-moving, requiring teams to collaborate closely and make decisions quickly. “In many ways, it mimics competitive sports, where the intensity of working closely toward a common goal makes success particularly energising,” Taosif said.

How to make the move from Bangladesh

Taosif began his career in Bangladesh at HSBC. He said much of that experience proved useful in investment banking.

“The knowledge from banking in general, reading financial statements, gaining industry knowledge, managing seniors, peers and juniors, working with lawyers, clients and stakeholders — a lot of these were highly transferable,” he said.

His CFA qualification also helped him perform well in technical interviews, although he does not see it as a prerequisite for entering the industry.

Taosif later completed his MBA at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. For those hoping to break into investment banking through an MBA, he said the first step is choosing a school with a strong record of placing students into the industry.

In his view, MBA programmes for investment banking broadly fall into three categories: core targets, semi-targets and non-targets. NYU Stern, Wharton, Columbia Business School, Chicago Booth, Darden, Cornell Johnson, Dartmouth Tuck and UCLA Anderson are often considered core target schools in the US. Attending a target school can significantly increase access to alumni support and interview opportunities.

“The most reliable way to identify true feeders is to speak to students and recent recruits, study placement patterns and garner insights from Wall Street Oasis, GMAT Club, etc,” Taosif said.

Once enrolled in an MBA programme, the investment banking recruitment process is usually structured and often supported by the school’s finance club and career services team. These groups help candidates prepare through résumé reviews, technical practice, coffee chats and networking events with bankers.

The final round of recruitment is often known as “Superday”, when candidates are assessed on behavioural qualities and technical competence. Successful candidates secure internships, which can lead to return offers depending on performance.

Taosif believes Bangladeshi candidates should also speak to others from Bangladesh who have already made the move. Such conversations can provide practical advice grounded in the Bangladeshi context and help candidates frame their local work experience more effectively.

“There can sometimes be a tendency among Bangladeshi candidates to understate their experiences,” Taosif said. “In a competitive process like this, it is important to clearly and confidently articulate your achievements, seek support when needed, and make the most of your network.”

What it takes to thrive

A strong work ethic, technical ability, analytical skill and interpersonal confidence are all important in investment banking. But Taosif places particular emphasis on organisation.

Given the workload, bankers need to reduce wasted time, plan ahead and prepare for the next day. They also need to anticipate what might go wrong and build contingencies accordingly.

Attitude matters too. “You can either choose to dwell on how demanding the lifestyle is, or you can choose to accept that the role comes with challenges and focus on managing it well,” he said. “The one thing I’m very strict about is this: whenever you get a pocket of free time, use it intentionally — if I’m free by 6pm, I will go home, make a plan, or do something productive.”

Advice for aspiring investment bankers

Taosif’s main advice is to pressure-test your motivation before pursuing investment banking. Candidates should ask themselves whether they understand what investment bankers do, whether they can see themselves enjoying the work, how much effort they are willing to put into their careers, and how the role fits into their long-term goals.

While much of the preparation happens during business school, he said it helps to build technical skills in advance, particularly in presentations and spreadsheets. Candidates should also strengthen their financial knowledge and market awareness through regular reading and exposure to resources such as Wall Street Oasis, The Wall Street Journal and The Economist. He also recommended watching The Big Short and reading Liar’s Poker .

As a final piece of advice, Taosif said candidates should pursue investment banking for the right reasons and be honest about what motivates them.

“Whether the job feels draining or energising depends on you,” he said. “If you thrive in a fast-paced competitive environment, the work can actually feel quite exciting and it can be a highly engaging career.”

Syeda Adiba Arif is the Head of Talent, OE & Inclusion - APMEA Central at BAT. She completed her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from IBA, University of Dhaka, and her Master’s in Data Science & Analytics from East West University.