From Investment Banking to Consulting in the Middle East

The theme of GWI's fourth online panel is "From Investment Banking to Consulting in the Middle East." The guest speaker, Jenny Hou, completed her undergraduate studies at NYUSH and obtained a master's degree in finance from MIT. After graduation, she decided to join an investment bank in Shanghai. Two years later, she decided to switch to consulting and work in the Middle East.

The focus of this panel is Jenny's career path and the considerations behind her choices. When asked why she chose to leave the investment bank in Shanghai and join the consulting office in the Middle East, Jenny shared that in recent years, the Middle East, as a rapidly developing region, is no longer considered a niche choice for employment. Common locations for Middle East offices include Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh, with most projects concentrated in Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) currently. Jenny mentioned that one significant reason for choosing the Middle East office was the diversity there. There is a growing number of European and international students joining Middle Eastern offices. Contrary to common expectations, the Middle East office is not a less competitive choice. Moreover, unlike North American recruiting, Middle East office is very rolling-based, with flexible timelines for opening and closing applications. The headcount for each office is also entirely unpredictable each year, requiring continuous monitoring of the official website for the latest updates. Jenny's advice is to be well-prepared in advance.