High School

Classes in business, finance, business law, accounting, economics, mathematics, English, speech, psychology, foreign language, and computer science will prepare you for college and an eventual career as a dealmaker. Participation in activities, such as the debate team, that help you to develop your powers of persuasion will also be useful. 

Postsecondary Education

You’ll need a master’s degree in business administration from a top college, preferably an Ivy League one, to work as a private equity dealmaker. If you attend a lesser-known school, you’ll need an absolutely stellar GPA and extensive deal experience to be considered for employment. Some dealmakers also have degrees in finance, accounting, and economics. The London School of Economics and Political Science offers a master’s degree in private equity.

Other Education or Training

Chief dealmakers are highly skilled and very experienced private equity professionals, but it never hurts even the best of the best to continue to keep their skills up to date. They can do so by pursuing professional development opportunities that are offered by professional associations such as the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association, which offers webcasts on structuring/negotiations, emerging PE markets, and other topics. 

Certification or Licensing

No certification or licensing is available for chief dealmakers. 

Chief dealmakers need five to 10 years of experience in origination, structuring, and closing private equity transactions.

To be a successful chief dealmaker, you’ll need excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills; the ability to think analytically to solve problems; attentiveness to detail; creativity and imagination; confidence; leadership ability; and an understanding of leverage, complex capital structures, subordinated debt and equity, and other private equity financial concepts. Negotiations are sometimes tense and stressful, so you’ll also need the ability to think clearly and remain calm under pressure.