The Capital Play with CJ Hawkins
The Capital Play explores the world of high finance through real, unfiltered conversations with professionals across investment banking, private equity, venture capital, and more. Hosted by CJ Hawkins, a Stanford student-athlete turned finance enthusiast, the show breaks down how careers in finance actually unfold — and how to break in while also providing valuable insights on navigating the finance path.
Podcasting since 2025 • 4 episodes
The Capital Play with CJ Hawkins
Latest Episodes
From Philadelphia to $450M a Year: Will Taylor on Wealth Management and Trust
In this episode of The Capital Play, CJ Hawkins sits down with Will Taylor, Regional Vice President at Raymond James Investment Management, for a candid conversation on what it really takes to build trust, scale relationships, a...
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Episode 4
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40:19
From Pro Hoops to Boutique Banks: Varun Ajjarapu’s Unconventional Rise on Wall Street
In this episode of The Capital Play, CJ Hawkins sits down with former pro basketball player turned investment banker, Varun Ajjarapu. After playing overseas in Croatia, Varun made an ambitious pivot into high finance, breaking into the industry...
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Episode 3
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26:05
Chris West on Banking, Buyouts, and Betting on Yourself
In this episode of The Capital Play, CJ sits down with Chris West, a New Orleans native whose story is anything but traditional. From breaking into elite M&A at Rothschild to deploying billions in private equity at HarbourVe...
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Episode 2
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29:20
Ep. 1 – Jake Chasan: From Goldman Sachs to VC to Stanford GSB
In this debut episode of The Capital Play, CJ sits down with Jake Chasan to unpack his journey through some of the most competitive corners of high finance — from investment banking at Goldman Sachs to venture capital at Sapphire Ventu...
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Episode 1
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40:30