MICHAEL TZITZIKAKIS

Overview

Michael is a high-upside Hustler archetype with a rare blend of engineering rigor, early finance exposure, and leadership across multiple high-intensity environments. A Mechanical Engineering major with a Computer Science minor at Columbia Engineering, he pairs strong technical foundations with real reps in venture capital, AI startups, and real estate capital advisory — all while competing as a Division I rower.

He first came through MAP as a freshman in finance fellowships with Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo, then proactively returned for Diamond League as a sophomore to get more reps and sharpen his front-office toolkit. That decision, plus his continuous planning and goal orientation, speaks directly to his Hustler DNA: he’s always thinking about the next step and doing the work to get there.

The main structural obstacle for firms is not ability — it is logistics: as a London-born candidate, Michael will require sponsorship. For banks willing to navigate that, he offers a powerful combination of technical skill, global perspective, and real deal-adjacent experience that significantly outperforms his mid-pack ranking.

Strengths

• Hustler drive: Always planning ahead, sustaining effort toward long-term goals across academics, athletics, and career.
• Technical horsepower: Mechanical Engineering + CS at Columbia; decorated maths/physics Olympiad record.
• Diverse finance exposure: Experience across AI healthcare startup, VC, and real estate capital advisory.
• MAP pedigree: Prior fellowships with Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo; returning alum for Diamond League reps.
• Analytical and writing chops: LP report work, public comps benchmarking, and authored piece on Agentic AI.
• Leadership and responsibility: Boat Club Captain at Westminster; handled brand deals, events, and admin.
• Global perspective: London to NYC pathway, international competition experience, and cross-border work.

Areas for Development

• Requires work sponsorship, which will narrow the set of firms able to fully engage.
• GPA is solid but can trend higher to match his technical and experiential ceiling.
• Needs to keep tightening the narrative that connects engineering, VC, startup, and real estate into a focused IB story.
• Can further refine behavioral answers to simplify complex technical experiences for non-technical interviewers.

Projection

A Round 2–3 MAP prospect with the game to play at a Round 1 level for the right sponsor. Michael offers a rare mix of technical skill, global experience, and demonstrated commitment to finance. For firms able to sponsor international candidates, he represents a high-upside, multi-cycle value play — the type of analyst who can grow into a versatile front-office contributor across banking, growth equity, or principal investing.