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.
The Capital Play with CJ Hawkins
Chris West on Banking, Buyouts, and Betting on Yourself
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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 HarbourVest and H.I.G. Capital, Chris carved out a high-impact investing career before pivoting into operating roles at high-growth companies across the U.S. and Africa.
Now pursuing his MBA at Stanford GSB, Chris opens up about:
- His unconventional path from humble beginnings to high finance
- The real lessons from billion-dollar deals in PE
- What drew him to the search fund model and how he's approaching it
- The moment that reminded him most of game-time decision-making
- Advice for students and professionals trying to play at the highest level
This one’s packed with insight, real talk, and sharp strategy.